Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-11-04
Asf our pvslic SCHOOLS IN DANCES.

The snivelling pauperism of spirit
which has been SO sedulOusly in
culcatad by our low tax orators for
years is now appealed to, so as to
shake mems confidence in our pub
lie school system. We have heard
in this place the threat or warning
that if the present settlement of the
State debt is sustained, not only
shall we be unable to build the
additional accommodation required
for our insane, and to supply other
defects in our public institutions
which are disgrace to Us as peo-
pie, but our schools must go. ave
cannot settle with our creditors
even at the liberal compromise they
have made with Us and keep up
our schools''-that is the cry which
has been dinned into the ears of
Tennesseans from corner to corner
of the county during the present
canvass, and our people, so far as
they can be imposed upon by such
speakers, are led to believe that
they have their choice between re-
pudiation and the sacrifice of their
schools.
A more enfeebling and democrat
izing influence could not well be
imagined than that of such an
habitual whine as this: Tennessee
must talk like pauper and call
herself bankrupt and destitute for
fear she should lose her one excuse
for not paying her debt. Her tax
alton is now less than that of any
of her surrounding States by nearly
one-half and she is more Astounding
in resources than any one of them.
1t is true that these resources are
not as thoroughly developed as in
other States, we are behind Ala
bama I'm working our minerals and
Georgia is ahead of us in manufac-
tures-even our agriculture is be-
low par. Such crops of cotton and
tobacco as can be obtained from
year to year by obsolete methods of
culture are brought into the mar.
ket and just keep US going, but inn
proved methods of culture, and
scientific succession of crops make
their way very slow among US.
But what is the remedy for all this?
1t is not want of capital; enough of
that has always been forthcoming
when worked by well directed en-
terprise; it is Il different spirit
among the people which is required,
IA spirit of enterprise and self-de-
pendence, and these are the very
qualities which the low tax orators
have been industriOusly breaking
down for the last six years: we
must talk poor and act poor as an
excuse for not paying our debt.
But the whole theory is not only
mischievous but false; Tennessee
Is not bankrupt, Tennesseans are
not paupers; we can educate our
children and take decent care of
our insane and still pay our debts
like honest and manly citizens.
But, whatever we can or can not
do, let no one imagine that our
public schools are in danger. There
is no institution which commands
so large a support OF public opinion
in Tennessee as her schools. The
solid colored vote cannot be divi-
ded on that question, whatever in
trigue and cajOlery may do in other
matters the enlightened leaders of
progressive ideas hold them first
among all our institutions the fru-
gal husbandmen who are working
their way on small resources know
that their children can be taught on
no other system half so cheaply or
efficiently as this.
1t has occurred to us on hearing
these shallow forebodings to cOnsid
er who are our leading State Credit
men and who our strongest support
ers of public schools, and we have
found almost to a man that they
are the same persons we must ask
pardon of the gentlemen whose
names we now produce and trust
they will forgive us In view of the
necessity of meeting an injurious
mis-statement. Judge Smith has
kept his children at the public
schools for years; Judge LurtOn
has now three children there; Mr..
Rhodes has as yet none to place
there but his mother now holds an
honored place among the teachers
there, although her strength is no
longer sufficient to maintain it;
Mr., Alternately is an educationist
of lifelong reputation; Mr.. A.
Howell is at once an uncompromis-
ing supporter of the existing settle
ment and has been the most active
and efficient member of the Board of
Education ever since we have had
such Board, and sends his children
to the schools and never expects to
send them elsewhere; finally Col.
Bailey as chairman of the commit
tee on Education in the United
States Senate was the author of the
most important bill which has
passed that body for the support of
education since he was a member
of it.
We could extend this list indefi-
nitely but will only add that those
who may recognize the initials at
the close of this article will also
recognize name which, whatever
its value, has always been associa-
ted with the two questions of pub
lie credit and public education more
prominently than with any other.
Let no one be alarmed then for
the public schools; in whatever
other direction we may retrench,
the school fund will always be a
sacred domain commanding the sup
port of all classes in society and all