San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-10-24
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION.
Why Blame the Free Pressl.--Is II Not
Right

Why Blame the Free Pressi--.Is IL Not
Right
We have the best Of reasons for.be-
lieying that tho persistent advocacy
OF n new public school house in San
Marcos and tho cause Of general pub
lie education hae given offence to not
a few in this community. "Pity It's
It's true"
But why censure or condemn us'
Have we not given abundant and
unapswerable reasons as wc have gone
along for the faith that is in usf
Have we not shown that the idea OF
universal education was the legitimate
outcome OF the Protestant Reforma-
ton. expanded and perfected by the
principles OF the American Revolution
of 177G! Have we not shown that the
fathers and founders OF the Republic
and State of Texas fully accepted
this idea and made it the corner stone
of their political and social ediiice'
Have we not demonstrated by the
plain words OF our State constitution
that soctarian schools can legally have
no part nor lot with our system OF
public education? Did we not quote
no less q conservative statesman than
JOHN ireland, emphatically to th @
same purportf
Was not the drift OF the lectures Mt
our last Chautauqua strongly in
favor Of our public schools7 II
| ia true that at the second ses-
sion OF that institution it got OH
on the wrong foot, 80 to speak,
on its opening day on this subject,
but this has been abundantly atoned
for by its subsequent course, es,
peciaily for the past two years. Did
not DR.. Cranfll, Baptist, and Dr.
Briggs, Methodist, unite in taking
tho identical position held by the
FREE PRESS on this subject And
what will our anti-free school people
saw when we assure them that Mr.
|DuBose, the favorite Of San Marcos
does not hesitate to declare himself
| in behalf of our public school system'
Ho has several times freely SO ex
pressed himself to US, and he wal
prominent in giving his countenance
and approval to the excellent address
of Superintendent Cooper, made or
Teachers Day on the Hill. And
by the way, has not Mr.. Cooper sus
tanned the FREa Press IN every pos
ton It hrs taken?
In short, all good men and goo'
influences are with us in regard t.
this matter. A God of justice ant
of love, and he whose missi on wa
chiefly to the poor, and who came tt
save that which was lost, are pledge'
by their attributes to the approval o
this great and good cause. We say
therefore, to the half-hearted, the
doubters and cavilers, Come and join
MS in this good work. Don't bt
afraid of losing q few dimes or dol
lars in your business or popularity
That is not the point, but to do VIVA
is right. But even in worldly poln'
: of view, we predict that the right
side in this case will soon be tn
popular eide. The time is at hano
8 ayen in the South, even in Texas
even in San Marcos and all over Hays
county, when the public schools shal
be cherished and honored as tn
: fathers of our Nation and State con
y templated, us the greatest OF bless
+ ings, and the grand hope of the per
r petuity of free institutions. Ye tim
orous, doubling ones, afraid OF you
own shadows, afraid of the loss OF
p little business or popularity, ye narro'
q schemers of Jesuitical sectarianisn
dismiss your doubts, cast off you
fears, and come out on the Lord
side, on humanitys side in this ma
d ter. Blind indeed must be the mai
f who cannot see the turn of the tid'
9 even in Texas, in favor OF public ire
schools. Ye, therefore, whose stud
is to be found on the winning side
with no higher motives, now is you
:. opportunity. -,
1 Much has been said and writer
-, pro and con on this subject in ou
midst during the present season, bu
n we believe it will now be general.
J. conceded. that whoever has bee
1 wrong in regard to it, it has not bee
the FREE Press. Why, then, condem
It, when it has been and is RIGHT?
-
L Tho follovinor is n uraphic pictur