Centre Democrat. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, July 17, 1879, Image 4

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    Elif (Crnirc |P mortal.
BELLEPONTE, PA.
The Largest, Cheapest add Best Paper
I'lllt Lift II KD IN CKNTHK COUNTY.
TIIK CKNTKK !) K MOCK AT is pub
ll*h*l fvary ThunU> morning, si IMlofonta, (Vutre
ruunljr, Pa •
TKRMft—Ca*lt in sdvnnn* $1 HO
If not |ai<l In A>IVADCt U OO
nni lf within thro# month* will IM* •>•
elrrl in s<lvsiirt.
A LI VK l*APKß—<lvoUd la the lUr#*t f Hn
whole |HH)plt.
N |w*|Nr will IN* li*rontiini'Ml until irwrigour#
\Hi| t efcrept M( of |iiMilem.
I'|ior going out of the count) unlit In* |*mi*l for hi
Ad * Alice.
Any p**r*n pncurlnr u> t*nraah ul* riher* will
br *-lit A * opy frre f clisrge.
Our Htn*lv* circulation makes tin* pa|t'r nti un
usually rallahla ami profitable in (ilium for aiivertifllug
We have the most ample facllhlea lor JOH WORK
anl are prepare| to print all kitnl* of H*M>k. Tr.% I*.
|*rscrHiutiiea, INeters, <\uiiiner-lal printing. A\, in th
Ittn-et at)le ami at the |na**t |*Niht rates.
HAT Kit OK \l>\ KKTISINO.
Time. lln ] 2ln Bln. tin. MB loin. *tli
1 Weak, fl 00 eJ 00 * 4 --i 00 ?• •, ll.'
•J Weeks, j I .to 3 cut 4 HI !t OOj ft • II no |
3 Week*, 'J 00 I .%<• .hi i, H> 7HI I rat I•* HI
I Moatli. - | M FT NO 7H- HOOl% HI JO hi
•J Month*. 4 HI ft H' M HI LO HI M HI J" HI HI
3 Month*, H HL I: HI 13 00 K, NO HI • HI
ft Months.! *Hi I'i H. \H Hi -II HT N H -• HI (VI 00
1 Year. H'jHljlH on J4 HI .'• H,,4J00 H hi Ihihj
Advertisements are • al'uUte<| |y the in- li in lei .'lit
of column, and any le* *|a • is ratel n a full im li
Foreign advertisements mu*t le paiil fr I* f"re In*
•ertiou, except on j early utra t*. when lalf)early
payment* in advance wilt he required.
POLITICAL NOTICIS, I" cents per line each Insertion, j
N •thing Inserted for less than rents.
lit .into* NOTICBS, In the e*l|t>rial columns, 1* cents I
per line, each Insert!, n
LuCO NorlCM. in I.N ,il rl nuns, in cents p r line
Av*ot XriMi*!* ol uauie of . sudhlatr I r olhce, ,
98 . eh
A*vorsciu ßVTS or MIMJIKIK* t*f Pit tin inserted
free: hut all obituary notice* will be charged 6 cents
Mrltes.
SPECIAL Notier* 2. r |*R cent, above regular rales.
Mr. Hayes and his Vetoes.
Wiitl.'ti for tli" CS-ITRI DIM-HRAT.
We do not wish to strip the Executive
branch of the government of the proper
and constitutional jiowers belonging to
it, but persuaded, as we are, that the
Federal Executive claims a binding
authority over the Representative, we
protest against the exercise of assumed
power, and are decided that Mr. lliyc*.
as acting Executive, has invaded and
dangerously usurped the rights of tho
States and the sovreigntv of the people
in their exercise of the elective franchise
In his attempt to justify his acts, in his
veto messages, he only adds insult to
usurpation. The Congress passed "An
act to prohibit military interference at
State elections," and on the 12th of
May, 1879, Mr. Hayes vetoed the hill
and in stating his objections, lie refer*
to his veto of the act of the 29th of
April, a similar bill, in which he says
"I am forced to the conclusion that the
bill before me is not only unnecessary
to prevent such interference, hut is a
dangerous departure from long settled
and important constitutional princi
ples.'' This is a bold and reckless as
sertion. In his construction of section
4, of article 4, of the Federal constitu
tion, he assumes "that military force
may be used at the place of elections
when such use is necessary to enforce
the constitution and laws," that is, that
it is left to the discretion of tyrants and
usurpers to be put in operation. What
part of the constitution authorises the
President to invade the States with his
marshals and army on the day of elec
tion? The section of that instrument
to which he refers gives no such author
ity—gives no such right, and is in direct
contravention of the reserved rights of
the States, their constitutions anil law*.
