The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-20

TIE FRIENDS OE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE SCH0OL-MuNEY SAFE UNDER TIE
YcCULLOCU BILL, WHILE THERE WILL
RENO SCHOOLS WORTH THE NAME IF THIS
l.NEEST BE CONTiNCED-THE SCHOOLS
CANNOT PROSPER WHILE TIE PUBLIC
MIND Is UNSETTL TLgD-SUBTERsCGE or
THE ENEMIES Of PUBLIC EDUCATION
THE MOZART SCHEME COMPARED WITH
TIE McCULLOCH DILL-THE SCHOOL Of
yrCEEs PRESUMED TO BE THE INSTRUCT
oRs OF PUBLIC MOgALS-A POWERFUL
sSpPATEIoTiC DOCUMENT FOR THE CON
SHERATON u THE VOTERS OK VIRGINIA.
The following address OF the State EX-
ecutiye Committee .! tbs Conservative par
" 10 the friends OF the public schools" de-
serves and will no doubt receive the careful
attention OF the voters OF Virginia:
The educated and enlightened people OF
Virginia have shown their fidelity to the
free schools. The same Legislature which,
in the full belief Of the ability Of the State
10 pay six per cent. interest upon two
thirds OF the public deot, passed the fund
iny act, still! over-estimatinc the resources
@; the Commonwealth. anticipated the re-
ouiremeut OF the Constitution OF 1868, and
six years before the time provided for IN
that instrument put into operation public
school system, free TO ali. white and colored
alike: and we deliberately affirm that bet
ter svStem does not exist IN any State in the
Union.
More than true 20 their pledges to carry
our in good faith the article Of the Con-
s,itution OF 1863, which provided for
system OF free public education. the Le-
gisia,ure elected Superintendent OF Pub
lie instruction in 1870, and promptly
passed an act providing for the estao-
lshment OF schools throughout the State,
and from that day 10 this has protected,
encouraged. and developed the system until
il has become thoroughly organized and
operative in every county in the State, and
firmly established in the goodwill, con f.
dence. aud affections of the great body Of
tue people throughout the Commonwealth.
Repeatedly reelected and supported oy
public opinion. tae Superintendent OF Pub
lie Instruction his brought 10 the discharge
OF his duties a zeal. Al Intelligence, aud an
lmpartiality which have elected the atteu
ton and the applause Of all the friends OF
education throughout the Union. There
Is rot in the limits OF The United States
~ educator Who ranks higher for his know
irdcr and comprehension OF the science
OF education, or for administrative ability
10 -ve efficiency 10 public school system.
No man who has regard for truth will
challenge the evidence afforded by the legis-
lative history OF the past nine yeats that The
Conservative party OF Virginia have faith
fully discharged their duties aud their
pledges in this respect. IL the Conservative
party had been uufriendiy 20 the schools.
they would long ago have procured i less
efficen. and less enthusiastic administrator
ti the system.
1t is the desire OF the white people and
taxpayers OF this State 10 continue Eot only
TO maintain the ground which the school
system has Won, but TO extend it and to
develop the sphere OF it's operation until
every child, white aud coiored, within the
limits OF the Commonwealth, shalt have
within bis reach the opportunity to acquire
= sound elementary education. What shall
become OF The State il our children are 10
grow I'D in semi -barbarous ignorance, un-
eGual 10, aud uGGt 10 be the associates Of
the citizens OF the States by which we are
surrounded: We not only believe in the
enlightenment. and improvement OF the
white children OF tie Commonwealth, but
regard il as our duty as we'll as our policy
to elevate and educate the growing genera
ton Of the colored people, with whom we
occupy common heritage.
rHg SCHOOL SYSTEM N DANGER.
The school system is IN DANGER. Un-
scrupulous politicians are seeking to rope
il into the arena OF politics, and to convert
it into one OF the factoss in our annual po-
litcal struggles. The cause of education,
like the, cause OF religion, is too sacred TO
De entanged in any such associations. The
only guarantee for an e.kcjeut public schoo
system is.;hat it shall keep itself aieof from
ali such alliances. and pursue the even
tenor OF its way, disconpee as far as pos
slble wiea party politics OF any kind, anu
free. ~ far rs practicable, Of thc dena-
gOGusS that flourish under all political BAN
ners.
4 party has already arisen in the-State
which, unde. the guise OF being the special
champion OF the schools, is seeking to OBJ
Tain the support OF the school interest for
1ts owp seltiS&, purposes-casfng no more
aaout the schools than they s5o about the
csisofedfoters;E bom they are aiming to ca
jose andto hlttar TO help them Into power.
Ile school system. We ret5eat is IN DAN
GEE. and We write this TO sound the alarm
and 10 appeal torthe true friends os educ3-
lion KAT TO permit themselves to he eaSnareS
as tcs!s 20 accomplish result wisssh will
Prove one OF The gssatest disasters that can
beiali the schools.
Tue G1seet ef these deniagogues is POWER
Lae brokeTs' ball is merely, The apology for
tas agttstion. ~ shich having proved profit !
sole 50 Ear, they aEe unwilling to part |
sempany with even after all occasion |
..a s0s Z h,s ceased 10 exist. Some OF them |
IN come 10 you like IAN angetof light
ohssaed ehed in saeerdotal garments, but their |
onsset s Is PERSONAL prefsrnent, and when |
10. ~ nave served their purpose they will
AA,t rs iit'ie use for either you or your schools.
o,, asse vas serious atseBpt made to
u'efthroT ,r the school SYSTEM ia the Legisla-
= .se tase winter. A scheme was reported /
moia committee as q constitutions. amend
sra .u., ana inere was grave reason to fear at
s' ohe tsfae that it would pass the Le gisIa-
.a lure The plan contemplated the reYiy, nj Of
tsa .ss osa sesf- -perpetuatiHg bench OF naae!is-
aEs. s,s. irresponsible to the people !; and de.
suoglng the State character OF the schools. II
saubslhSted thefeior county system un.
Ne as, .ae eontro. Of this magtstracy, both as
n..s .anas aHI management The county su-
aaeaes vas abolished, and d was en-. II