The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-10

KENosHA, July 81, 1876.

KENosHA, July 81, 1876.
Mr.. d. II. FLETT-SIR notice in
your column in the last weeks Te!e-
graph an article on Compulsory Educa-
ton 10 which you invite the attention
OF both teacher and patrons.
This subject is fnll OF meat and might
be terst ly put in the following manner
It as better to educate the children than
punish the man?
On general principles | have hitherto
been opposed TO any interference on the
part of the government with the d0mes-
tic economy Of the people. | have con-
sideged that there was but little for q
representative government of a free
people to DO, but to throw q sort Of gen
eral protection ove- all, protecting the
weak against the strong and ensurlng
general tranquility and peaceiuIness
But greater attention and a more
thorough consideration OF the subject
has taught me that this is but small
portion OF the duty Of government inI
its representative character, and can
only be Admitted as all IT'S duty upon
the hypothesis that every man and
woman, especially every father and
mother will do their whole duty in
their individual capacity Of their own
volition.
What gives more Importance to the
political contest We are Just entering up
on than anything else, is the fact, hat
we have reached point in our career as
nation, wherein we are called upon TO
choose between . free government "of
the people, for the people and by the
III =
an o!igarchy, grown up in cur midst like
toadstools, upon the decayed morality %
though'less natlor. Don't be alarmed.
I am not writing political article, but
put it in this way 20 draw your attention
10 the intimate relation between the
political situation and the demands for
Compulsory Education.". 1t is simply
poinllDg to cause and effect
An oligarchy needs bus little educa-
zion, the more ignorant the people the
better for the rulers; but the necessities
of government representative Of the
whole people, demand that education be
universal. Also if the government is
to be pure the education Of our children
IS its first duty, and that education mast
include morals and religion. If the
government is To be admtnlst cred ecnnO-
micGIlY ard virtuoualy, our children
must be taught by precept and example
that virtue AMI economy are the handmade
ems of happiness and contentmemt IF the
government is ever to attain that ideal
when everything done BY its executive, ard
every enactment passed by its legislature,
shall have in view the greatest good to the
greatest number, if the government is TO be
administered for, and by the people with
the desire to reach the highest stage of civil
ization, then, its first duty its greatest effort
should be directed to thorough education
of sll the children in the land.
l saw a statement short time since, that
it cost the productive industry Of the
country $30003000 year to support the
lawyers, one half of which probably is caus-
ed by the prosecution Of criminals, and to
this the enormous amount expended IN build
ing, furnishing and maintaining penal insti-
tutiOns, and supplement this by the cost of
the maintenance of our police officers from
the High Sheriff of counties down to the
petty own constable and we shall have an
amount most astonishing to the average
mind. This is the production of a ciyillza-
ton based on free schools and non-com pull.
sorry education, and might well cause us to
consider if some other plan, based upon more
enlightened and better developed thou ght ),
vii not be productive of more geLeraIgoo
whether it will not be more christianiike,
more economical even, and more in accor-
dance with the eternal fitness of things to
( ECguccte the child than to punish the man ?'
Whether the building of schoolhouses, ard
the properly using them, instead of jais, will
not be valu able testimony to our children
ofopr desire to secure to them greater bless
ings than were possible to ourselves? But
this is too long already and therefore
pa use. PATRON.