Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-08
To the Editor of the Globe:


To the Editor of the Globe
In the Pioneer Press of July 4, is COM
nunication from the pen of M. MEG.
Dana, under the caption: Comparative
standing of st. Paul scholars" which, with |
your permission, propose to review, since
in the estimation OF prominent gentlemen,
whose judgment respect, such statements,
perversions, and conclusions should not |
be permitted to pass unnoticed and un-
rebuked
1t is evident to the most casual reader
that the aim of said communication is to
disparage the public schools of this city in
order to throw discredit on the superinten-
dent, and in this way influence the action of
the board of education in its-choice of his
sion that has been created by this communi
cation, and the natural instinct of self de-
Tense, as we'll as an honorable self respect,
dictate an emphatic protest against the
methods of the warfare which is being
waged against him. I will endeavor to be
temperate in my language, and to keep
within the limits of gentlemanly courtesy in
my analysis of this question.
In the outset, am ready to concede that
the acts of persons holding official positions
are legitimate subjects of criticism. No
honorable man holding such position will
shrink from such criticism, but will rather
invite it, only insisting that it shall not de-
generate into coarse and brutal personalities,
and malicious attacks on ones character and
reputation. And more than this, all legiti-
mate measures for the improvement of the
civil service are in order, and should have
their due influence. The members of the
board of education, and all subordinates
who are appointed by the board, are servants
of the public, and are responsible to the pub
lie for the manner in which they discharge
their duties. The question that should be
uppermost in this discussion is this: "What
| will most contribute to the welfare and sue
cess of the schools?" The claims of rival
candidates are mere incidents, and should
be held entirely subordinate to the best in
| terests of the schools. But when such
measures are employed to injure the charac-
| ter, destroy the reputation, and impair the
| influence of an official as have been and are
still being employed in this community, SEN
sible men are convinced that the true in
terests of the schools are less thought of than
|
the selfish greed of rival book rings, whose
only desire is to monopolize the traffic of
| the community.
Il is only simple justice to say that during
| the entire term of official service of the pres
ent incumbent, now nearly four years, he has
never replied to personal attacks made upon
| his character or upon his official acts. There
| may have been ample prOvocatlon. at times
| for free use of the pen and Of printers Ink,
but the charges made in numerous anony-
nous communications in the daily papers
have usually been so vague and polntiess,
and the spirit in which they have been made
has been so evidently selfish and malicious
that any attempts to answer them would
have been the most ungracious service.
Hence they have invariably been
treated with the silence to whic b
their spirit and aim 30 justly
entitled them. The columns of the papers
have been generously rendered, and num-
| erous gentlemen have offered to reply over
| their own signatures to some of these
anonymous communications, but the super
intendent has at all times couaseled silence.
content to rest his claims to public conf
dence and respect on his character as man.
his reputation as citizen, and his work in
the schools. BY these tests he wi BE- judged
by all who are uninhuenced by partizanshiE
or envy or malice. The opinions of all
others have little positive value, and IN the
long run will have no positive weight.
In controversy of this sort. MIR. Dana
ought to know that assertions, made witt
never SO much earnestness and assurance
possess little value as testimony. In courts
of justice only facts are admitted as evidence.
What this one or that may think or say
about given case has little or no value
Hearsay and tattle and neighborhood small
talk are always ruled ont of court.
A mans personal, positive knowledge
alone is received as evidence, and stands fol
the truth until his veracity is impeached.
In the case in question it is notorious
fact that these charges of immortality anc
bribery anu official mismanagement have
been in every instance the most unwarrantee
and baseess assertions. Rev. Mr.. Danf
made specific charges and gave the names O
persons who were ready to prove them t.
the editor. But his confidence in the state
ment of the average Western man must hav
experienced rude shock when he came t.
hear their hippant denials, and their smooth
oily evasions. When evidence was expected
none was found. Mr.. Dana's witnesses-ant
q they formed an interesting group, worth
i the pencil that sketched the celebrated pic
ture of Falstaf and his recr 1its-failed t
make good a single charge, and the arch &C
cuser himself stood convicted before twelv
9 men, of the grossest misrepresentation, an
;, the most Infamous attempts to crush a ma
Q by the vilest SANDER.
: Smarting under this ignominious failu1
to accomplish his selfish ends, he no.
sschanges base,'' and attempts to disparag
the man by disparaging his work. Befor
J. it was his plan to disparage the work b
is running the man, and fastening on his fan
% ily the darkest stain known in civilize
society.
His temperance upon the stage is he
aided in these words: 'sThese personaliti
J. have fortunately been disposed off, It is
= fair question to raise here, how have tn,
~ been disposed of? Has Mr.. Dana made al
W retractions in public or private of his i
famous SANDERS? Has he taken any ste
to rerair the injury done mans charact
~ and family? Has he shown any dispositi,
= to put himself in an honorable attitude
le' the community? Has he made the "amen
g honorable which he proposed to ma
when before the board of education. Not
all. He promised to make his retracti
and his apology as broad a.
comprehensive and explicit as his chare
lee had been. and all honorable mon expect
es- him to redeem his promise long before th
nil But this has not been done. On the oil
ro- hand, it is becoming painfully evident IL
is such purpose has never entered his mil
ar. and he stands before the community a!
deliberate and cool-blooded elanderer.
Instead of keeping his promise, which
the only honorable course to pursue, we
him return to the assault, and this time b
wv gross perversion of truth and history.
transpires that he has been improving