Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-05
THE ISSUE IN WISCONSIN.

There is considerable inquiry as to what
the real issue in Wisconsin is concerning
the school law, and why the Compulsory
Education Act is opposed by the German
Lutherans and the Catholics. The facts
are these
What is known as the Bennett school
law provides that all children between the
ages of and IA must be sent to some
school at least twelve weeks in the year,
except there is some valid reason for alb
ence, such as physical inability, etc.
Only institutions of learning are recog-
nized as schools under this law, in which.
as part of the elementary education of
the children, reading, writing, arithmetic
and United States History are taught in
English.
The issue of religion in the schools does
not, therefore, enter in; nor is there much
said about the compulsion to attend
school. 1t is an issue of clannishness.
Because the State refuses to recognize as
school the institution in which the Eng-
lish language is ignored, the fight against
the law is made. 1t is the law, however,
and the local elections in which the enc
mics of the law, through the agency of the
Democratic party, triumphed, were run
with view to gaining power to work the
repeal of the law.
The enemies Of the law occupy these
positions-and we state them as fully as
We can ascertain them. Under the Con-
stitution all men are guaranteed their
right to the pursuit of happiness; that is
an inherent and inalienable right. But
domestic happiness is interfered with if
the State or stranger interposes to die
tate how children shall be brought up.
As one of the enemies of the law, in
pamphlet of argument, puts it: "If the
Bennett law is to stand, then change the
Declaration of Independence and the Con-
stitution of our fourishing State; then
brand the statesmen of revolutionary DAYS
tion as numskulls; then let the world
know that, in the opinion of the friends of
this law, pursuit of happiness is not an in
herent and inalienable right, but right
granted by majority to minority, and
to be enjoyed within such narrow limits as
an almighty despotic majority may see fit
to establish"
The friends of the law reply to this with
these arguments: The official tongue is
English; the laws, proclamations and
official speech are in English; the law
does not prohibit the teaching in any
school of any tongue the people wish
taught. 1t gives the broadest possible
liberty to school Boards in that direction.
But the State has right to have its citi-
zens educated in the rudimentary branches
Of knowledge, because intelligence is the
conservator of good citizenship, and ignc-
rance the mother Of vice and lawlessness.
The school system is based upon this prin-
ciple, and to deny it is to destroy the sys-
TEN. The State has right, and it is
wise, to have all schools seeking or need
ing its recognition also recognize the Eng
lish language, for it is essential that the
citizen should be able to read the Consti-
tuition and the laws, and these are pub
lished only in the official tongue.
The State does not interfere with the
domestic right any further than human
wisdom demands for the conservation of
the rights of the weak against the tyranny
of the strong, and no further than wise po-
lice regulations are necessary for the pub
lie peace, prosperity and protection, and
the insurance of the rights of the people |
to property and to life and liberty.
Every Government must be supreme in
its own domain. Ours is Government of
sovereignties, and its DEGREES are deter
mined by the majority. When majority
decides what shall be the law ii is not
tyrannous, since it is the ultimate and the |
only way in such a Government of arriv-
ing at the end of contention. That is no
Government which does not govern its
citizens. The self-governed people re-
quire organization and regulation just as
truly in the most arbitrary monarchy. |
The authority Of our Government is the
majority declaration, and that is supreme
within the limitations Of the organic law,
which is itself the voice of the majority. |
Departure from these principles lands us |
in anarchy. The State may defend itself, |
its territory, the intelligence of its citizens,
their peace and their personal rights to