The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-10-29
Changes of Public Opinion.

| People who have read and observed the
progress Of events during past years need
not be told that public opinion has under
gone changes Of vital Importance during
lhe past fifty years. How radical some
Of these changes have been it may be pro-
| f1table to notice. One Of these revolutions
of public sentiment has been the method
of advancing the cause of general educa-
ton by the adoption of the system of free
schools The fact has often been stated
| that to Kenosha belongs the credit of es-
ltablishing the first free school by state en-
actment in Wisconsin. This historical
| fact needs no repetition except to bring
out more fully the opposition which the
system of free school education encoun-
tered The subject Of free schools began
to be agitated in Southport (Kenosha) in
| 1913 An act was secured from the ter
ritorial legislature to authorize the citi-
zens of Kenosha to establish school, al
lowing the expenses Of maintaining it to
be levied by tax on the property Of the
| town in the same manner as taxes for
other general purposes were levied. The
legislature regarded it an experiment Of
doubtful expediency, therefore attached a
proviso to the law that it should not take
effect until accepted by majority Of the
legal voters Of the corporation. It will
appear incredible now that the proposal
to support schools without charge for
tuition TO parents and guardians, was then
unpopular with the poor as we'll as the
rich 1t was declared to be manifestly
unjust to tax property holders to support
schools who had no children to educate.
The friends Of the measure held frequent
meetings for discussion and time set
for the voters to meet, and listen what
further might be said in favor and against
the law and vote on the question Of its
adoption. The friends of free school Sc
cured the services Of Rev. f. w. Hatch,
Rector of St. Matthews Episcopal church
in this city, to make the final presentation
of the cause of free schools. Rev. Hatch
was clergyman of distinguished ability
and it may be remarked here, he had al
most national reputation. He had
served as chaplain in the u. S. Senate
and officiated as Rector in prominent
church in Virginia in which Thomas JEFF
ferson was one of the regular attendants.
Jefferson is not generally credited with be-
ing Christian believer; his attendance
on the preaching of Rev. Hatch is &C
counted for because of his admiration of
the preachers talents. Rev. Hatch made
an earnest and eloquent appeal to the yot-
ers to adopt the free school law and
thereby confer great boon upon them
selves and their country. At the close of
the speaking the excitement was high:
those for the free school and those op-
posed talked loud, and those having
charge of the meeting could not proceed
with the voting. An adjournment was
reached without the usual formality.
Not long after this the voters came to a
better consideration and the law was
adopted by a small majority.
From what is here said it will be seen
that the achievement of the free school
system was not an easy one; public opin-
ion was slow in adopting it. OF its results
in leading thousands out Of the darkness
Of illiteracy and placing them in positions
of responsibility and public trust, only
one instance will here be given, which
may be regarded an extreme one. A poor
widow in the town living in cheap
shanty. having family Of children to
support, which she did mainly by wash
ing, received small helps occasionally
from the city. She was anxious to have
her children educated, but could not af-
ford to pay for their schooling, as it was
termed When the free school law went
into effect in 1916 and the school opened,
she at once ayailed herself to have her
children sent to it. Her Oldest son en-
tered the school and continued attendance
until he graduated in the High school. In
1866 he was elected by the people Mayor
Of the city Of Kenosha and proved an &C
ceptable public officer.