The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-23
We'll, goodbye, Jim;
Take keer Of youse'f."
STATE SCHOOL QUESTION.
This Writer Tries to Follow Mr.. Good
wins Ideas to Logical End.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
The discussion Of the state school ques-
ton has brought to the front the third great
authority that the United States has pro-
duced on constitutional questions. The first
was Chief Justice John Marshall. whose
place is among our immortals because of his
decisions On the questions growing out Of
the powers, grants and limits of our Consti-
tuition. The second was Daniel Webster,
whose name is ilustrious because ne was
the great expounder Of the Constitution
The third and last great authority is Broth
er L. "A. Goodwin, whose home is at Indian
apolis, whose mission is to do good and
whose field is the educational system of IN
diana. For almost half of a century
Brother Goodwin was a preacher to
fortune and to fame unknown, but during
the last year he has won imperishable re-
nown by discovering that state aid to higher
education is unconstitutional and hereafter
every sehoolhouse in the State will be
adorned by his picture and every schoolbog
will shout hosannas to his name
What makes this discovery still more re-
markable is the fact that such men as
Thomas A. Hendricks and Alvin p Hovey,
who were members of the constitutional Con-
vention of 1851, and who, as Governor, ap-
proved measures giving appropriations to
the States higher educational Institutions,
did not know they were violating their Of
fetal oaths. Governor Hendricks and Gov
ernor Hovey thought they knew the spirit
and the letter Of the Constitution, but
Brother Goodwin by his lucid Interpretation
of the States fundamental law, shows con-
clusively that these great idols of their re-
spective political parties were ignorant of
the provisions which they themselves helped
to frame What makes Brother Goodwin's
discovery still more remarkable is that of
all the great constitutional authorities he
stood solitary and alone in his contention
that state aid to high schools and the State
University was a constitutional violation.
No lawyer who cared for his legal reputation
had ever dared to say that our Constitution
prevented such aid, but by one majestic
move Of his mighty legal mind he reveals
the stupidity of all the Governors and leg
islators ELECTED in the last thirty, years
Brother Goodwin, being the third great
constitutional authority In the United
States arrived at his conclusion in this i'm
portant matter by a method which, while
entirely unique, Will meet with the consid-
GRAFTON that it deserves from the legal fra
ternlty. lie is free to acknowledge that no.
where IN the text of the Constitution Is there
any provision that prevents state aid to
schools above the three RS, but he claims
that resolution providing for common
SCAlOplo OAliS was lHLEbQuC6u III tlG LoliSl1-
tutional convention of 1851, and, while not
voted upon, was actually referred to COM
mittee, and, therefore its provisions are
binding for all time to come. This in
Brother Goodwin's opinion, is all sufficient,
and he, being the third great authority on
constitutional questions, should be regarded
as the court of last resort by all friends Of
the state as well as sectarian institutions.
Not only do the people OF Indiana owe
Brother Goodwin debt OF gratitude for
thus settling this vexed legal problem, but
tney are under everlasting obllgationS TO
him for promulgating the idea that our
educational system should be left wholly to
sectarian support. Under our present sys-
TEN, which has just been declared uncon-
stitutional by Brother Goodwin, there are
more Methodists in the State schools than
there are at De Pauw and Moore's Hill COM
bined, more Presbyterians than at Wabash,
more Baptists than at Franklin, more Dis
clples than at Butler and so on. The stu
dents IN the State institutions left their
Methodist, Presbyterian. Baptist and Dis