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

~ AN earnest CQlnK0rS OF our
I'M time are opposed to state
education on moral grounds.
They reluctantly admit that
the different educational systems now
in use fall short, either in manner or
matter, of what we might reasonably
expect. But they ystrenuously object to
state education, even if convinced that
it would yield better results than the
present haphazard, slipshod, go as you
please manner of instructing the young.
AS aforesaid, they base their objections
on moral grounds:
[. In undertaking. or even in super
vising, the education of the people, the
state transcends its proper functions.
II. 1t is wrong to take the control
and education of children out Of the
hands of the parents.
III. The state has no right to tax
one citizen for the purpose of edu-
eating the children of another citizen.
". State education undermines
self-reliance in it's benefciaries.
am tempted to lay aside my pen, and
to leave the task of refuting the above
mentioned objections to state educa-
ton to some one more learned, more
capable than /. But the problem how
TO properly educate the young lies SO
close to my heart that L am ready to
meet ridicule, and defeat in argument,
in order to gain clearer understand
ing of the whole matter We all aim
at the truth, and some come little
nearer the mark than others, while
none, perhaps, make a centershot.
And as it is impossible to see all sides
to question from one point of observa-
ton, l cordially invite discussion, and
am ready to meekly bow my head in
submissions to your corrections-if
valid.
L. The functions of state, or gov
ernment, cannot be limited. AS new
conditions arise the state, as well as
other organisms, must either conform
to the new conditions or else die A
few moments thought will suffice to
teach lis that organized society, OF the
state, performs many duties in our
time which it did not perform in the
time of our ancestors of few hundred
years ago, yet the right of the state to
perform such duties is net generally
questioned. SANITARY legislation, pub
" 10 odn TO Nd
were practically unknown 200 years
ago. l believe it is Herbert Spencer
who tells us that in proportion as an
organism is capable of bringing into
harmony its internal relations with
external conditions, will its chances
rise of surviving in the struggle for
existence? And he rightly concludes
that organized society is subject to
this law as we'll as all other organisms.
Now, if in tracing government from the
simplest form, as we behold it in prim-
tive races, TO the highest, aud most
complicated forms, as we observe it in
enlightened nations, we find in opera
tiOn this general law, who can affirm
that this law will be abrogated in the
future? Who can set limits to the
functions of government?
Government is cooperation on
large scale. The best form of govern
ment is that from which the governed
derive the greatest benefits. But un-
der all forms of government, with the
possible exception of the very lowest,
most primitive form, the individual
in order TO partake of the benefits that
may be derived from this extensive CO.
operation-governm yield up
certain individual rights and privileges.
Government under any other condition
is inconceivable. But it is equally in
conceivable that all the individuals
should agree in what manner or form
the greatest possible benefits may be
derived from the cooperation of the
components that form the heterogene-
GUS mass, which we call society. The
fact that there will always be some
dissatisfaction with the laws, customs,
or institutions of state, no matter