Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-01-03
THE TEXT BOOK CONVENTION.

courthouse i'll this city, on next Tues
day, January 6, at l O'Clock, p. m.
sharp. The convention consists of
the presidents of school boards, some
% in number. Its duty, as specified i'll
mandatory language, is to adopt school
books for five years.
There is no sort OF doubt that school
books now sell at from 25 TO so per
cent. more than their real worth, and
that this charge is al onerons one to
the parents of the state. 1t is also
pretty clear that these high prices are
maintained by collision Of the princi-
pal publishing houses of the country.
Under all the circumstances it seems
to us that the prudent course Of the
convention will be to re-adopt most Of
| the books now in use, and only to de-
part from that course for very strong
reasons. This, of course, to prevent
confusion and expense.
Then, In order to be under no moral
obligation to the publishers for five
years, let a resolution be adopted ask
ing for such legislation as the v
ton shall think wise, and reciting that
the convention does not, so far as its W
volition is concerned, desire to be
bound by the adoption.
We do not see all absolute remedy
for the present evils in the repeal of
the law, for that only does away with
county uniformity, thereby causing
some difficulty in the purchase OF
books where large stocks are not kept.
| But, if the law is repealed, and we
hope it will be, steps should be taken
to procure books at much less prices
than now prevail. The effort should
be to break down the present monopo-
ly, and to procure as good books for
less money. We do not think there
is deficiency in the quality of the books,
either as to text Or workmanship, but
there IS radical wrong in the prices at
which they sell.
The Blaineites are denouncing Presi-
dent Arthur as a free trader, and are
citing the treaties with Spain and San
Domingo as evidences of his hostility
to the true interests of protection and
the republican party. The president
could hardly have a stronger tribute
paid to his common sense and patriot
ism, but in a defense of Mr.. Arthur
Secretary Frelinghuysen throws all the
fat in the fire, by claiming that the
treaties are in the interest of protection.
He says in a letter written OH Dec. 26th,
to the chairman of the foreign affairs
committee of the senate, to show
that they are intended by the
administration to further the inter-
est of professionalism these
articles (sugar and tobacco) we import
are produced within territory spar
ingly or not at all, or of different
grades not satisfying the public demand
and it is the essence Of wise protection
to forego duties upon these aud to i'm
pose them upon those manufactures
which may be probably fostered by
impeding foreign competition. Not
only do these conventions do this, but
they enlarge the foreign market for our
surplus productions, which it is the
policy of protection to secure and thus
stimulate our commercial operations
and our carrying trade by reserving to
our vessels the enjoyment Of the privi-
leges conceded" The truth is, that
the treaties alluded 10 are an entering
wedge to freer trade than democrats
demand, but they have the direct evil
attending them that they are special
legislation, as pointed out by Mr.. FIRE.
linghuysen, and are really intended to
satisfy the undeniable demand for rev.
enue reform, while at the same time
maintaining the high protective tariff
upon manufactures. The north and
extreme west, where republican ma
j~orities exist, do not raise sugar and
tobacco, so Mr.. Frelinghuysen thinks
it is safe 10 kick those sections that do.
The honest way to reduce the tariff is to
take from all the interests that have re-
ceived its benefits, alike, or very nearly
SO, and only make determinations as to
the per centage of reduction where it
is shown that manifest injustice has
been done by the present schedule.
We are the last to oppose anything on
mere partisan grounds, but we think
reasons are as plenty as blackberries In
July why these treaties should be re-
jected, not the least of which is the in
controvertible fact that if reciprocity ia
good with one nation it. is good
with all nations of equal COM
mercial value and moral standing, and
that, therefore, unless some very par
ticular eason exists It'll bad policy, as
well rs wrong in principle, to make in
vidious distinctions for or against for
eign nations, SO far az trade relations
go
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