Year: 1874

W


No charge against Democratic
party has been more persistenty made
by Republicans, than their unwavering
opposition to the education of the
masses. 1t has been charged over and
of.su, that the Democratic party were op
posed to the common school system,
that ignorance was the chief character.
istic OF Democrats, etc. Like many
other charges made by the Republican
party, this has been met by prompt and
just denial, but has nevertheless been be-
lievsd to be true by those who blindly
follow the party in power.


One thing must be confessed and with
shame; that the interests Of education in
Arkansas, have been neglected. The
proper efforts have not been made to
bring about that means required to place
common school education within the
reach of all The free school system is
a good one and, unencumbered by
abuses, would subse We good purpose.
1t was inauguratcd by the State since the
war, in its present shape, and had it not,
like all the other institutions formed by
the dominant party, been made means
of plumber and money getting. might
have now been in aourshing condition
The abolition of the Office of Circuit Su
periateadent was a good move, and iftho
proper means had been used to put the
right kind Of men in as County Superin.
tendents all over the State, we might now
sec every County fully prepared to fur
nish commmon English education to
the children Of ALL 1t is admitted that
too little interest is manifested 10y the
people, but there is something behind
this, much to be censured. The State
Superintendent is neglectful. We never
hear from him, save through an occa-
sional circular to County Superintend.
ents, or in the recommendation Of a
change Of text books in the interest of
some publishing house.


Notwithstanding all this incompetence,
in State and County, much was being
done, and many schools were opened
throughout the State. Taxes we're levied
in Currency and, (when not stolen by the
Collcctors), paid into the treasury and
paid out to teachers, But now we behold
something never known to have been
done by any party A ring of State
scrip holders have achieved glorious
success, by having the Supreme Court
strain point and make State scrip re-
ceivable for school taxes Here we have
deadly blow inflicted upon the common
school, by that party whose boast has
been that they favored education and the
Democratic party opposed it. The Demo
cratic party may have neglected this NEST
important matter, but they never openly
dealt it such telling blow as this. Our
State has a population Of about 4S4, All,
and OF this number 104, 100, little less
than one fourth, are illitcrate. Can We
longer wonder that crime stalks abroad
in the land. Ignorance and crime are in"
separable. And yet the Supreme Court,
belonging to and obeying the wants OF
the Radical fellows, retards the cause Of
education by making teachers take de-
preciatcd, yes, worihless paper. This
virtually strargles the free common
school system in its infancy. lfthe Re-
publican party claims the paternity Of the
free school system, it must also submit
to be branded with the stigma Of the aw.
fnl and unnatural crime Of numbering its
own offspring. No competent teacher
can be had for $50 or 8100 per month,
II he is to be paid in State scrip. 1t is
useless to him. He may peddle the stuff
around to the dry goods merchant, family
grocery man and others, at 80 cents on
the dollar, until they get enough to pay
their own taxes and then he can find no
customers for his worthless trash. Any
man who is competent teacher, can
always make $50 in Currency per month,
and will not teach for $50 in Scrip


Thus schools will fail under the man
agement Of men who are incompetent.
Children will lose the hest part of their
school life and know nothing. 1t is an
outrage upon those, who undertake the
responsible duty Of training the young,
TO compel them to take pay in State
Scrip They'should be we'll paid and in
money.


We trust. IL the Supreme Court cannot
be led 10 take different view Of this
question, that the next Legislature will
compel by special act, the payment OF
school tax in Currency.





Rev. j. l.. DENTON.