The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-02-10
THE FREE SCHOOL QUESTION.
Mr.. Editor

Education is physical, moral and
intellectual power, and for conclusive
evidence of the truth of this asset
sion, we have only to compare our
great glorious and enlightened repub
tic with the puagan or savage nations
Of earth. What can the ignorant
nations of the earth do in either arts
or arms, and what have they done to
make them happy at home or respect
ed abroad, and what has not and eau
not our nation dol What is it but
lucation that elevates, enriches and
expands the mind of man and multi.
plies and enhances the engagement. of
time aud fits him for the bliss of
a boundless eternity? All must be
educated; the welfare and prosperity
of the nation demands it aud the
prosperity Of cur republican form of
government depends thereon. The
destiny of millions hangs upon the ac>
ton of our people in sustaining our
public free school system, and the
subject demands great piAiuuess of
speech and earnestness Of action.
The press that is silent on this sub.
Ject deserves place in the cellars of
Herculaneum. The legislator VITO
has not maturcly considered the sub,
ject is unworthy Of the seat ire en-
cumbers. The orator should direct
bis shafts, the voter should aim his
balots and the phaisnthropist direct
his prayeHui efforts straight to the
support Of general education, rs the
greatest moral question ct the niue.
teenth century.
The Gvd Of lcve has stood by the
history Of the RePu bic from its era
die and has faithfully guided it
through the most critical periods, and
TO the youths Of oar land it must
suon be committed, both as trial and
a truth. A public free school edu-
Gates the rich and poor and benefits
all alike, aad here let us though
we make the assertion with shame
it is net wholly superfuous to vindi.
cate the claims Of the offspring of the
poor, TO that mental cultivation which
every civilized nation should bcstow.
The old fogy idea still exists that
chose who have to labor have no need
OF education, excepting just enough
to teach them to move precisely as
those who are above them may di
rect. We still have this assertion OF
this principle, though often in a more
guarded and indefinite language, but
allow us to say that all such ideas are
Il disgrace to an enlightened commu.
nifty, and in whatever terms they
may be mufied, are leading princi
pie of desp0tism and of the worst
features of aristocracy, and show +
deplOraDle narrow mindedness as wei
As mind unregula,ed by reason Oh
Justice. One nation has the right and
it is not simply IA right but duty t,
tax those not having children to e1u,
cate as they have to tax men for the
support of our Judiciary system vino
never had case in court Our chill
dIen can be better educated and with
less expense by the school tax than
By ana other known method, and the
same law that compels man to re,
spect the rights of his fellow man
ought to compel him to bestow t
liberal education upon his child. 1t il
an lnalenable right which Juice
common sense and the public weliar,
demands. flour present school law
was aided by compulsory law fore
all parents and guardians to senC
children to school then would the sys
TEN he more effective and more goot
he accomplished. We know childret
i'm this vicinity who are for frivolou
excuses kept at home and deprived o
-, oI,o,t;,n Nn,y 70 A y.ho hao N,