San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-10-03
The Value Of Agitation In Good Cause.

the benefits OF agita ton for the q,
vancement OF the best interests {
society. There are not few PEE
sons who oppose agitation, The
. don Z want to be disturbed in Ill
. routine OF sloth and self-seekinl
They are ready TO eIclaim with th
sluggard: "a little moro sleep,
: little more slumber, little more fold
ing OF the hands to sleep" The
forget that such is not the Scriptur
rule, "First pure, then peacea bic,
is the divine iniun ciion, Men ma.
continue to cry "Poace! peacel' bu
there il and can be no pence save u
established on the basis of mora
right and the grand social rule-"th'
greatest good to the greatest number.
The agitation OF educational topics
and progress in San Marcos during
the present season, in which th,
FREE Press has borne 80 conspicuous 4
part, affords striking illustration OF
the great truths above enunciated.
Prior to this agitation general apathy
prevailed on the subject. There was
indeed vague impression that we
ought to have new public school
house, but no definite idea rs TO the
mode of attaining the end, behind
which uncertainty the opposition to the
movement sought to entrench them.
selves. Thus when the matter was
agitated last spring, it was soon found
that there was nothing settled on the
subject, and hence wo got off on the
wrong track, to the great JOY of the
opposition. But what followed !
BY tho continued agitation and
investigation Of the FREE Press,
the opinion of Superintendent
Cooper was first obtained that the
City Council had full jurisdiction to
build public school buildings without
any vote OF the taxpayers, and after
wards tho decision OF Attorney Gen
oral Hogg fully sustaining that opin-
ion. In this we hold that the FREE
Press did an incalculable benefit, not
only to this town, but to others gen.
orally similarly situated throughout
The State. Mr. Hoggs opinion was
widely published in the Statesman,
San Antonio Express, Columbus Citi-
zen, and no doubt in many other pa
pers of the State. 1t relieved the ques-
ion of all the supposed legal Difficult
lies, and has been and will be no
loubt adopted as the open door to
The erection of many public school
buildings which would otherwise
nave failed or been indefinitely post
poned.
AS one Of the secondary results of
this agitation we believe we may
Justly claim the reconstruction of the
Institute building. 1t is true some
hing of the sort was perhaps in con-
but we have no idea it
would have been done this year, but
or the agitation of the public school
louse question. Reader, do you
AVE any such idea ? The FREE PRESS,
hen, which has been unjustly charg-
ID with hostility to the Institute, it
viii have to be conceded has thus
one it most signal service.
Meantime, as the result of the agi-
alton and discussion Of the question
v the FREE Press, q better under
of the public school system :
as disseminated, the sanction Of it
Y the fathers and founders of Texas ,,
hown, preiudices removed, benefits
( the system and what it would do !,
Or the growth and progress of our
'wn presented in clear light, and =
,e way thus prepared for the sure
iumph of the measure of the build
e of new public school buildings
lequate to our present and future :.
eeds. We say the sure triumph of
10 measure, and that, too. at no dis
mt day. At this writing we do
1t know whether the city council
ii take action in its favor or not
3 hope they may. But however,
at may be, it requires no prophet to r
retell its certain triumph. The q
hit which has been disseminated
the agitation of this question can :,
yer again be extinguished, but will a,
ow brighter till San Marcos shall be
md taking rank with other towns -,
its class by the building of good 70
,dern style public school buildings N
L the establishment of good A,
stem of public schools, which shall H
her blessing and her pride through ca