Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1906-03-02

and as / understand him. Mr. Blair's,
as also the Times Dispatch. OF course,
Mr. Editor. mindful of your hint, we
ought 10 cut this paper Off here; but
Mr.. Blair's critic i'm his learned expo
sition OF the danger attended upon
compulsory school law, and its dire
effects during mediaeval times, has
so stirred the writer by his vivid por-
trayal of those long forgotten scenes
and in which we are reminded Of what
certain great Frcnchman once said
of language used 10 obscure ideas,
that the drowsy imp has deserted MS,
and we cannot vcsis; the temptatt,
TO notice again, our critic, a. he bids
farewell 10 Herod and the "Judean
Hills" and turns his face. lance i'm rest,
homeward. not, however. without hav-
ing proved at least to his own salts
faction that 1--WE quote in all ages
and all climcs where liberty was UNI
known and dcspotic power was SUI
prcmc meaning, of course. a COM
pulsory school law has ever been the
doctrine most favored, etc" How is
this for reason and logic i'm the light
of progressive twentieth century con
ditions? Compare the enlightened
states of Europe, more than half of
our own enlightened. progressive and
prosperous land, Japan, yes, even our
ncighbor, Mexico, all of whom have
compulsory laws i'm their primary sys-
tenn; with Russia, Turkey, the Bal
kans, etc, To say nothing of Africa,
South America, and the Isles Of the
Sea. and ask where it is, that we find
not only liberty of the individual. but
of the mind. together with almost
every thought and impulse that tends
to elevate humanity above the slave
and brute. Education. universal cdu-
cation. through the aid and power Of
the state. carefully, wisely regulated
and administered, is the only force to
graphic successfully with the ignor-
mcc and illitcracy that is stalking
abroad, not only i'm our own beloved
state, but throughout the length and
breadth of our fair AMI Sunny South.
f Thus il is we elevate the Citizen. as
well ~ tho classcs, above vice. crime
and misery. the natural concomitants
4 of ignorance and neglect.
We would like to say moro. but this
paper is already far beyond what We
intended. However, we must bc allowed
10 notice his conclusion rs ne energies
from "thc dark ages we quote. "thi-
is the logical conclusion To- which the
Timcs-Di-patch's premise Of compul-
sorry education aud Mr. Blair's ire
-istiblr reasoning, lead us." Against
this verdict We do NOT hesitate 10 set
our humble opinions, long entertained
and often expressed. and leave final
Judgment. 90 the thoughtful. mprciu.
diced. broad gagged statesmen. who
make the science of human duty a
study. ~ opposed to our critics lpgi,
i'm the paper undcr notice. we beg {,
rcStatc our own position. viz: that in
a~much as our Federal Constitution
guarantees equality of citizenship. un.
der certain qualifications 90 an. ano
our state Organic law makes all bc-
tween certain ages. school children
under conditions mandatory or per
missivc, and provides means through
taxation for operating these publ,
free schools. for all alike. then To fai
10 bring these children at some perioo
of their lives, i'm some legitimate way
in touch with the schools. is guilty o.
an expensive delusion, and common
sense, reason and sane politics, as i
looks 10 lis, will stamp such a condi
ton as wholly illogical, and is tn,
play of Hamlet, with the Roya
Dane, left out. A mere farce. as re
lated to the primary purpose, viz, t,
help the helpless, which is really, i
not the greatest, certainly one of tn,
= most commendablc reasons for Il fire,
school system, at all.
And in conclusion we dare asser
that well guarded compulsory fca
turc, under the law, regulating GU
primary system, with its beneficen
influence upon our people, be foun,
as sound in politics, as it is essentia
in religion. 4. J. TYNES.
r Tazewell, Va, Feb. 20, 1906.