The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-14

THE legislature has done with the bill
forbidding any foreign language from be-
ing taught in the common schools, just
what The Pilot predicted would be done.
But no one could believe that the assem-
bly, would become vote-making ma
chine to the extent of grossly violating
an unwritten rule of courtesy to men,
Der having introduced bill. In view of
the rampant haste with which the bill
was killed, the only surprise now is that
the assembly did not carry its servility to
Milwaukee dictation to the extent of ex-
polling Slupecki. If City Attorney
Elliot "who comes from q family of $50
years of American blood" should find it
necessary to still further play the DEM
agoque in order to make his position
more certain, he has only to ask in the
name of the Milwaukee Turn Verein for
Slupecki's expulsion, and the assembly
will do his bidding with cringing alacrity.
For some years it has been apparent
that the common schools cannot give in
struction in any foreign language unless
English be sacrificed. The friends OF the
common schools are DESTROYS that the
best possible education be given the ris-
ing generation. But there are limitations
imposed by the inef1iciency OF teachers
and the time during which children can
attend. Not one per cent. of the teach
ers in the common schools OF this state
whose course of study includes two
languages, are competent to teach both,
and in many instances are unfit to teach
either. But their smattering in both
gives them preferment to the exclusion of
those who are able to teach one or the
other language and all the common
school branches.
Had the legislature been less intent up
on looking after the political future of it's
individual members, less anxious to catch
| some OF the glory which is to do service
in future political campaigns in which
McElroy and Elliot will be prominent
| figures, some arguments might be offered
| for and against the bill and Legislators
would learn something on subject on
which they are wofully ignorant-the
condition OF the common schools.
| TIE legislature should give careful
consideration to questions affecting oul
common schools. There is not particle
OF prejudice against any nationality in
any movement calculated to benefit the
schools, having its origin among the
friends of the public school. The super.
intendents of this state would not have
advised the introduction of the Slupecki
bill as they know too we'll the demagogue
character OF the legislature and had good
reason to fear that members would be SC
determined to Guido one another in bid
ding for votes, that a law would be pass.
ed making it a penal offense to speak
English in the common schools
The members OF the legislature are too
cowardly. The Turn Verein of Milwau-
kee does not speak for the Germans OF
this state. There are no people who do
not honor those who have the courage OF
their convictions. A majority of the
Germans Of this county are opposed to
teaching anything but the English lang
uage In the common schools. In the
graded schools German has a place, but
should be taught by person having
some knowledge of German literature
The writer has never failed to express his
views on this matter and has yet to learn
that he was charged in consequence with
being hostile to Germans. Many express
dissent but the argument is always on
the line of what is best.
1t is perfectly safe to assume that both
Elliot aud Nc Elroy are knownothings
Scratch Yankee demagogue and YOU
will always find knownothing. They
both protest too much to be sincere
knowing both by their acts and neither
personally the Pilot ventures the opinion
that if either OF those men lived in COM
munlty wholly American SO that nothing
might be feared from antagonizing for
elgn nationality, each would vote to dis
franchise every foreigner. The demago-
que is political chameleon. He lives
on fostering prejudice and he always
wears the colOrs which class him with
the stronger portion. He never acts on
principle or conviction and is detested by
all who Iowa tr,,fb opI o1,,;ro ,or-.