The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-21
A VICTIM OF ACUTE IGNORANCE.


plying to remarks of the Oregonian,
which opposed appropriations to the Agri-
cultural College. By saying 'fne to, "
and aoaing down the tide of Journalism
with Harvey Scott to the tune of Glow
We Apples SWIM" Mr.. Benjamin evil
IDENTIFY thinks he has been accused of
"obtuse ignorance, and is rather proud
of the appellation. He mistakes his
case however His malady is the same
as that affecting the Oregonian on this
subject, but the symptoms as evinced by
the article referred to, plainly indicate
that he has the desease in an acute form,
and therefore requires different treatment.
The GAZETTE will be pleased to prescribe
for him as his case may demand until he
becomes convalescent But he is afflicted
with acute ignorance, and those who
read his articles on "high schools can
not fail to correctly diagnose his case.
In comparing the editor of the GA
ZErTE to an ass, the Plaindealer editor is
quite generous, for he leaves his opponent
on a plane vastly above the one occupied
by himself, for had he one-half the intel
1igence of that despised quadruped, he
would have understood his relations to his
fellows too we'll to have written that arti-
Gle. In fact he puts to shame the stupid
ity of the traditional animal he refers to,
by doing a more. foolish thing than is re-
lated in the old fable. According to
Esop, the old piece of stupidity put on
the skin of lion, in order to frighten
troublesome companions, terrify his mas
ter, and escape work. All three were
rational desires. The editor of the Plain
dealer attempts to skin what he conceives
to be alive ass without any worthy de
sign, and apparently out of pure malice.
It..needs but all 4Ssop as his chronlcler to
supp1ant the old story of stupidity with
the new one and imorta1ize an Oregonian
at the expense of distant ancestor.
As'the P1aindealer objects to taxation
for the-support of what it calls "high
Schools" especially those which teach
agriculture and mechanical arts, we may
inform that paper that the GAZETTE force
intends opening a kindergarten in the
basement Of its building for the purpose
of meeting the needs of those who have
heretofore resisted all educational infu-
ences, and that. the entire force of the
Plaindealer is offered free scholarships. II
may not be out of place to say that in the
first lsssen we shat attempt to illustrate,
Thy the aid of few agricultural i111ple-
rnents and mechanical appliances Dor.
rowed for the purpose from one of the
"high schoo1s") that an American citizen
no longer roanls the woods an absolute
democrat, receiving no favors and there
has become-someti1nes unwittingly-
member of the great body polite, with
many duties" imposed upon him in order
that he may attain and enjoy higher
state of civilization and mental culture,
instead of returning to barbarism. We
shall endeavor TO make our pupils under
stand that the right to levy taxes to sup
port schools is not determined by the
levied; but that it has a much higher
sanction, being dictated by selfpreserva-
ton, the grand central law Of nature,
We shall tell them that highly cultured
men have been, almost without exception
benefactors of the human race; that
nearly all great and learned men have
lived, not for themselves, but for theil
fellows, and that Thomas Jefferson, Alex
been worth more to our country thar
would be all the money expended II
schools, both common and high, since the
landing of the pilgrim fathers. Our frs
lesson will he closed with the statemen
that should we tax for school purposes a
the present rate for the next hundred
years, with no other result than to pro
duce such another scholar and Statesman
as Webster it would be the most judi
cious expenditure of money ever made
We shall quote from the Oregonlan
which opposes taxation for higher school
when we say that it was upon the in
viucible logic of Webster that the irwin
-cible armies were formed which con
quered the rebellion"
But to return to the Plaindealer. 1t
of no consequence whether its editor &C
cepts our statement that the Agriculture
College is properly can United State
school," or not. We shall not insist uI
on our idea in this matter if it forms an
part of the objections to the school re
ceiving help from the state. But we sha1
insist, and we hope and believe the pres
of the state will insist, that the Agricu
tural College is not so far above tn
masses of the people as to be beyond thei
sympathy and unworthy their support.
Its leading studies, as prescribed b
congressional acts endowing it, are agr
culture and the mechanical arts. Wha
must be the mental status of the ma
who declares these studies are above h
interests, and their advancement Of II
benefit to the community at large?
we should support common schools b
taxation because all are interested in tn
branches they teach, what is more con
mon Or general in interest to all tha
agriculture and mechanics? They wei
probably the first pursuits engaged in b
man, and have always been considere
of the first importance to him.
Jet the nress of the state assist the ia