Mr. Hayes refers to the acts of t'ongress
of 1792 and 179.', and says: "the act of
1792 was repealed by the act of 1795."
This is true, and in his veto he quotes
the section as a justifiable precedent.
What application have they, or what
authority do they confer upon him to
interfere in the election of members of
Congress with his marshals and soldier*?
Congress had laid an excise tax on stills
and whiskey; the inhabitant* of West
ern Pennsylvania were opposed to the
enactment, and they armed themselves
and with mob violence burnt tho col
lector's office. The Governor of Penn
sylvania called upon President Wash
ington to protect, under the constitu
tion, the Htate "against inrasion and
domestic violence," and troops, under
the command of Gov. Lee, of Virginia,
were sent -from Maryland, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Ac., to quell the insurrec
tion. (See Breckinridge'a History of the
Western Insurrection, MW. 3, page 9.) Is
this a precedent for the usurpation of
Mr. Hayes? Iloes it give him super
vision over tho free elections of tho
free citizens of the States. Tho very
statement of the facts refutes his pre.
tensions.
He next refers to the act of Congress
of 1807, which he says met with the
approval of Mr. .Jefferson. This is also
true. Rut why not act honestly with
the American citizen and give the rea
son and cause for that enactment ? He
knew that at that time England claim
ed "the right of search," and the |>owcr
to arrest and impfison seamen on hoard
of American vessels, and did search
ships at sea, and impress American sea
men into her own service. Remon
strance proved unavailing, and Mr. Jef
ferson then asked Congress to lay an
• embargo and enforce non intercourse
with British teasels. This was done, and
no sooner done than it provoked vio
lent opposition in the New England
State's. The net* of Congress were vio
lently opposed,—in other words, nullifi
ed in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
These .Mate* threatened to dissolve the
Union, and unite in a new government
with Canada, the (iovernor of which
had already sent on hi* agent, spy and
commissioner, John Henry, to effect the
alliance. These facts, with tho evi
dence to sustain them, were laid before
Congress by Mr. Jefferson, (see IV. 3,
American Ilcvioo,) and under such cir.
cumstancea the act of I so" was passed.
Rut what justification is to he found in
all this for tho position assumed by Mr.
Hayes? It is absurd.
Mr. Hayes next refers to tho Rurr
conspiracy, a* ho calls it, and says Pres
ident Jefferson broke it up. Col. Rurr
was arrested, and indicted, "Ist, For a
high misdemeanor in setting on foot
within the United .States a military ex
pedition against the dominions of the
King of Spain;" and 2d, For treason
in assembling an armed force with tie
sign to seize the city of New <'rleans."
(See Burr's trial, IV. I, jxiges 3-4.)
l)ocs Mr. Hayes believe he can deceive
tho American people by shamefully
perverting the acts of Mr. -Jefferson to
shield himself in his usurpation of
power? He was unfortunate in quoting
the acts of Mr. Jefferson. hat analo
gy do they hear to hi* encroachment
upon the rights of the people in their
State elections ? None whatever. At no
time, during the eight ycur* of Mr-
Jefferson's two administrations, did lie
claim the right to interfere with hordes
of deputy marshals and armed soldiers
in the election of members of Congress.
Mr. Hayes, with all his effrontery, daro
not directly assert that he did. It was
Mr. -Jefferson wJio wrote in the Ik-clara
tion of Independence that "these unit
ed colonies are of right and ought to he
free and independent States." When
President Adams, who had labored with
great zeal, perseverance and industry
to establish Independence, attempted
with no less zeal and ability to inculcate
monarchical principles in tho adminis
tration of the Fetlcral government it
wa* the same Mr. Jefferson, then Vice
President, who wrote to Mr. Madison,
tee I'unningham's eorrtsj>ondencf) "I am for
preserving to the States the powers not
yielded l-y them to tho Union, and to
the Legislature of the Union its consti
tutional share in the division of /- went ;
and I am not for transferring all tin
powers of tho States to tho general
government, and all those of that gov
ernment to the Executive branch."
