The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-07-15
HENDR1 x,s MISTAKE.

mlSfepfSS' Iiteu NY pOllticdi IDcllS1 W
the publ, ]. l am now more fully than |
ever before, convinced that the single
gold ste .ndard with still more increas-
ed take cannot bring prosperity toll
the CO ninon people. I believethat ex-
periel ice tends to make people wiser,
hence. ] would rather take the opinion
of til 8 older members of the public
sch, SOL board when they declare, that
Sic % building is all t,a5 is lie essary
to provide ample schooiroosn. There
is no mere necessity OF $4,000
shool building for the city than OF a
:ilO0, 600 building Or a university.
The citizens and TAX payers OF Sank
Centre are under no more obligations
to furnish free schools, free books to
all the children of the country than
they abe to furnish free clothing, free
homes. free lunch. All are equal ad
iupEts of our civilization. The HER
AKD'S sinister remark on the lack OF
sflffci eEt pride in oGr educational. in
stitutions and patriotism OF our citi-
zens to enter blindGy into a large sys-
: tenn of bonds and consequent indefi-
mite expense is an uuexcusable insult
TO large as of our leading citi-
zens representing every business ele-
ment and walk in life. Patriotism
and loyalty to our institutions are
not measured 10y checks and bank
drafts, and windy appears to wild the
Ory.
The business man who has already
suffered several years tof decreasing
business, and the labOrer who finds
difficulty in pr oviding she wants OF his
family, are often more patriotic than
many who would pose as dignitaries
and moulders of public opinion. The
assemblage at the scheol meeting was
a body of highly respected citizens,
each conscious of his duty as q citi-
zen and as a man, and to assume that
all but half dozen or less we're de-
ficient in the sense of honor and pride
is The ranEest absurdity.
LEWIS H. VATH.
lin the AFalanch.
The editor of the HERALD doee not
assume for one moment that he never
makes mistakes, but it would be a
glowing and serious one that the
writer of the above,could detect much
less correct. But in matter referred
TO thelHERALD made no mistake Prof.
Vath was not quoted at all-nOr does
the HERALD so state. 1t simply said
that he was of the opinion, etc. Per-
haps it is violent assumption to say
that he has any opinion. Following
the statement made by the secretary
of the school board that attendance in
the public school had decreased dur
ing the past three or four years of
hard times, the professor declares
that with the return of good times
and they will return with the expiring
gasp of the mortally-wounded silver
craze-the attendance will still farther
decrease. The wish is father of the
thought. The professor is engaged in
operating a monohippie private school
which, perhaps would have increased
patronage providing the public
schools were seriously crippled. His
statement that Sank Centre is no more,
obligated to supply free schools than
it is free homes, clothing and food
If that be true, and they are on a
common level, then the state is under
no obligations to maintain a free
school system. 1t is the stock argu
lnent against the free school system
exploded hundred years ago. There
are three classes to whom the state
does give a living criminals, idiots
and paupers- and to all the rest of
her citizens she supplies free schools
that they may not fall within those
classes. Yes, experience is wise
teacher, and the experience OF five of
the six members of the school board
impelled them to advocate substan-
tial. permanent school building. The
HERALD showed that an increase of
only one-third of a-mill tax for the
next half dozen years would give us
such building. and in the long run
it would be the most economical solu-
tion of the then ayistiag problem. Ii
there was an implied sueer at the pa
.iotism of hecommon people in the
HERAIDss it is very deeply concealed
and yet if it can be found the HERALD
lis glad OF it, for whoever can find it
and apply itmust be mighty tender on
that point. 1t is clear case of a
guilty conscience which needs no ac-
cuser. The HERALD desires to give
the professor credit for being entirely
disinteresteo in his defense of the tax
payers, for certainly the expenditure
OF $40, 900 or 100000 for a school
building would not effect him-his
name is not on the tax-roll and never
has been. And really the professor
makes q great mistake in referring
TO anything extraneous to himself as
the rankest absurdity he quite for
gets | i nself in so doing.