Newark post., 1921-02-16

Of the hostile assemblage into his
enthusiastic supporters, averted
from the state an ineradicable
stain and wrote on the statute
books of Pennsylvania the priceless
charter of the public school.
Buried for more than eighty
years in the dusty archives Of the
capitol, the manuscript of this
amazing address was brought to
light by an eminent jurist after
long research. A few passages will
show with what clarity, force and
lofty sentiment the orator pleaded
the high cause he had championed:
MANY complain of the school
tax, not so much on account of its
amount as because it is for the
benefit Of others and not Of them
selves. Why do they not urge the
same objection against all other
taxes? The industrious farmer
pays a heavy tax to support Grim
inal courts, build jails and pay
sheriffs and jailkeepers; yet prob
ably he never has had and never
will have any direct personal use
for either. He never gets the worth
of his money by being tried for a
crime, allowed the privilege of the
Jail on conviction, or receiving an
equivalent from the sheriff or his
hangmen officers. He cheerfully
pays the tax necessary to support
and punish convicts, but complains
Of that which goes to prevent his
fellow being from becoming a
criminal and to obviate the neces-
sity for these humiliating institu-
tions.
1--WE are told that this law is
unpopular, that the people desire
it's repeal. Has it not always been
so with every new reform in the
condition of man? Every improve
men which has been gradually
leading him from the savage
through the civilized up to the
highly cultivated state has requir-
ed the most strenuous and often
perilous eXertions of the wise and
the good. But much of the law s
unpopularity is chargeable upon
the arts of unprincipled dema-
gogues. Instead of attempting to
remove the honest misapprehen-
sions Of the people, they cater to
their prejudices to gain temporary,
local triumphs.
"The barbarous and disgraceful
cry which we hear in some parts of
our land, that learning makes us
worse, that education makes men
rogues, should find no echo within
these walls. Those who hold such
doctrines would be the objects Of
bitter detestation if they were not
rather the pitiable subjects of com
miseratiOn.
"Who would not rather do one
living deed than to have his ashes
enshrined in ever-burnished gold
Sir, | trust that when we come to
act on this question we shall take
lofty ground-look beyond the
narrow space which now circum-
scribes our vision; beyond the
passing, feeting point of time on
which we Standard so cast our
votes that the blessing of education
shall be conferred on every son of
Pennsylvania; shall be carried
home to the poorest child of the
poorest inhabitant Of the meanest
hut OF your mountains, so that
!, even he may be prepared to act
well his part in this land of free
men, and lay ON earth a broad anC
: solid foundation for, that enduring
knowledge which goes on increas
ing through increasing eternity.
1.-The statesman ended his ap
: peal amid a silence more elouuen,
than any cheers. Forthwith tn,
roll was called, and by a nearly
: two-thirds vote the house adopted
the substitute bill; before sundowr
the senate had concurred, and tn,
public school system, instead of be
ing obliterated, had been perpet
uated and strengthened.
"One is moved to ask how Ions
this proud, enlightened common
wealth will withhold from tn,
memory of this great Pennsyl
I vanIan the tribute which hi.