The record-union., 1894-08-20

openly or covertly, for the subversion OF
law and order he betrays not only the
people whose servant he is, but also the
mob which be assumes to direct and IN
struct.
TREASON To THE AMERICAN IDEA.
Treason, says Swift, begins in the heart
before it appears in overt acts. The SEN
tiInents, the hearts of his pupils. are the
materials in which the teacher works,
fashioning them as he lists, either in the
form of elevated patriotism and OF noble
regard for human rights and human
duties, OF in the form OF base iactIoniSm
contemptuous of the sacred mantle OF the
law with which the fathers OF the Repub-
he invested every American citizen.
Rarely can a man look back over his
school life without recalling some teacher
who has exercised a great influence on
his character either for good or for evil.
Such influences are constantly exerted IN
the school-room. and they are certainly
not less important than the knowledge
impaired there. The employment OF
teachers who inculcate intidelity to the
laws and institutions OF our country Is
comparable to the employment OF army
officers who ire upon It's flag. 1t IS SUI
eide.
IT'S INsIDTOUS WORK.
Such intidelity your committee has rea-
minds OF many OF the pupils of our pub
lie schools, even in opposition TO home
influences and sentiments. Your COM
nIittee therefore recommends the ap-
pointment of special committee 10
which shall be pledged the individual
and collective support OF this association
in the identification aud impeachment Of
the guilty and the prevention OF future
influences OF the kind in question.
MIsDIRECTED CHARITY.
Charity, whether public or private,
when unwiseIy administered. fosters the
evils it is intended to ameliorate. 1t is
not merely squandered and thus di-
verted from necessilous and worthy OBJ
jects, but it also encourages pauperism
and iInposture, and begets in the public
mind a distrust of the results even of en-
lightened charity. lndiscriminate char
ity does ten-fold more harm than good in
this world, and is Ill no way counten-
anced by enlightened philanthropy.
Your committee therefore recommends
the appointment OF a special committee
TO investigate the administration of pub
lie and private charity IN sacramento, 10
devise some means by which both may
be made to promote morality and self
helpfulness, and 10 consider the wisdom
ana feasibility of consolidating our vari-
Gus public charities. Tranps are
CONSTANT AND INCREASING MENACE
To the peace and prosperity of the State.
Largely professional mendicants, they
divert charity from its legitimate objects;
ofttlmes viciously inclined and frequently
criminal, they are constant pub
lie burden, and in times of turbulence
and distress they constitute a mob anx-
ious 10 profit by acts Of lawlessness and
disorder. Without the Zealotry of the
theoretical anarchist they still represent
one of the most distinct tendencies OF
modern times to the revolution OF society
and consequently to anarchy.
By virtue of the first law of nature
-preservation-the education of this
vast army of tramps is public necessity.
This education, in the opinion of your
committee, Is unprecedented IN the sim
pie and fundamental fact that in every
well-regulated community, barring mis-
fortune and disease, labor is the alterna
tive of starvation.
ENFORCE THE vAGRANCY LAWS.
The strict enforcement of our vagrancy
laws and the maintenance of a public
place where labor could be exchanged for
food and lodging would impart this edu-
cation by humane and etiectual means.
In this way several desirable results
would be accomplished-the identifica-
ton of the worthy, the restoration of
charity TO its normal channels, the re-
preston and even the extinction OF pro-
fessional mendicancy, and the creation of
healthy sentiment in regard to the
nature OF beneficent charity, whether
public or private.
The question is vast and important, and
your committee respectfully recommends
that a special committee be appointed
whose duty it shall be to inquire into the
causes of professional vagrancy in Amer
lea, to consider and from time to time TO
report to this association the best means
OF enforcing the laws against vagrancy
and other forms OF vice; of establishing
and maintaining public place where, in
case OF immediate need, labor may be
exchanged for food and shelter, and
which. as nearly as may be, shall be self
supporting rather than burden on the
industrious and provident.
TRUE EDUCATION THE REMEDY.
Formation is far more economical than
reformation, prevention than cure. In
this country, as in every other, many
children are subjected to all kinds of
evil influences, which develop paths of
least resistance in the direction of vice
and crime. Such children, no doubt.
are under the observation of nearly
every member of this association. They
are recruiting the vast army of the idle
and protligate, to burden the taxpayer
and endanger the State. at an early age
they abandon the public schools, lead a
life almost wholly free from application
and restraint, fall into vicious associa-
tions, defy parental authority and even
the laws of the land.
Much can be done in these cases by en-
forcing the Compulsory Educatiou Act
now on our statute books, and by such
other means as will readily occur to the
observing and rejecting mind. Your
committee recommends that special
committee be appointed whose duty it
shall be to consider and report the best
means of enforcing education in public
or other schools, and OF preventing the
formation of vicious and criminal habits
in the young.
(Signed}: w. A. Briggs. Felix Tracy,
Ad. c. HinksoD, r. Nj. stevenson, Il. [.
Bentley.