The record-union., 1895-12-07
NOTE AND COMMENT.

A most silly and pernicious attempt
is made to poke fun because some Of
the School Directors protest against
the use of profane language by school
boys on school premises. We are told
in effect that boys will be boys, and
while swearing is to be discouraged,
all those now men swore when they
were boys-and SO on. That all sounds
very loudly, and has the mask of de-
fense for courage and freedom among
boys, and all that But it is none the
less pernicious expression. Boys will
swear" ergo let them swear; therefore,
let us say further, as some boys lie and
steal and do other things that must be
unmentionable, ergo let the School Di-
rectors who object hide their heads and
remember that boys will be boys. That
is the skinned and hare line Of apollo
getic argument for indecency in the
schools to which we are treated
Out upon it Boys can and are
decent and clean-mouthed, thou
sands of them. The best time
in life to teach boy that vulgar
ity and profanity are unmanly, un-
cleanly and unbecoming gentleman,
is in youth. The School Board is right
in protesting. 1t should see to it that on
school property, at least, boys are de-
cent, Clean -mouthed and as well-be-
haved as they should be in the presence
of their mothers and sisters at home.
Of course let them romp and play, and
shout aloud if they wish, and be as live
but let it be insisted that the school
yards be not turned into billingsgate
fish markets. AS to whether the boys
in the Sacramento schools are guilty of
using vulgar and profane language
while at school, we know nothing. We
should hope the charge is untrue. We
wish to think better of the Sacramento
schoolboys, and until there is proof
positive that they are guilty, or a con-
siderable number Of them, Of using
filthy language at school, we shall
hold to the presumption of their inno-
cence. But this cuts no figure what
ever in the matter of apologizing for
vulgarity as necessarily a boyish 'ac-
complishment" or phase of youthful
development.
The Santa Rosa Republican says that
in this matter of the proposition of the
United states that the Venezuelan
question be submitted to arbitration,
England has snubbed the American
Government That is nothing new.
The British do that with impunity.
They solemnly agreed to put certain
patroling vessels into the Behring Sea.
But they did not do it, and the Presi-
dent says that to all his protests they
have turned a deaf ear. They agreed
that the Alaskan boundary should be
settled by surveys on both sides and
their submission to commission. But
they have gone right on taking posses
sion of the disputed territory and erect
ing forts and police stations without so
much as .'by your leave, sir" The Pres
ident last July addressed England with
the proposition as to arbitration of the
Venezuelan matter, but for six months
not even an apology has been made for
failure to reply, and when at last an
answer comes we are told that it will
amount to this, Mind your own busi-
ness" Oh yes, we are snubbed by
Great Britain. and, indeed, we are get
ting so accustomed to it that it has
ceased to surprise or much offend, evil
IDENTIFY.
The San Bernardino Times-Index is
publishing some clever editorial thought
and argument. But it would be in bet
ter taste 20 state that the matter first
appeared in the Record-Union.