Again, after ho became President, in
his first message to Congress, which was
adopted a* the creed of the democratic
party, and the theoretical outlines of a
free government, Mr. Jefferson, among
other things, says, "I am for the sup
jiort of the State governments in ail
their rights as the most competent ad
ministration for our domestic concerns,
and the surest hullwarks against anti
Republican tendencies." In the same
message he was also for "a jealous care
of the right of elections by the jieople."
Mr. Hayes must call another witness
than Mr. Jefferson.
In his pursuit of authorities to justify
his attempt to abolish tho right* of the
States in holding their elections, Mr.
Hayes shows his servility to the consoli
dation's, and with unblushing duplic
ity also refers to the course of I'resident
Jackson in the case of .South Carolina.
In the session of 1832-'33, Congress
passed a tariff or revenue tjill, against
which South Carolina protested as un
constitutional and oppressive, and her
legislature p.a*d an ordinance against
its enforcement within her Jiorders—
known as the nullification ordinance—
and prepared to resist the collection of
duties ly force ol arms. Gen. Jackson
promptly issued his proclamation and
directed the collectors to collect the
revenues provided by the act of Con
gress at all hazards, and the army and
navy were ordered to render assistance.
The President was only obeying the
commands of the constitution in thus
enforcing the revenue laws. How can
Mr. Haye* apply these acts as precedents
| or authority for interference in State
"lections or elections for members of
; C-ongress? I'resident -Jackson was ever
an advocate of the rights of the State*,
and never in his long official career
dreamed that he had authority to con
trol or interfere with citizens in the
free exercise of their elective franchise,
and it is presumeahle that Washington,
Jefferson and Jackson knew what was
required of them under (he constitu
tion fully as well as Mr. Hayes. He
must find other authorities.
PATRICK Htxar.
— - -
<n (benight of the 9th instant Mr.
John A. Smull of Harridiurg, died very
suddenly at the Girard Hotel, Philadel
phia. He was one of the best known
men in the Stste, and Jiad occupied
the position of Resident Clerk In the
House of Representatives since the cre
ation of that office in ltf>B. He was
also the compiler of Smull's Legislative
Hand Hook. He died at the age of 50,
leaving an estate of about SAS,QOO.
The Pittsburg paper* announce that
the Marquis of Lome and the Princees
Ixxiise will visit the Exposition in that
city in September.
LETTER FROM WASHINUTON.
PolltioN ot tho Capitol.
Wasiiimoton, D. .July 14, 1879.
Your correspondent one pleasant
evening la*i week, while nosing for
news about Willard's, discovered two
young men in conversation. There was
nothing remarkable about tho fact of
seeing two young men in conversation ;
but in this case tlie individuals in ques
tion happened to bo those who, by a
sort of common consent, aro regarded
as lliss primary instigators of the lute
extra session— ollo in the capacity of
Representative 111 Congress and tlie
other that of journalist. To this intro
duction it is hardly necessaty to add
that the two men in question were Mil
ton .1. Southard, of Ohio, and A.
Hue!], ol Missouri, both now peruia
ncntlv resident in the District of Colum
bia. Your correspondent, with natural
curiosity to lean any hitherto unpublish
ed gossip regarding tho inception of the
extra session, proceeded to interview
Mr. Southard, who was asked " Whether,
when he offered hi* now famous amend
ment to the Legislative Rill near tlie
close of the last Congress, ho foresaw
the tremendous controversy to which it
would give rise? '
"Oh, yea; in a general w*y,'' replied
the Ohio Representative, of course it
was impossible to foresee tlie shape or
direction tlie discussion might take a*
to details; hilt I knew that all the sub
ject required was to be put 011 the
boards, a* the saying i*, in order to be
come an all-engrossing theme of public
comment and popular agitation :
(" rrcsj in/- -if Did you consult with
any considerable number of Democrats
m either House before you offered your
amendment ?
