Year: 1875

! form has it; but as we put it, it is the
question of the stability Of our grand
system of public schools supported by
common taxation.


No man in this State regrets the fac
that this question is in issue more than
do, but we must recognize the fact
and meet it squarely like men.
The common school system OF Ohio
is perhaps as nearly perfect as any pop
ular institution can be made. Every
winter for many years our General As
sembly has devoted large portion Oi
its time to the perfectiug of the system
as from time to time experience devel.
oped its defects. In 1873 the Taft bill
codified the laws on the subject then in
existence, and has made the system
one of which we have a right to feel
proud, and even to boast of. The aim
of our public schools is to put within
the reach of all, without regard to re.
ligion or conditions, the means of edu.
cation, which Burke says sis the sure
defense of nations" and as citizens we
ought to regard them with with zeal
Gus and jealous care. We ought to ex-
tend their usefulness by encouraging
our children to attend them, and by
paying a liberal tax for their support,
and good salaries to the competent
hard-working teachers, whose lives are
spent in making them an honor to us.
But there is something else of far great
er importance which we ought to guard
against, and that is the insidiOus en-
croachments of sectarian zealots, who
denounce the system as goddess, and
who are working openly and secretly
for its destruction, through the instru-
mentality Cf the Democratic party.


On the I'd of June the State Conven-
ton of the Republican party, then as
sembled at Columbus, adopted the fol-
lowing as their fourth and fifth decla-
tions of principles:


"Fourth-We stand ty free educa-
ton, our public school system, the tax
alton of all for its support, and no di-
vision of the school fund.


"Fifth-Under our republican sys-
tenn of government there should be no
connection, direct or indirect, between
Church and State, and we oppose all
legislation in the interest of any par
ticular sect. Upon this subject we
should not fail to profit by the expert
ence of foreign governments, where the
efforts of the Church to control the
State constitute an evil of great magni-
tude, and endanger the power and
prosperity of the people"


These declaration, have no uncertain
sound. They mean just what they say,
and they have met responsive throb
of approval from the hearts of the peo-
pie, without regard to party, all over
the State and nation.


But the Democratic leaders in Ohio,
who pander to the prejudice of a GER
tain religious sect for the purpose of
holding their allegiance to their party,
denounce these declarations As an in
suit to the intelligence of the people of
Ohio, and characterize them as base
appeal to sectarian prejudices. Even
Senator Thurman, the ablest and fair
est speaker on the Democratic side in
our State, makes this charge against US
in his Mansfield speech, in which he
said:


"Under cover of false pretense that
the public schools of Ohio are in dam
ger, though they are amply, nay, fully
protected by her Constitution, and an
other false pretense of clerical inteIJe-
renee and domination, the Raical lead
ers have seen fit to drag religion into
the mire of politics, and inaugurate a
crusade against Christian Church."


Now LET Us see why it was thought
necessary to insert these two planks in
the Republican Elatform-let us exam
inc briefly the record and see whether
we have any cause to apprehend dam
ger as to the integrity of the school
fund.


In 1866 l had the honor, with others,
to represant Harrison county in the
State Legislature. Logan county was
represented in the same Assembly by
my talented friend, Col. DOnn Piatt.
one of the most genial, big-hearted gen.
tlemen God ever created; gentleman
whose private character is not under
stood nor appreciated except by those
who know him intimatelyand socially;
man whose generous unostentatiou5
charities are far beyond his means, and
whose devotion to his personal friends
is as praiseworthy as it is notorious.
But in public affairs Col. Piatt in that
Assembly proved himself an Ishmael-
ite. His hand was raised against eve-
ry man and every mans measures, es-
pecially so as to legislate against atfec-
ting Cincinnati, and the consequence
was Col. Piatt became very unpopular
with his colleagues, so much so that
while by his eloquence and scathing
sarcasm he assisted in defeating many
bills. he could not succeed in getting
any measure passed in the House if
his name was identified with 1t as Its
author, and none knew this better than
himself. Near the close of the session
the Colonel became interested in a bill
which he was very anxious should
pass, and he handed it to my colleague,
the Hon. Geo. i. Wright, then men,
Der of the House, who, to oblige the
Colonel, introduced it as his own. This
Wright bilP was numbered 24O, and
was entitled as follows:


ga BILL-To authorize Boards Of Ed


ucation to receive certain donations,


and for other purposes.


'SEC. /. BE it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Ohio, That
the Board of Education of any town.
ship, city, or Incorporated village shall
and is hereby authorized to accept any
donation of school houses properly con-
structed and so situated as to be OF ser
vice.


'sSEC. 3 That it shall be the duty of
said Board of Education to continue
the schools organized in said school
houses by enrolling the scholars, and
supplying all that is necessary, and
subjecting such schools to the laws OF
the State already in force.


"SEC. 3. The power is hereby grant
ed the donors of such school property
to select from teachers duly qualified
under the laws now in force instructors
and appoint the same to construct and
carry on said schools.


"SEC. 4. This act shall be in force
from and after its passage


Noaction was taken on this bill in
the session of 1866, nor was any public
notice taken of ii until the following
winter, when it was, the 2Sth of Feb
ruary, on motion of Mr.. Piatt, taken
from the table and postponed until the
7th of March. See House Jour-