Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-02-18
A FAIR CHALLENGE.
Freeland, February Is, 1S9

EDITOR TRIBUNE.-I was amused
while reading the latest production of
Extra" in the current issue of the
Progress. Verify, "the mountain hath
been in labor and brought forth a
mousse" After taking whole week to
consult with the "boys" this counsel
general of the citizens of Freeland occu-
pies one foot of valuable space, in which
he manages to say nothing, but careful
ly avoids the only point of controversy
between us-namely, what is free edu-
cation? This fair-weather patriot while
masquerading as an exponent of ''free
education" crouches behind non-de-
plume to shoot his poisoned arrows at
man who is his superior morally and
intellectually, and for what reason?
Simply because this man avails himself
of the God-given right to educate his
children where he sees fit. This man
Extra" is simply drawing, crawling
creature who belongs away back in the
fifteenth century; man who preys on
the prejudices that unfortunately exist
wherever ignorance obtains; a man who
would appeal to the lowest passions the
flesh is heir to; who would array Gods
children in brutal sectarian strife; a
snake in the grass who would crush
liberty in the name of patriotism to ac-
complish his personal ends.
When caught in his own meshes this
great patriot ignores and evades the
only point at issue and, parrot-lille,
chirps new school," "abomnable de-
ceiver," your un-Amercan," your a
liar" etc, etc, but not one word about
the only point at issue-''free educa-
ton
oh, no, this narrow nincompoop has
been told by some kind friend that the
free education" he advocates is not the
free education intended by the Declara-
tion of Independence and the constitu-
tion of the United States, and he wisely
drops 1t and mounts the new school,
hobby. | have not said one word for or
against the new school, yet l am told
that 1.-THE time is past when men of my
calibre will try and fight down such
blessings" but he carefully avoids the
query in relation to the causes which
compel parents to send their children to
Hazleton and Foster township to be
educated He fails to state the fact
that many parents were compelled to
send their children to Foster schools be-
cause the principal of Freeand borough
is incompetent and unable to advance
them any further.
The time is come when men of "my
calibre" will arise boldly and indepen-
IDENTITY and denounce any attempt to
curtail the liberty of even our humblest
citizen. The time is come when all hon
est men will arise in their might and
stamp out every attempt to rekindle the
fires of prescription and religious hate
The time has come when no shallow
demogogue masquerading as a patriot
can use the public press to advocate
principles that are un-Christrian, un-
American and unpatriotic, and win
public appreciation. The time is come
when all true Americans will rise in
their might in defense of free educa-
tion, good schools, competent teachers
honest and capable directors, and the
right to worship God as your conscience
dictates.
Extra" says that my letter was un-
American and insinuates that | am not
citizen. My friend is simply ''specu-
lating," forgetful of the fact that specu-
lation is dangerous as many citizens of
this vicinity can testify. He seems to
have very warped ideas as to what con-
stitutes patriotic citizens. The new
school building confines his mental Wis
ion within very limited radius. He
cannot comprehend the broad fact that
patriotism like nature loves all lands.
Hungary had her Kossuth, Poland her
Koscoski, England her Byron, her
Burke and her Gladstone, Ireland had
her Emmett, her William Smith OBrien,
her MITCHELL her Martin, her Parnell.
the grand galaxy of names that adorn
the pages Of her history-the Protestant
had her Wallace and Bruce, France had
her Lafayette, America had her Wash
ington, her Jefferson and Lincoln, and
80 it is all along the line in every nook
on Gods foot-stool. 1t is not manu-
facturcd commodity. Men inhale it in
the air they breathe, The proposition
to conlne patriotism within csrtain
geographical limits is preposterously alb
surd. You might as well try to bottle
mp the air and sunshine. The founda-
tion OF patriotism is invariably laid when
the little boy is lsping the Lords prayer
at the knee of a noble Christian mother
Patriotism is the esSencn of honesty