Year: 1870

THE CoMMON-sCHoOL LAWS TO BE REPEALED


OR MoDIFIED-PRoPOsED MEETING IN THE


COOPER INSTITUTE.


ALBANY, Jan. 9.--The movement for chang
ing the Commonsehool system indicates that that will
shortly become OF the most exciting matters In the
Legislature and among the people yet some OF tho de-
voted friends Of that system, here and elsewhere are
scarcely prepared to believe that serious demonstra
ton will during the present session, II at ALL This
fancied security will probably soon give way before
stubborn facts.


The difficulties that beset the passage Of the law Of isi


the main support Of system that has worked so well
during nearly thirty yearsare parleed In the present
aspect Of educational affairs That law was delayed by
quiet influences lthen inexplcabe to the publie TIL
period 30 late ia the session that tho venerable
James Wadsworh despaired Of its passage. No salts
factory explanation could then be obtained respecting
the extraordinary delay. As late as the 7th
of April, almost in the last days OF the session.
the worthy patriarch wrote TO friend that
he "was disguised with the cold and heartless
Indifference lof legislators toward the Common
School cause and about concluded TO let the bill take Its
fate" That friend felt satisfied that appeal TO the
people, as well the Legislature might yet save the
bill. He instantly wrote a brief memorial, which Mr.
Wadsworh and few others aided In circulating among
influential in different parts OF the State, with let
ters urging that the people in all quarters might be
aroused from their apathy and call on their representa-
tives to pass the bill And quickly thereafter the bill
became law Politicians and legislators had become
satisfied from the indications OF popular feeling that the
great OF the community irrespective OF sect or
party wanted and would have educational organza-
ton like the one proposed. The fact that amid all the
collisions and changes other topics, during the last 80
years. our present system has remained unshaken and
prosperous furnishes satisfactory indications OF lts
worth And yet the system thus longtred and beneh-
ca is now about TO be assaed for purposes that II sue
cessu would destroy the whole fabric thus aborously
and faithfully maintained.


The foregoing references to the origin OF the law OF lsIi
are appropriate now the spirit that led TO the
delay in the passage Of the law, is now marshang s
forces for eectng changes tanamount TO the desrue-
ton OF the system s present unsee tartan and impa
tial basis That movement will soon DC made ID tho
legislature seems certain and that success Is ahlcl
mated from the present party our State is
apparent


Tho legislative movement will doubtless be made
shortly after the obecs of 1t shall be set forth formally
I'm great public meeting at the Cooper Institute, on or
about the 10th inst The principal speaker on that ocea
sion will be one on whom the mantle OF Archbishop
Hughes has fallen in this mattera clerical dgmtary Of
talent and ZEAL that render him efficient as his dis
tingushed predecessor in the same cause


siuguarly enough the language Of Gov. Seward IN
his earliest message to the Legislature prior TO the
sage OF the present CommOnSchool law, are adopted
among the texts the present crusade against the s
tenn founded chiefly that law. The nature OF the
adverse movement now ls like that Of l540l which was
Of the law of isi Shall the movement OF 1870
prove destructive to the object which escaped straDgua


lion nearly 80 years ago. ard which has ever since beer
growing stronger and stronger in the confidence o
nearly all sects and divisions OF the people. -
The temporary withdrawal OF the Lobby audhthe
oiceseekers with the legislators during the recess
leaves tho hotels, well as the Capitol IN u STATE o.
sabbataran quetness oonrasted with the Dnste Ihei
dent to the organization OF the Poea naehney unue
control OF the now domlnant party