The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-08
Mr.. Higgins and High Schools.

To the Editor of the Portland Press:
Certain correspondents Of the Portland Argus
of the 1st and 9th instant have SO grossly and
persistently misrepresented me that feel that
it is but just that should be heard in reply:
therefore l ask for little space in your paper.
1 will not go back to the first article, of Sept.
1st, as my friend 2. has completely and truth
fully answered G. E. II. s. The articles sigued
Citizen and "Truth" cover so nearly the
same ground that, SO far as the Republican
voters of Cumberland county are concerned,
think noed particularly notice but one. And
would suggest for the consideration of Truth
that sit is not right for his (Mr. Higgins') ene-
mics to attempt to gain political advantage by
misrepresentation and statements which are
not true" In this article the charge of decep-
tion is made. To this answer, have requested
leading Republicans, friends to the High School
to investigate this matter and to publish the re-
suit, promising on my part to abide the con-
cluson. Does that look like decaption2 The
next charge is that have been an opposer of
the High School from the start. This charge 10
utterly without foundation in truth. There
was no opposition to the establishment of the
High School from anybody in town; the Oppo-
stion has only been to its management 1t
was not opposition to Free High Schools but to
our Free High School The difficulty is q
purely local one in which the Republican voters
in the county have little iaterest Again the
correspondent says HE and his family, casting
four votes, have opposed at every step every
measure for the establishment of this school"
This charge has as little basis as the others.
have no family except wife, and not even
Truth" will pretend that she ever cast vote.
have brother who has two sons, L never
asked them how they voted till this question
came up; Now L am informed by my brother
that he did not vote at all, and one son did not
vote at all on any question relating to the High
school. L positively deny that ever dictate
tnelr votes on any question whatever, and sell
dom II ever, know how they cast their votes
thank this correspondent for the credit he has
given me for consistency, and for his kindness
in concedDg me the right to oppose II choose;
but when he chooses me as one OF the leaders
of the opposition demuI. When the question
with regard to raising money for the Nigh
School came up at our annual meeting
last spring there was quite a lively
discussion, but / said not o word When
the vote was taken did not take inter-
est enough in it 10 hold up nv hand one way or
the other. have questioned the propriety of
running the High School in the fall and winter
when all the district schools are keeping, as its
tendency is to detract from the district schools
oy drawing away the large scholars, many OF
them not too large by any means TO attend the
common school; and because We are pay ing old
experienced teachers as though the school were
full of large scholars. This does not look like
applying the remedy, the only sure one for
hard times economy. 1t may be seriously
questioned whether it is right to pay High