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Show FREE SCHOOLS. Mr. Gerrit Smith, the eccentric but consistent Abolitionist, is out in a declaration de-claration against compulsive education. educa-tion. His theory commends itself to every lover of freedom. While conceding con-ceding that oppressive governments, like that of Prussia, might consistently consistent-ly with their functions compel their people to receive a certain amount of education, ho aeks what power has ever been bestowed upon this Government Govern-ment by which it is empowered to force any child, against its wishes or the wishes of its parent?, to spend so many hours of so many days in the year, in school. This is simply absolute abso-lute tyranny, and there is no argument argu-ment in its favor t iat cannot be equally as strongly employed in favor of the action of a "paternal government" govern-ment" directing every affair of the commonwealth, until we get back to Czar Nicholiis and the most autocratic of governments the world ever saw. There has been considerable said relative to a free school system in this Territory, and evidently by parties utterly ignorant of the matter. As the law now Btunds, a two-thirds majority ma-jority of any school district can decide de-cide for themselves. This is right; it is Republican. But suppose we ask the Legislature lo make it compulsory upon the entire Territory to sustain free schools, whether the counties will it or not. Would it be right ? would it be just? would it be republican? Over one-half the counties in this Territory, to-day, cannot find money j to pay their present taxes. We have been a trading, "dickering" people from the first. Necessity made us that and necessity has compelled its continuance. While possessing the necessaries of life, and in some instances in-stances several of the luxuries, it has taken many a severe struggle to find the cash necessary to pay the low rate of taxation which Utah calls for. Hence against the scheme of free schools extended beyond the present .legislation, which empowers every Bchool district to adopt it if the taxpayers tax-payers eo desire, we interpose two questions: Do the people want it ? And have they money to pay the increased in-creased taxation which must be paid in money? Or is it merely one of those senseless cries which uon -producers shout when they wish to make jin uproar '.' A direct vote of the ivhole people, by counties, would give the only satisfactory annwer. |