Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1892-05-06
BOY
COIwE.
LEE, N. d., April ae, 1so:

Mr. EDITOR: Will YOU please insert
the following in your paper:
In order that no one may think that
we consent to the manner in which Ole
Gronlid and o T. Ford were treated by
Mrs. Rukke and :, court ut Coopcrstown
l wish to give an answer to your article
concerning this matter in last number
Of your paper.
The ease is singular, because those
people have in reality been prosecuted
by law and fined for doing their best in
giving their children christian educa-
ton. They sent their children to IL
christian school with the principle aim
of teaching them the word of God.
And the opportunities to attend such
schools are few and precious. The
children had attended public schools
before that time. MIR. Gronlid thought
that his children had attended public
school the required number of days,
and if it had not been that another
school was taught in their neighbor-
heod, which they considered far more
important than the public school, be-
cause they are christians, their children
would no doubt have attended public
school more than the time required by
law.
You state Mr., Editor that this is tho
first case of this kind that has been tried
in the county. Is this then then the
grossest offense of this kind that has
been committed in this countys Have
not many others kept their children ut
home for work or even on account of
pure negligence? And they have es-
capped suit. But these people who do
their best in bringing up their children
arlght are sued and fined because at
one time they failed to send their chill
dren to the public school the required
number of days. Righteousness requires
that if a penalty is to be imposed. there
must be an offense committed that de-
serves such penalty. Now is that the
case here?
Your excuse for not acquitting these
men reminds ME very much of the
Judgment of Pontius PLATE. He look
ed more to the consequences of releas-
ing Christ than to justice. You praise
Mrs. Rukke for what she has done i'm
this matter, but let me assure you that
it will be condemned by christian peo-
pie in general. 1t has caused the great
est indignation amorg our people. And
as to you! paper you may save your
self the trouble Of sending 1t any
more. And if you go on as you have
done of late shall work against your
paper and strive to get it out of every
household in my charge. If it is TO lie
an advocate of infidelity we have no
use for it. r H. LARSON.
The COURIER was somewhat surpris.
ed last Thursday night when it received
the above communication from Rev.
L. II. Larson-a man for whom we
have always entertained the highest
respect, and who we thought was above
the low, dirty business of making
threats just because someone happens
to differ from lllm in opinion. The
COURIER seems to be the main object
Of this christianlike gentleman's wrath,
all because its editor, very mildly, but
truthfully stated in the columns of the
COURIER the result of the late school
trial, in which Mrs. Rukke appeared as
prosecuting witness. Here is the arti
Gle that has riled up his demagogi;
majesty: :.
"Mrs. N. c. Rukke, president of the
school board of district No 13, Griggs
county, brought suit against Ole Gronll
and o. +. Forde, for failure to send
their children 10 the public schools as
required by law. This was tn. first
case Of this kind ever brought before a
court in this county, The defendants
wanted to send their children to a
Norwegian school, hence the cause of
action. The case was tried by jury
IN Justice Warmers court, last Satur-
dav afternoon. and a varaict vas re.