Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-05-12

in the work that were in it twelve
years ago.
If the writer of this article would be
moved to address the Legislature on
the matter of common schools, the
communications would cover only two
points. There would be thankful ac-
acknowledgement of much good work
well done; and then prayer, give us
rest from Legislative enactments, for
the following reasons: Almost the
whole administration of the schools,
having been very judiciously entrusted
to the Annual Meeting, in which ev-
cry qualified e'ector in the district is
entitled to vote; the law should be
, enough for the average voter to learn
what the law is, and what it requires
him to do; and because when matters
are running smoothly, and no great
wrong being done, it is unwise to
make changes.
But if there are those who think
that changes are desirable, let the
matter be brought f)rvard soon, that
an opportunity as full as possible for
Investigation may he given. 1t re-
mains for us to consider
TIE COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW.
Ignorance has always been person-
al Inconvenience.
For a long time individual enter
prise was relied upon for its removal.
This being proven to be an inadequate
remedy, the State awoke to the facts
that ignorance was not only q civil in
convenience to be remedied, but a nui-
sance that must be abated, aud of that
discovery our common school system
is the natural outgrowth. A little re-
Election will show that when the State
has made just and equitable arrange
ments to remedy a civil inconvenience,
and abate public nuisance, the State
has right to see to it that the erforc-
ing of this remedy, and abatement,
shall not be barred or defeated by the
negligence, Indifference, or criminal
wilfulness of individuals; and COM
polsory law is simply the carrying
out of that right.
There would not be found in this
law any assertion of any new legal
principle. 1t is merely the applica-
ton of an old and well established idea
to a new class Of subjects; and little
examination wi II show that the Sbjec-
tons to this apply just as well against
the whole common school system; and
that they have been fully met and an
swered at least thousand and one
times.
But let us look at this matter with
malice toward none, and charity tow
ard ALL" The assertion of new, or
the application of an old, legal princi-
pie to new class of subjects, is very
much like putting on a pair of new
shoes. Either transaction may result
in temporary grievance. The law
may interfere with our old habits, and
we may think ourselves hardly dealt
by; until we have a little time to adj
just ourselves to the new condition, ana
we do cheerfully what at first we did
only in obedience to law. Justso with
our new shoes. They will irritate our
corns, agitate our bunions, fire up our
| feet, and blister our heels, for awhile;
but who on account of these temporary
annoyances would insist on always go
| ing barefooted?
! A man may have divine right to go
barefooted when he cannot obtain
shoes by honest means; and he may be
excusable for being ignorant, when he
has not voluntarily placed himself out
! of reach of the means of education.
But either one of these would be an ex-
treme case among us.
1t might be well to limit the applica-
ton of the compulsory law to the ac-
=