Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1880-04-24
why the Normal School Must Go.

to support schools in Tennessee in the
past ten years. To the normal school
in Nashville be has given $12, 900 an,
nually. He holds $4,000 in Ten
nessee State bonds, on account of the
Peabody school fund. The State re-
fuses to pay the interest on this sum.
Disguised with Tennessee's dishonesty, |
DR., Sears has decided to remove the
Peabody normal school from Nashville |
to Atlanta. The Doctors desire to re-
move his school away from the demora-
lizing influences of a rascally non-debt
paying community is commendable. 1t
will be quite useless to teach morality
from textbooks to young men, when
the whole State stands before them
conspicuous example of respectable and
pious dishonesty. Memphis Avalanche.
We present the above from the
Memphis Aualanche merely as an item
of news. While we agree with the
AvaLanche cordially that people and
States should pay or settle by compro-
mise their honest debts, we do not en-
dorse the spirit manifested by DR..
Sears in the above statement. 1t
smacks too much of that high pressure
process SO often resorted to in these
days to bolster the cause of truth and
justice. DR.. Sears is only the agent of
the trustees of the Peabody fund and
individually has done as little for the
education Of the people Of Tennessee
as some of her humblest citizens; but
he does not often fail when occasion
presents itself to advertise himself in
that connection . a great benefactor to
rthe people of the South. His individ-
ual benefcence in the matter is Of that
sort that comes freely and with great
pomp after it has been well paid for in
the way of high salaries. Tennessee
is Justly under lasting obligation to
the memory of Mr.. Peabody for his mag
nifcent bequest to the cause of educa.
, ton in the South, and especially fol-
the favors bestowed upon her in that
particular, and many thousands Of
her children will rise up to bless hi;
name for it, But the truth demands
that the credit should be bestowed
where it belongs.
If DR.. Sears stoops to take revenge
; on Tennessee for what her people have
! not get done, but for what only a few
have threatened to do, he thereby
. proves himself unworthy of the position
4 he occupies, and unfaithful to the trus
: con6ded to him as agent of the Pea
body fund. The people of Tennessee
y do not propose to be put under the lasl
l of every red-tape individual who may
assume to abuse her into measures. |
is right that Tennessee should pay al
her Just debts whenever she gets read,
to do it, and she does not mean to b.
inundated by threats or driven b,
false notions of reproach to do it before
j There are other claims against her a
= just as this, and more meritorous whicl
, she has been unable to meet and vii
likely not be able to discharge 70
many years. Yet the holders of thes
d claims have not overlooked the mis-
h fortunes of our gallant old State, an
h are willing to be patient with her Will
t she passes through the dread ordeal c
d inability on the one hand and tn
threat of reputation on the other.
d And if DIR. Sears now wishes rashl
t to join in with the cause of demagogue
e to extort from our people at this inar
= picious moment, promises that tn
/. State cannot make with honor an
e safety, just let him do so and take tn
h consequences and remove the norm'
/, school away if that is what he desires
!. and Tennessee will take care of herse
;, in the premises.