Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-05-24
School VS.. Saloon.

In recent speech delivered at
Iowa City by Hon. John B. Finch,
the eminent Democratic prohibition
isl of Nebraska, we find the follow
ing contrast of the work of the
schools and the saloons
Some years ago | was to meet a
gentleman of my own State To- diss
cuss the question of prohibition in
the Academy of Music in Omaha,
The gentleman was one of the lead
ing lawyers and polititions of that
city. | was desirous of making as
good case against his client as pos
sibie and so went down to Omaha
day or two before the discussion to
seek for witnesses against the traffic
in his own home. The first thing |
did was to call on the superintend-
ent of public instruction; the reason
| did SO was this: The salvation of
our liberties, the perpetuity OF our
government must depend upon the
education. intelligence and conscience
of the people. America can only
live while its citizens who control
the ballot-hox, who make the laws,
who govern the country are intelli-
gent, moral men. 1t is utterly use
less to suppose that vile men and
base men will ever maintain for any
great length of time correct princi-
pals of government, or correct prln-
cipals of liberty. This fact was re-
coguized at the very birth of our
government, that it was absolutely
necessary to educate the voters and
the citizens in this country if the
founders wished to perpetuate the
the liberties of the infant republic.
wished to ascertain in that city
what was the number and strength
of the American system of schools;
that system which, unites with the
churches of this country is the great
Keystone of American prosperity,
and the corner of the perpetuity Of
| this government | asked the Su-
porintendent how many school build
ings they had in the city Of Omaha; !;
he told me they had seven, exclusive
of the private schools and the colleges.
The graded school system of Omaha
is one of the best in the center of
this continent. ! asked him then
how many teachers they employed,
and he told me sixtyfour. "Will
you tell me- asked, chow many
graduated during the past year?' A
reference to his books, and he told
| me about one hundred. "How
much did the citizens of this city
pay to continue this system OF
schools during the Year, and he
told me about $4,000. Then. |
went down to look after the other
system of schools, the schools of
crime, of vice, of misery, of despot-
ISM | went to their pcrintendent
the police judge, and said to him:
Judge, how are your schools get
ting?" He looked at me and asked
ne if was drunk. told him he
| he should not think Was because
most of his visitors were. that |
wished to ascertain some facts ind
explained what [ had asked the .th-
er superintendent of schools. h a
moment he caught my idea ind
said, You think | am superintNd-
ent of saloons?' and | said ''Areyou
not?" well" he said, 81 guess !
am" { Laughter "Well, how nnny
school buildings i'll the city of Oma.
ha?" A reference tc his books and
he told me. "One hundred and fifty.
FIVE" "How many teachers doyou
employ?" and ho told me inc!nline
cappers and bartenders, there yas
about 402. swell, Judge, hev
many have you graduated within
the year? A reference to his com
VI mitment book and he told me the,
{ had up for examination and hat
s fined, given diplomas to rock-pil
and Jail to over 1900.