The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-03-06

pOIiIIcS no pdTdllei INSTANCE OF cOnBuU-
mate egotism on the part of an editor
can be found, and the ordinary insolence
of position blanches at the recital of mes
sages from Washington of which he was
the bearer. It occasions no surprise
that Jere Rusk should speak in opposi-
ton to compulsory school law. His
common school education is more his
misfortune than his fault; and as his sue
cess in life is in no sense attributable to
his education it is natural he should look
with Indifference, if not with disfavor,
upon any movement designed to extend
knowledge of good English. But
while ignorance Is pardonable when not
obtrusive, it becomes offensive when die
tatorial. When Rusk assumes to dictate
what laws are "uncalled for" in Wiscon-
sin his censorship is simply an exhibition
of harmless self-importance. When he
| announces what his action would be with
reference to the Bennett law chad he
been il the governors chair" he passes
the bounds of legitimate criticism, violates
| the courtesy due to bis successor and be-
comes an impertinent intermeddler. Mr..
Rusk may in his own opinion be an ex-
emplar for all succeeding chief execu-
tives of the state but the people are hard
| ly willing to accept him as a standard;
| ha xIyol1 ha
cused for acting on his own Judgment
instead of making inquiries as to what
Jerry Rusk would do under the circum-
stances and thus have statesman DIS a
guide. Rusk not only says what he
would do, but he employs a political
nuncio duly authorized to inform the
people Of this state what his action would
| be had he been in the governors chair"
Glorious old Jerry Rusk what would
Wisconsin be without you! Once before
"you done your duty" and the chaplets
which decked your brow were so CRATE
full to your vanity that you are anxious
to have the people know that even now
your duty would be did" if opportunity
offered. OF course, Jerry in the fervor of
protestation forgot that comparisons are
odlous," and that possibly Gov. Hoard
might feel that it was not just the right
| thing TO state that real live governor
who ''done" his duty, would act on the
Bennett law differently from what the
present executive did. But these little
| acts OF courtesy may be ignored by an
| idol of the people, made such by so man
aging the military power of the state that
an old man feeding chickens in back
yard was made to bite the dust while the
military power of the state got off with
out scratch. A governor who "done
| his duty in this fashion is lifted above
| the observance Of the rules of ordinary
| propriety. Indeed it gives warrant for
the investiture of Mr.. Coleman with full
authority to declare what the people of
| Wisconsin might do with reference to
school legislation.
Little Van Setback also sent message
to the people of Wisconsin by Mr.. Cole
man who proposes to adjust all the paro-
chial schools of the state without cost to
any one if Gov. Hoard will be kind
enough to tell him where and when to
begin. Little Van can talk English suf-
| ticiently to make his wants known and
that Is about the sum of his requirements
There is one thing Van knows clear down
to bed rock, and that is, that he doesn't
know much What Van knows he knows
we'll because his horizon is almost within
his touch. The Bennett law is beyond
his mental ken and his opinions on it
should be received with the charity ever
| prompt to be extended to those "who
know not what they do" Van is not re-
| sponsIble for his utterances. Providence
is inscruitable in its ways but its pur-
pose has always some end in view. Van
was fashioned with qualities so negative
| that he might succeed i'll being a congress
man from the Milwaukee district. His let
ter to Edgar w. Coleman, editor of Der
Herold" is portrait of the man. "The
| Bennett law" he says, SHOULD never have
been passed and ought to be repealed"
| Here is an expression of opinion suscep-
tible of contradiction. Van has appar-
| emily taken Sides" But astonishment
has hardly framed an ejaculation before
VANS political craft is steered between
Scylla and Charybdis by dextrous turn
| of the helm: There can however be no
| dispute upon the question that the Eng
| llsh language should be taught in every
| school in Wisconsin" There is an evil
| dence of political sagacity for you,-an
anticlinal opinion, the product of mind
infantile in its ordinary operations. But
| 1t has wealth ofappreciative knowledge
of popular demand. Ikeis worldly-wise,
| even though he is self-contradictory and
Mr.. Coleman, the ambassador from Wash
ington, has no doubt ''in his mind" that
mr.. Van Setback firmly believes what he
| has expressed" Every one is in happy
accord with Editor Coleman in this view.
Isaac, the fisher for votes, has given him
self the utmost latitude for firm" belief.
Indeed he has got tine better of bluff
jerry" who is willing to rest his case with
an assertion that he knows more than
Gov. Hoard.
Senator Sawyer and Spooner also
authorized Mr. Coleman to lecture the
people of Wisconsin on their presuming
to enact compulsory school law with
| out leave granted. And Mr.. Coleman
proceeds with Impudent self-apprecia-
ton to do so, What will the people of
Wisconsin do about it? Will they throw
dust ON their heads in presence of these
self-constltuted censors of their political
| actions and cry, I'VE have sinned; take