Year: 1867




That free schools are justly the pride of cur
coantry and must always be the chief reliance of
republican or free government-thaf by which all
other free and noble institutions must stand, and
without which they must inevitably fal-au who
have observed the events Of the past in our own
country must agree That Free Schools are the
only safety of the Republic is no idle saying is
apparent 10 all who are not wilfuIly blind That
they should be fostered, guarded. protected and
promoted by the State DO one will deny, and no
statesman would so readily gain the respect and
homage of al true men, as by devising means to
secure TO all the blessings of an education at the
very doors of their own houses. Nor would any
one gain the contempt and execration of mankind
so readily as by trying to hinder any from enjoying
that which all have to regard as justly belonging
to an American citizen-the right TO free educa-
ton.


These reflections were suggested by the fact that
there is to be election on the 18th of October,
and that then .'State Superintendent of public
instruction is 10 be chosen. This is Office than
which there is not another in the State of more
importance, or more intimately connected with
each household. He is, in great measure, to con-
troll the school in your very neighborhood in what
ever part of the State that may be- He is to nfuse
life into the whole system blast il by his inactv
ity and Indifference. That the man who is to fill
this important position should be tried aud true
man, and me who has known by long personal ex-
perience, the daily routine of the schoolroom, and
who has made the school system lifelong study.
one will deny. All will equally agree that of two





''the right man in the right place. possessing ali
of the above qualifications, and the other new
man, without experience in the special sphere in
which he would be called to act, all other things
being equal, he who is known to be adapted to the
place should be preferred to the other


There are two men who aspire to this important
position. and you.will be called oni the coming
election to choose between them and it would be
well for you to understand the qualifications of each
Hon. John SWEET, the present incumbent, is a
professional teacher Of great experience. He was
educated for the common schools, and received his
first love of learning in them, and has spent his
life in connection with them. A man of high at
tainments, varied learning, and rare executive abi
ities he has conferred great honor and inestimabe
benefit upon the State i'll his Office. He has been
tried and his fitness proved. He has a genuine en-
thusasm for the duties of the Office, and by his
untirng zeal has infused new life into the Common
School system of the State. 1t is agreed by ell that
he is faithful and competent officer. He took
charge of the schools of the State when there was
no system, and has brought system out of chaos,
until the school syste OF this State will suffer
in comparison with that of any other State in the
Union. A few minor changes in the law will make
line, and who fitting to make these revisions as
he who conceived the whole, and was instrumental
in giving US our noble School Law?


To make change of such man at this time,
when the admirable system which he has been in
strumental in giving 10 US is just beginning to be
appreciated for its equal and harmonious workings,
for man whose sympathies are known to be hos
tile to the whole system of free schools-who has
had no experience in connection with them-who
cannot yet appreciate the spirit in which has been
conceived, and who would seriously disturb the
whole fabric from its foundation to its minutest de-
tail. would app to be the hight of folly. Such
change would be accomplished by electing o. P.
Fitzgerald to fill the position now occupied by John
SWEET.


Then. if those who are interested in preserving
the integrity of our Common School system, and
wish the School funds to be preserved for their e
gtimate purpose, and not divided for sectarian
ends, will take the necessary trouble to attend the
coming election on the 10th of October all will be
well. See to it that you are not swinded out of
your Free Schools. Phil oMAru