The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-01-22

ing Cuo Salarlos, ana SOmeClm0S the
incidental expenses, of the servants of
the state; for improving harbors and
natural waterways; for the construc-
tion of post offices, and government
buildings in general; for the enforce
ment of sanitary regulations, etc.; and
in our time taxation for the purposes
named is generally conceded to be not
only just, but necessary. And yet we
must confess thereare many who derive
no benefit from armies, or navies, or riv-
ers, or harbors, or government buildings;
and there are some who manage to live
comfortably without public-sanitary
regulations, or police protection, or
kindred measures. For, as there never
has been law enacted that satisfied
all the people, SO there never has been
a tax levied for an end from the at
tainment of which all the people were
equally benefited, and many taxes are
4 levied for purposes from which
some of the peop.e derive no benefit
whatever. 1t is my firm belief that
the proper education of the young is of
more importance1s3 the welfare of So
ciety than any of the above named
institutions, laws Or improvements
and that therefore,if the people decide
ito authorize the state to undertake the
education. of the young, there can be
no question about the right of the
state to tax all the citizens for an end,
the desirableness sof which is so obvi-
/ ous
w. State education does not neces-
sarily undermine self-reliance. Educa
tion cannot be d5led ont as aims to
beggars. 1t is one of those blessings
the requirement Of which necessitates
effort. energy, ard psrsistency, which
in turn will inonbitably strengthen
whatever self-relis nee the student may
be possessed Of With Instruction
free of cost, and the necessaries of life
provided, the student can devote his
time to his studies, and fit himself for
his chosen career. And while it is
true that some of our greatest men
have risen from humble stations
to positions of honor and influence
without aid from the state. or with
out assistance from charitable or whim-
sical millionaires, yet, when we scru-
tinize the means employed to gain the
end in view, we find they were not al
ways strictly honorable, and in many
cases would not be tolerated. That
old familiar story about A. Lincoln,
how he hired out by the month to a
farmer; how the farmer sent him to
the field to work; how young Abe, aft
er working awhile, sat himself down on
the soft side of fence rail, and, pulling
a book from his pocket, began to study
law; how the farmer caught him at it
ard reproached him for being idle;
how Abe spurned the reproach by ex-
claiming, 81 am not idle, / am study
! ing"-may, for all | know, be founded
on truth; but if SO, / firmly believe
sold" Abe experienced reproaches of
conscience for what .young" Abe did.
Fer, what right had be, being sent to
the field to work by tie man who paid
him for his time and labor, to spend
the time not his own in the study of
law? And while [ know not whether
this particular s3rmer overlooked
Abe's fault or not, do know that the
average farmer of my acquaintance
4 will in nowise tolerate such conduct,
and the average captain of industry
would have fit, or worse, if he should
discover one of his workmen studying
law, or anything else not pertaining to
the work in hand, during working
i hours.
"The good old days are past and
gone" The young men and women of
our time who have to earn their living
have but little time left for study.
There are some it is true, who like the
''busy little bee improve each shining
hour" in work and study, but what is
the result? Unless they have exception
ally strong constitutions, before they
reach the age of forty they are mental
and physical wrecks. Yet the state
has need of every bright young man or
woman within its borders, and if
those whose minds are capable of high
cultivation were more encouraged, So
ciety would reap rich harvest.
The foregoing remarks, under their
different heads. may fall short of the