Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-24

privileges which the more favored children OF
the rich enjoy
In an economic point of view it is of great
importance that the poor he educated be-
cause from the ranks of the poor will come
the future teachers of our schools | do not
seek to disguise the fact, that large part OF
the revenue applied to the support Of schools
under our present system i derived from the
cities. 1t is natural TINT those strong holds
of wealth should utter complaints. and ap-
peal To the Legislature for relief from what
they deem oppressive taxation. But COM
| plants are easily framed. and often rest on
! imaginary evils. rs they do in this case Yet
/ II 1t were IN the power of the Legislature to
grant rolict, without destroying our high
/ schools, this body would doubtless turn "A
willing ear to these appeals. But can we do
il Does not relief in one quarter cngendor
distress in another: If Portland and Bangor
are made happy by relieving them of this
tax, are not other towns pressed down by an
additional burden of taxation:
Many of the towns are too poor to ,tlucatc
their children in proper manner, Shall we
say to those towns, let vour children
grow up in ignorance. that they NAV
loin the innnlncrable caravan Of tramps. in
order that property may not suffer
from taxation:
Shall the voice of this Legislature declare
in substance that capital and wealth must be
held sacred and invioatc to the exclusion of
education: Shall we go to the verge of declar-
ing that the mind of the child is strong and
active, that 1t requires no discipline no cul-
tnrc. no enlightenment, though cnvcored in
the gloom of ignorance, its inherent forces
will burst through the darkness and assert
their powers in defiance of neglect? This iS
the proposition which confronts US: to treat
| r,rnl in b,. III. 81.
sum total Of human happiness but let rural
talent and native genius pine away and die
| in the arm, of ignorance" Thi. NAV h..
wise legislation. but il is not the kind contcm-
plated by tn" constitution We have sworn to
support which requires the Legislature 'to
/ provide for general diffusion of the advan-
,agc> Of education"
To secure gene,oi diffusion Of the atlvan-
tagcs OF education implies a qene,al tax on
property for that purpose. and who 50 strong
ana ahle to bear Just proportion of the
public burdens those ccntcrs of trade
whose prosperity and life depend upon the
country:
Why sir. there is not Il town of any promi-
ncnce i'll the State which is not daily visited
by these enterpri>ing gentlemen from the
cities in pursuit of trade. The tribute paid
by the country to the cities in the wav of
trade. amounts to millions of dollars annual
~, and though that trade is rcciprocal still
the fast-cNpanding wealth of the cities and
the consequent impovcrshmcnt ofthe country
clearly exhibit the business of the tax levied
on the whole property for the support of
schools.
Gentlemen may talk about unequal taxa
tlon. and resort To sppci0us pleading to pref
hdlre the mlndS of members. but if any pco-
pie have right 10 complain of the severity
! ,,t ,nN. ion tl,n,- ,I,
CLING 10 maintain these free high schools
Their property i, visible consisting offarms.
buildings. live stock. stock in trade and other
property. which cannot escape the vigilance
Of the assessors while it is a notorious fact
that millions of dollars in State county. town.
city, mining. railroad and other securities are
locked IN the city vaults, and never pay dol
lar tax, and never see the light of dav. ex-
ccpt To be clipped OF their coupons. WHY.
sir, if We could reach this species of propcrtv
which annually cludes taxation. and compel
II to share its part of the tax. it would Weld
II revenue sufficient to dctray the entire ex-
pense Of our common schools.
one of the salient points, in the argument
advanced by our opponents, is embraced in
the proposition that the cities pay on the mill
tax alone more than they receive from the
entire school fund. Therefore, Justice de-
mands the repeal of this law.
y due regard for the first principle of us-
tire. would require these same cities to bring
forth from their vaults millions of dollars in
taxable securities. and present them for as
scs>mcnt, and if Justice SO far trumphcd
over cupidty and conccalment il would Ger
tainlv rebound to the interest of the country.
IN which event, the poorest town which is
now struggling to maintain HIGH school
could well afford to relinquish all claim to
State aid
But there is another principle involved in
tins question. suppose immense wealth is
concentrated on IA few square miles within the
limits of Il city, and the number of scholars
is not in proportion to the valuation, as com
pared with the country, is that valid reason
for tn" city to claim exemption on the ground
that II l. paving more for school purposes
than it receives:
Such principle as this. if carried to its
logical conclusion, would exempt million
airc from his payment of take, for the SUP
port of schools. because, pcichancc. he ha,
no scholars to educate. And if Won will
drive to the bottom of this matter YOU will
1nd that it is this class OF men, the rich and
influential who are bitterly opposed to cdu-
eating 'other peoples children"
The glimmer of truth never enters the brain
of these men, that the real value of their
property depends on the protection afforded
by 'other people.
The law of 1873 authorizing the establish
mcnt of high schools under c, rtain cond-
uons. was founded on the principle that prop
erty derives its value from protection.
Remove the safeguards of protection and
the value of property becomes untixed and
uncertain.
Now the citizen is bound by law to protect
property. no matter whether he he "A posscssor
of it or not and the sphere of his duty is to
not be confined to this alone but when domes-
tie violence cn>ucs, or the national life is inn
pcrilcd. the body of the citizen i, interposcd
like II shield. with danger and death in front.
and property safe in the rear.
The citizen then protects your property.
and invests it with intrinsic value. and what
is his reward? Surely the setting apart of
one per ccntum even, on the dollar of your
abundance, is not an cxtravagant compensa-
tion for the hazard of health and limb and
life.
The mighty host of northern soldiers who
marched with impctuous force against the en-
trenched lines of the contederacy, who dis
played a Spartan trmness and an invinciblc
courage. who carried in their hearts the image
L II =