Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-11


once become as free in every county in
the southern states as it is in our own
county and [ apprehend but a few
years would pass before the Mason &
Dixon line would cease to mark sec
tional boundry, for ignorance is the
mother of jealousy. and the foster par
ent of crime. Where Is the power
that can put this in operation, aside
from the general government and to
what better purpose can our public
lands be devoted than that of a ma
tons education. True much land
has already been given for this purpose
still the proceeds of far more has been
used in preparing laws for men than
in fitting children when they become
men to obey law. Grasping railroad
companies have absorbed vast tracts of
the public domain, and no one knows
how soon they will again begin their
plunderings in this direction, true,
railroads are essential and yet we can
not weave a network of ties and rails
over the land and uphold our present
form Of government, uaiess the school
house stands as the beacon light of ev-
cry village and city, unless reason nur.
tured and enthroned by education con-
trolls those who cast the ballot. Hence
[ say let our vast public domain be
dedicated to the purposes Of education
throughout the whole country. Let
| the laggard states and the weak and
struggling sections receive the assist
ance they need and must have if theil
schools are to be maintained.
Wood County is largely interested
in this question Of assistance. because
we have within her boundaries the ex-
tremes Of wealth and poverty, the ex-
tremes CT fertility and infertility We
have within our midst districts and
towns which, with a tax Of less than
five mills can maintain their public
schools seven to nine months each
year, and we also have other districts
where tax OF 4 to 7 cents is req uirec
to maintain school simply long
enough to entltle the district to draw
its small pittance of state money. II
the language Of one of Wisconsin's ex
State Sup,ts SIS it not the true poll
cy of the nation to extend to her poo
er and unpeoplcd sections such reason
able aid as will secure for them, to. The
utmost practical extent, rapid settle
ment and Development by intelligent
citizens ?" Is it coed national policy
to leave poor man in sparcely set
tied section to pay a regular annua
school tax Of sixty dollars on a quarter
section of land valued at 5000, wher
on the same valuation in another sect.
ion he would pay just S157 IL? Is
not the education of the children oil
one section Of a5 much in portance to a
state or nation as are those Of another!
Then where is the justice of such a
policy When the state and nation
are equally benefited by the education
of the rising rulers, why not make
these duties and burdens OF taxation
more nearly equal?
I have taken this line to-day and
presented these thoughts hoping to
awaken in your minds some thoughts
upon this phase of our educational sys-
TEN, and consequent agitation. When
the people Of this country unitcdly de-
mand that the public lands shall be de-
voted to common school purposes then
they will be, and advantages, numer-
Gus and far reaching, other than these
I have indicated would speedily fol
fow. 1t seems to me we cannot de-
vote too much thought. time and
means to the improvement and ad-
vancement Of our common schools;
common, not as inferior, not as the
schools for the poor alone, but as the
light and air is common. They ought
to be the best schools and in all good
works the foremost. Who does moi
know the value to community of q
plentiful supply Of the pure element Of
water? And infinitely more than this
is the common school. for it is the
fountain at which the mind drinks ano
is refreshed and strengthened for it:
career Of usefulness and glory.