Daily Republican., 1886-10-21
superintendent whliams, Partisan ship

SUPERINTENDENT OF Public Schools
Williams, upon being called upon to
speak at the Democratic mass meeting
last night ct the Academy of Music,
read from the REPUBLICAN the follow
ing little editorial remark from yester-
days issue:
"when James II. Groves was su-
perintendent OF the public schools OF
the State he never went about making
political speeches for the Democratic
party, though he was Democrat. No
Off In the State should be more non
partisan than the Superintendent OF
Public Schools. Mr.. williams Is max
ing Q mistake, and We frankly tell him
30 % friend. Better attend to school
duties Mr.. Williams, like Mr.. Harlan
OF this city does, and let politics alone.
The schools you visit are made up Of
Republicans and Democrats, and they
may not feel oomplimented by the visits
Of . partisan stump speaker
While reading 1t there were interject.
ed remarks from the audience OF ap.
proval OF the sentiment of the editorial,
but Mr.. Superintendent Williams,
made quite an eloquent little defense OF
the right Of Democrat TO say what he
pleased upon any and all occa sions.
He seemed to think that because be
was Superintendent OF the Public
Schools Of Delaware, was no reason
why he should not take hand In poll.
tics.
We have no particular desire to 20
into public discussion OF this matter
with the superintendent, but We plant
ourselves firmly upon the principle We
enunctated In our article that he took
exceptions to, and we do this the more
resolutely, since the most eloquent part
OF Mr.. Biggs' speech was devoted to O
scathing denuncistion of those minis.
ters OF the gospel who went even ON
week days to speak at Harvest Homes,
in favor OF the Temperance Reform
ticket. They had better stick to their
pulpits, said Mr.. Biggs, and not mix
mp Tenn perance and religion with poll
tics. No remark that Mr.. Biggs made
last night, was more heartily applauded
than thia What 10 the cause OF edu
ton Is IL not fully % sacred q
cause ~ temperance and religion :?
Should not those who have charge Of 1t
keep out Of the dirty pool of partisan
politics as well rs those ministers who
speak for the temperance cause ?
Neither Mr.. Williams defence OF
himself, nor Mr.. Gray's long AroloQy
for him that because the Constitution of
the United States and political economy
are taught In the public schools, there
fore those who teach them have the
right TO speak 10 favor OF the Consitu-
tion at political meetings, make the
matter any clearer. Nobody can rea-
sonaoly object to the principles of the
constitution, the science OF G government
and political economy being taught in
the public schools. In fact that Ia
where they should be taught, but this
s-not the spirit in which Mr.. Williams
addresses q political meeting and urges
the election OF the whole Democratic
ticket, reeking and fostering In the
corruption OF the frauds that nominated
1t. Even had Mr.. Williams came be-
fore q Democratic audience and de-
nounced the abominable frauds that ave
split up and divided his own party and
made Its action reproach and q shame
ne would still have teen out of place.
How much more then Is he out OF place
when failing to strike blow at fraud.
because 1t held high carnival in his
own party, he endorses these same
frauds and expects to jingle the results
OF them In his own pocket. We say
again and with increased emphasis tn at
Mr.. Williams has made a mistake, and
although he may have succeeded In
making himself solid with Mr.. Blggs,
he will find that he detracted from his
prestige as a non. partisan Superintsnd
ent OF the Public Schools of Della ware.