The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-04-13

A Mechanic to Mr.. Marsh.

CEcuroN. Mp, April 10, 1895
Mr. EDIToR:
| am led to believe. through an article
written 10y Mr.. Il. L. Marsh and published in
two OF our county papers. that, that gentle
man, like so many Others throughout the
community, does not understand the prinr-
pies OF the Jr. 0. L \. =. He claims that
he is not II trustee Of an Anne lean Mechanics
school, giving the impression that there are
such schools in existence, or tia, the members
OF tn" Order desire that there should be-
This is an absurd idea. only to be conceived
OF hy Il brain of great fertility like that of our
.rend. II there are any such schools, or
any such desire on the part Of any Mechanic
1t Is not known TO the order, and is contrary
to the principles OF that Order, and no
Mechanic is a tru" Mechanic. or does ne live
up TO his obligations. who advances OF cher
ish"s this belief. We endorse Mr.. Marsh's
belief, that the public schools should be con-
troled by the public. and not by any one
creed, denomination or political party, in
Guiding the Jr O. A. U. NJ. As dearly as we
love and believe in our Order we would not
have even it to control or Interfere with our
public schools just so long us the present
laws exist controlling our public schools, Just
so long will the Jr. o. [. A. NJ. defend and
assist in enforcing those laws And if Mr.
Marsh. or any other gentleman who thinks as
he does, should Join the American Mechanics,
this IS one of the first things he would re
compelled to obligate himself to do, stand
by the American public schools We affirm
our devotion to the public school system of
this county, and stand ready as an organiza-
ton to assist in the overthrow of any effort
on the part of any society, creed or denom-
nation. to gain control of our beloved public
schools. We have no faith in scctarian schools
as public schools, and oppose the slightest
faint OF craftsmanship in the management of
our noble institutions. When Mr.. Marsh
states that there are societies that expect him
to give them the preference in raising "Od
Glory over our public Schools he is mistaken
when he includes the American Mechanics rs
one Of those societies. We do not wish the
reference.
While raising the American flag over the
public schools is part of our work we
believe that the stars and stripes should flow
not only over every school Of Cecil county,
but over every school in the United States
That the children should be reminded and
taught that ON nag lthe American fag) is
the symbol OF all that makes a 'hone for u.s.
yet we do not wish 20 he the only ones on
gagged in the noble worF. II there he any
one, il matters not who. or what society or
denomination they may represent who desires
to present the schools OF .ur land with the
American iiag, we give our hearty approval
and step aside that the good work my go on.
We DO not desire to place "Old Glory over
Our schools 10 have II said that the Mechanics
did ii, or to have it said that ii is the Amer
ican Mechanics flag.
This latter could not he even If we desired
it. It must be acknowledged by all inteli-
gent minds, that the Stars and Stripes repre-
sent Americanism, and can not be used by any