The Washington times., 1904-04-15
Our Public Schools.
Charges and Counter Charges That
Should Be Disposed of Once for All.

AaIcn IA, is gradually Delng us
PEELED, and we are beginning to see
daylight That's as it should be. We
lOathe darkness, especially in public
places. We despise hints and in
nuendos. We have a profound con-
tempt for people who have not
courage enough to call a spade a
spade. We have no use for a school
of journalism which seeks to cure
fostering evil in public life by the
application of sticking plaster. We
believe in Iight-the more the better
in all transactions of the Govern
ment; and the Official who would
conceal from the public, whose ser
want he is, what goes on in his Of
fee, is unworthy of the trust reposed
in him. This by way of preface.
Our readers will recall that in
commenting upon the remarkable Ut
terances Of the Star" in its issue Of
March IA, we said that, in uphOlding
the fair fame of our city we should
not permit ourselves to be Outdone
by our neighbor. The latter had
solemnly declared that in our midst
there were "enviOus and malignant
slanderers." 'spiteful scandal mon
gers" "murderers Of good repute,
and "cOnspiratOrs who treacherousIy
and maliciously assail individual rep
utation." Our esteemed contempt
rary, indeed rent its garments, so
to speak, and showed its great con-
Germ by asserting that the vile
source of moral contamination in the
community should be instantly de-
stTOyed." and that the axe should
falI'-well, we suppose. where it
should do the most good. To all of
which, set forth in the dear old lady's
most sulphurOus language, we gave
| cheerful, nay enthusiastic, assent. We
4 longed, we said. to render what assist
ance we could in driving from their
I hiding places aud suitably punish"
+ these dastardly wretches, who had dis
/ turbed our neighbOr's sIumbers and
/ stirred her bile. We stood ready, we
/ declared, to join the hunt and swing
the axe. We-but in our indignation
and excitement, we discover we have
: slightly mixed our metaphors. We
/ do not, IS a rule, go hunting with
axes, but our intentions, we might
say, are, nevertheless, strictly honor
able All we want is light and en-
/ lightenment This is what we asked
for, what we ask for now But we
/ didn't get it; and we don't seem to
have any prospect Of getting it,
! either Having solemnly declared
from The top of the white marble
sarcophagus, that murderers and as
assassins were proving about in his
community, the Star" closed the lid
and left us TO our fate Now. even
/ 'possums cannot be brought down ex-
cept by starlight; how much less
can we be expected 70 drive from
their lairs murderers and assassins
If the Star refuses to shed light
upon the gruesome scenes among
which a helpless community is aim
lessly fOundering about?
And yet, we remarked, dropping a
vein Of banter. the mystery is grad
ually being dispelled We are be
ginning to see light. 1t is true, il
is not light furnished by the Star,
but it is light, nevertheless.
/ perusal Of the accounts Of what hap
pened at the meeting of the Mount
! Pleasant Citizens Association on
Wednesday night, shows conclusive
ly that the mystery referred TO, is
one which surrounds the manage
D ment Of our public schools. Now
/ If there is anything which should be
above reproach and even suspicion;
which should at all times be subject
TO, and indeed court, investigation;
which should scrupulOusly be kept
clean and wholesome. and free from
the demoralizing influences surround
ing 50 many phases Of our public
life-it is this very management OF
our schools. We cannot conceive a
greater disaster than that which
would befall the system, of which we
are al so proud. were it to pass
from the competent hands in which
il now seems to be, into those where
il might become the football of poll
tics, the object Of personal exploita-
ton, the home Of graft and the refuge
Of Objectionable characters. We can.
. not conceive. we say, of a greater dis
aster that could befall our public
/ schools, and yet that disaster viii
loom up constantly as long as darl
lantern methods, the evident desire
in the interest of something or some,
body, to hide from the public what
It has a right to know. a manifest
} disposition on the part of officials
10 prefer expediency to right, and
90 suppress a scandal by meekly at
p tempting TO smother it instead oil
, boldly cutting it out. permeate the
p atmosphere.
The Board Of Education, OF which