Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-06-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
~ The editor is not responsible for the views
Entertained BY correspondents.
"Pro Bono PubIico.r

~ Ihe editor Ia not responsible for the views
entertained BY correspondents.
"Pro Bono Publico."
Ed. NORTHWEST: "Pro Bono Publico" hav-
ing, in late issue of the Signal, aired his
views and given the initiatory note of his
proposed demolition of Mr.. Austin and the
School Board, there will at least be no impro-
priety in what may say. "Probono" seems
not to be feeling well, and intimates, there
fore, that we are to be honored with more eff
fusions from the same pregnant source. He
ought not to become fatiguing; let us indulge
the hope that he will not. ''Probono" ap-
pears to be afflicted with pain for which
there is no medicine-unless it be a large
sized funeral of Austin and the Board-this is
saddening. He states as a ''premise," ''that
the American schools are no exception to
other forms and minor b-divisions of State
governments" all of which is very refresh
ing, and probably means that somebody is
about to be paralyzed and that we are to be
edited. 1t is remarkable how, in great exc
gencies, like our school embroglio, for in
stance, mighty champion is providentially
raised up, whose prodigous mental capacity
and invincible assurance seems to grasp, as
twere, the whole situation-to be able to
elucidate the moral, social and legal aspects
thereto. the cause and remedy, accompanied
with advice, structures, condemnation and
transports of indignation. All of which must
not be mistaken for supercilious insolence,
because said champions, like our "Probono," !"
are working "for the public good" But
"Prcbono" should not try to deceive people.
In shis role as a great exemplar, he must try
and be very good. His statement that, "with
the exception of the present administration,
the practice of the School Board has been
consistent with the theory that the Board is
the creature of the electors, " is erroneous. 1t
is notorious that since the organization of cur
public schools, each successive Board and su-
|perintendent have been condemned without
mercy, and fairly scourged from position by
the curses and maledictions of the educated
public" All the villifcation and abuse which
the dictates of malice and implacable hatred
could suggest was heaped upon Sheldon as a
william, Loomis as a scOundrel, McCaskey as
a detestable dude, Williamson as a four-eyed
fool, and now Austin ASA tyrant. The truth
is, the same condition of things has always
obtained with reference to our schools. There
is always somebody in whom the public has
failed to discover great merit and exalted un-
derstanding; they are anappreciated- neg
lected. If this great neglected throng could
only have the management of things short
time, what q delightful change there would
be! 1t is deprecated that model man like
"Probon6n should fall into such transports of
malice. It is apt to create suspicion that
he is notqsite perfect--possibly that his own
sweet character is not abBve reproach; that is
to say, If his antecedents were eviscerated,
the moral alatmosphere in the localitywhere he
resides weEld not be fragrant! 1t would moi
be redelenS.of sweetness, like the perfume OF
the rosel My dear ''Probono" is guilty OF
deliberate dre, when, just because he is not
pleased with people, he consigns them to the
Cannibal IElands, to be eaten Such a spirit
is not consistent with that pure, gentle good
ness which we expect to see manifested in
such modd men as "Prd5ono," besides, the
|fpeople will mot rise up and clap their hands
and call him "blesseR paragonr' "Pro-
ibono's' tbenevolent disposition is irrstated,
that some member of the Board resorted to
electioneering. Why did nat s'Probona" and
his coterie fEustrate these schemes by devot-
ing little time and money 10 that end? 1t is
mot graceful to whine, affes you have been
well licked. If there was snch great danger
DO our public schools as he suggests, the in
vsstment of hickle to defeat these base de-
signs would not have been estravagant. 1t
has been intimated (by some depraved per
son, probably,) that sProbano" does not
pant with his nickles with reckless munii
ceace, ,but,rather encourages his friends to do
SO. However, he spends lots of wind. Is his
motto millions of wind, but not one cent
for tribute"? He would have the Board re-
verse their action, which, Of course, they will,
not do. "Probono" has been represented to
that body as an ''od spider-legssd, seven
tailed hashaw, of the educational realm. y
Hence, he has no influence. aProbonoo
needs soothing; his otherwise pacific. angelic
spirit is hide-bound. Under his summer vest
there is mn aching void-a 'gloom- stuffed va
cancy," a kind of gaspEng whatnese, for
which this world has no S. s. s. Even Tut
Liver Pills are Q failure in this instance. Rn.
''Probonor must console himself with the re-
flection that such soulful esthetic aspirations
nc h;c ,,ovnr raocl Al,at, ,,rxcSS4 g.. \.