Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-12

and articles that should be framed or
| mounted so that they can be seen. a col
! lection of this character draws Increase TO
| itself by being properly displayed and it
would seem to be wise for the State to
grant such an appropriation as will en-
| able the society to do the work above in
dictated. The expenditure required is not
| large aud is directly in the line OF the pre-
| servatlon, proper use and increase of
property of great historical value, and in
which the state now has proprietary iu-
| terest
PBOll1BtTON LIQUOR LAW.
During all the time the prohibitory
| liquor law has been upon our statute
| books, there have been constant and per
| sistent efforts on the part of its opponents
| 10 discover defects in its provisions and to
prevent its proper enforcement. The rep
| reSentatlVes of the people nave, on the
| other hand, sought to remedy It's defects,
| strengthen its character, and improve ltS
| effectiveness. As the law now stands ii is
| an exceedingly strong Que. Its weakness
| lies, to a considerable extent, i'll the dill
| Guilty attending its enforcement. The per
| son injured does not, As in other cases, en-
| ter complaint, look up evidence, and by
| his suggestions aid the prosecutor in his
| work, but by all means i'll his power, not
| ufreqaently committing the crime of per
| Jury so to do, shields the man who has
| ministered to his ruin. Its inef1eCtiveness
has also been increased by want OF sup
port on the part Of the public at large,
| There have been too many who, though
| at heart friendly to the law, lacked the
moral courage to publicly support those
who have had to do with its enforcement.
| This class has added weakness to weak
ness in its unjust criticisms OF those no,
| deserted by friends and surrounded by
| foes, have in mos. cases performed their
duty rs well AS the existing circumstances
permitted. Gradually, however, better
public sentiment has been developed
prosecuting officers teel the moral sup
| port given; jurors are strengthened IN a
spirit of independence, and witnesses be-
gin to comprehend that in evasion and
| untruth they are no longer excused, much
| less commended. a corresponding weak
| ness is noted on the part OF offenders IN
| some counties where, few years ago. al
| most all charged will offences under TINS
law took trial, the offender who now dares
| to face jury il the exception. The main
| difficulties are encountered in the more
| populOus villages where greater secrecy
can he observed and where, when one
| conviction has been had and a line has
| been imposed, the offender finds 1t easy to
| place his business in the hands of another
| as the o,teusibie owner, and so evades
| imprisonment in case Of Il second or thlru
prosecution.
Has not the time come when Il sentence
| of Imprisonment should follow the llrst
convection uUutT iulS law, anu W hch q
provision of that character would do more
to stop sales in the larger villages than
any other measure yet proposed am
strongly of the opinion that 1t has but
the subject is one which by its importance
so addresses itself to your patient scrutiny
that suggestions are unnecessary.
EDUCATION.
The form and nature of our government
are such that virtue and intelligence are
not only its foundation stones. but its
walls of defence. 1t is conceded by all
that high development of these quail
ties can only come with superior eauca-
tiopal facicillties The trainers of the
constitution recognized this fact in the
provision that claws for the encourage
meut of virtue and prevention OF wee ana
immortality, ought to be constantly Kept
in force, and duly executed; ana a com
petent number of schools ought to be
| maintained IN each town tor the convent
ent instruction of youth and one or more
grammar schools be Incorporated and
properly supported, III each county III the
State"
The people and their representatives
have, at all times sought TO carry these
provisions into effect; the only dllleren-
cts arising have been those relating TO
methods and systems rather than TO the
ends sought to be accomplished
That the present district system CON
tains serious defects, can not be doubted :
that the common schools have failed, in
the character OF their work, to keep
abreast with the progress OF the times,
is admitted by all ob5ervant people.
New methods have been proposed and
discussed the town system has been per
tected and offered to the people, only to
| be rejected, and to day we stand in the
position occupied 10 years ago, with the
district system in force in nearly ali the
towns of the State, unlmprOVeu ana lulI
of glazing faults
In the proposed adoption of the town
system, some of our best educators hoped
tor success, believing that under its pro
visions better system OF supervision
could be obtained, and that an efficient
superv ison WAS the prime necessity OF
the hour. That this system has worked
admirably in certain places, cannot ne
DOUBTED that 1t has failed ia others can 70
not be denied; that the great majority OF
the people prefer the district system ana
are averse TO any other, Is as plain 10 my
mind rs any fact in history IN be III lie'
| Recognizing the necessity OF solving
this problem intelllgently, the General
Assembly of 1856 enacted Il law entitled
AN act appointing a committee or three
TO draft new educational hill, so a. TO
increase the efficiency and improve the
public schools OF the state, uutier Whlcll
| a committee consisting of Hon. lIovelHud
Munsou, of Manchester, President Ezra
| Brainerd, of Middlebury College, and
? Principal 5. w. Laudon, of the Burling-
ton High school, was appointed. THESE
q gentlemen entered the work With en-
5 thusiasm, aud have devoted much time
and energy to the study of the question
5 and in devising IA remedy for the evils
| found to exist. The results of their work
, will be laid before you at an early day
space will not permit discussion OF IL In
this address, but you will pardon me III
remarking that the plan they propose
commends itself to my Judgment and
1 meets with my warm approval;
I Upon the General Assembly rests a
, great responsibility with it there has
= come great opportunity parents
: throughout the State are looking 10 You
for action, and public interest demands 1t
4 expense is not to be considered IN ques
5 ton of this Importance, unless the
( amount required is greatly dlsproportlon
r. ate to the end sought. am sure need
e not urge you to lay aside all prejudices
a in favor of or against any particular
!, system, or to rise above any personal oil
| catfish in the matter. NOul