Telegram-herald., 1891-03-28
OPPOSES BAsroNYs BILL.


fo TIE EdlteT O. the TslkGEAN H. hKKAI9-
/ See by the IELksEAa HERAID :
Lansing dispatches that the Text Book
tall has passed the Michigan Senate
win The probability that II VII become
law. Every Session for the past
fifteen years this same b.ll has heen
introduced IN one or both houses Of the
Michigan Legislature, WsEh honest n
tentlons, 40 douht, gAe fF7euds % such
legislation believing that The measure
> demanded by The people, and that Il
would scret the dear people lr0la the
eNactlons oi the school book monopoly.
Ii passed tie senate Ia 1879, bGt WAS
defeated n the House. / also opposed
i ia the House OF 1880 for good and
substantial reasons anu i an opposed
10 Il now and We're II put 10 vote 1
think tAree-fOuTths OF the educators OF
our State, aye lhree-IouTlhs OF the ia u
Gated classes Of our State are opposed
10 tins same Text Book bill. flfsI for the
reason inst IL takes out of the hands Of
parents, guardians, school boards and
Others, the power, aye the lnaiienable
ngnt 10 decide what the children en-
trusted 10 their care shall read. and IN
what manner they shall be educated.
O, but II gives uniformity. SO II does
But Is uniformity so desirable that Nc
should barter away our individual
right 10 educate our children II our
OWN way.
Chinese Uniformity Undesirable.
But is uniformity desirable Per Sc, j
think not. Do We desire all the youth
Of 4 -.
books. sing the same songs, go through
the same exercises II gentlemen de-
sire "A bright and shining example OF
uniformity let them go 10 China.
There they Will find II. For thousands
Of years the Cinnamon have read the
same books, thought the same thoughts
and pursued the same paths. What is
the result Stagnatlon and IN
tellectual death. Then. however
desirable 1t might be, is II far
and Just? Our people are Protestant,
Catholic; IN fact, are of ali shades OF
religious belief. Would a Protestant
board furnish school books acceptable
10 Catholics, or vice versa. Would
Republican board furnish a series of
books acceptable TO Democrats, or vice
versa? In fact, would 1t not give this
board the power 10 bend and influence
the minds Of the youth 10 suit their po-
lltical or religious fancy?
Another Monopoly started.
But great monopoly Is 10 be Grip
pied. Indeed; how? By creating an
other monopoly OF vast proportions
and giving to II irresponsible board the
power 10 furnish school books OF what
ever kind, quality ard at whatever
price they see fit. Turn loose a lion to
drive out the wolf. But il is cheaper,
Is II? States that have tried il think
not, and many have abandoned 1t.
What is wanted just now is more in
dividualism, more independence. rather
than to be continually looking TO the
State for guidance in things temporal
and spiritual, more freedom and less
interference with vested rights by State
Or nation. And, again, 1t is a littls
singular that the present Legislature
instead of abolishing Offices, splitting
up boards and scraping off barnacles
and "doing" the reform act 10 perfec-
ton, should seek TO create board with
such formidable powers as the one con-
templated in Senator Bastone's bill. IL
is to be hoped that the House will have
enough good sense and love of individ-
ual freedom and local self-government
left to decapltate Bastone's bill.
JOHN w. McNABB.
Fremont, Mich, March %, 1891.