The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-30
The Public Schools KnvOlved--.A New
View OF the Question.
[Nnrfnlk Indrer.

But we are told with flourish or rum
pets that the State law allows deliEquents
the very last moment in which to qualify
themselves. So does the plan which we adj
yocate. If man pays his poll-taN on the
last day OF the year. he was aquallhed voter
but one day in that year. and he was a de-
linquent for the whole year preceding that
time. 1t is immaterial, in this argument,
when he pays his taxes, so that the pay
ment precedes the attempt to assume TO
do what only qualified voter has right
20 Go. Blink the matter as we will, there
is no evading the responsibility resting upon
the Conservative party to rightly enforce
the la,o which was made by it. The selec-
ton OF a candidate is duty which devolVes
upon the qualified voters of the locality
which he is to represent. Only quallfed
citizens have right to uOte, and none
others should be allowed to select a candi-
date for such voters. II such is not the
law, if such is not the true intent and mean
ing OF its trainers, then we bad as well do
away with all other forms OF choosing can
didates and remit the whole question to the
boys in the public schools, who, though
not voters, intend to become so, and may
be offended If we carry out the law OF the
land in its letter and spirit, because it eX-
cludes these ambitious youths from par
ticipation in selecting candidates for whom
their parents must vote.
Is it not perfectly astonishing that per-
sons who put forth such absurd and pre-
postcrous doctrines-no doubt very pleas"
ant to those who are always ready TO help
manufacture candidates for consideration,
but never pay dollar for taXes-do not I'M
derstand that there are two classes in this
communicable taxpayer and the delIn-
quent; that those who pay for the mainte-
nance of State and city governments, and
obey the law OF the land are entitled to some
respect and consideration as well as those
whose chief recommendation to sympathy
is that they have failed to do both? II
so. let us commence at once 10 make
the rules OF our party conform to the
statute law made by the party, and thus Of
fer premium for the observance OF the law
rather than hold out inducements to those
who send their children TO the public
schools to withhold the pttance thus de-
manded for their support, and assure them
that they have the same right to select can
ddates as il they had paid their taxes, and
that the public schools will be supported
without cost to the delinquents Of this city,
notwithstanding the delinquents' children
enjoy their benefits. ..
DO those persons who so deeply sympa-
thiZe with detinquentS, and wish to bend the
party machinery so as to insure them from
being left out in the cold, reflect for mo-
ment that by giving nou-tax-payers all the
rights and privileges OF the party that they
are destroying one OF the great incentives
of many persons to pay taxes; that every
dollar thus withheld from the public trea-
sury is dollar taken from the children Of
the honest poor man, whose child is re-
ceiving its education in the public schools,
for the support of which the head-tax Of
the State is positively pledged9 Yet it
is true; and now, in the opening OF the
fall campaign, when the Conservative party
has the almost undisputed control OF the
Commonwealth, we find one or two news
papers and some theoretical partisans who
are willing, in order to "popularize cleo
tions," to 60 back on the qualifications OF
the law made by the Conservative party,
break down the public schools Of the State,
and turn the children OF the honest labor
er, mechanic, and others, out to grass, in
order that we may preserUe the harmony
of the party by breaking down the laws
created and passed by the party,
We are for the public schools, the main
tenance OF the law, and demand that taxa
ton and representation shall 60 together,
irrespective of what may be the opinions OF
candidates for office, their partisan follow
ers, or Of the dictation Of any party in OPP
position to these views.