Mr. s uth ird Not formally. The
matter hud been generally talked over.
We u'l knew that Mtll Nsyler had been
beaten hy the deputy marshal* in Cin
cinnati, and tiiat tlie operation* of
.lohnny Davenport in New York had
exercised nil imtiortrwit influence upon
tho tlie result of the <'ongre.f,n ,1 elec
tions 111 New York. It was ni*o a mat
ter of notoriety that tho election law*
iiad been made use of in Massachusetts,
in Chicago, in I'liihcldphia, and in
I,oiii*iaiiit a* part of the Republican
machine. Altogether it was generally
computed that tlie o|>eration, or rather
tho partisan abuse of these law* had
made a difference of at least from ten
to twelve et* in the lloue in favor of
tlie Republicans, thereby atlecting the
majority in that liody to the extent of
from twenty to twenty-four. lam con
vinced tiiat had those laws not been in
existence or had tlie partisan method
of executing them heen unknown to
the Administration, there would have
been at least IGO instead of 1.70 Demo
crats returned to the present House,
which would have made the Democratic
majority .'il instead of 11 over all.
These tiling* naturally formed a staple
subject of conversation among Demo
cratic member* of the out-going House,
and there was a common consent that
something must le done in defense of
the principle# of |>opular representation,
and done at once. Rut no settle.! plan
had been devised either hy the titular
leader* of tho party in conference or
hy tlie party a* a whole in caucus. 1
may say that my amendment was a
volunteer expression of what 1 knew to
he the universal sentiment of the party.
1 saw that the party wo* waiting for
somelsidy to take the responsibility of
the initiative and I took it, fully conti
'lent that when the step was once taken
the party would hack it up.
Cor. — The result justified your judg
ment ?
Mr. A".—Entirely so. I had no appre
hension that it would he otherwise.
There were many I>emocrat* who ex
pressed fears that forcing an extra e
sion would turn out to tie had ioliry.
They seemed to he under tlie influence
of tlie clamor of the New York pros*
which, without exception, represented
an extra session to be an evil of indefi
nite proportion*. Tho only way to over
ooms this influence was to force the is
sue and bring on a discussion which
would open the eyes of the country to
the character of the election law*, and
al the same time open the eye* of rep
resentative men in Congress to the mo
tives which inspired the clamor of the
New York press.
Cor. —Was there at any time during
tlie closing hour* of the regular session
any danger of a book down ?
Mr. A".—Not to my knowledge. There
were a great many rumor* of defection
here and there; and you may have
noticed that during the lost night of
the regular session the galleries and
lobbies were jammed with a throng of
Department employes, male and female,
who were doing everything they could
and exerting every |-os*il,lo influence
in their peculiar way to seeuro the pass
age of the Legislative Rill. Rut the
conferees on tlie part of the House,
| who during the last twenty four hours
f the session bad charge of the matter,
1 were firm, and as long a* they were so
there was no danger. Ido not believe
there was a word of truth in any rumor
of defection. Mr. Riackburn got
! alarmed at one time, and went so far as
! to make arrangements to filibuster the
session out in case the conferee* should
give way, hut that was probably an ex
cess of caution.
(br.—What would have lieon the re
sult of a surrender at that time?"
Mr. A.—Fatal; now and for all time
to come. It would have taught the
people that they onuld not depend on
the Democratic party to protect their
franchises against the encroachment of
the oligarchy which controls the execu
tive branch of tho Government, and
great numliers would have sought other
channels for the enforcement of their
ideas upon public polity.
Cor. —You regard the I>emocratio
party then as being unanimously com
roitted to the line of policy inaugurated
by your amendment?
Mr. A'.—(juite so. There is no dissent
snywhere. There is but one voice, and
that is the election laws must be re
pealed. They are predicated upon the
Republican assumption thai the musses
of voters aro unlit to exercise tho elec
tive franchise except under guardian
ship and surveillance at tho hands of a
central bureuuocracy located at or ma
nipulated front Washington. Tliat is
mi assumption which the American
people will purer tolerate a moment af.
| ter tlioy arrive at an adequate under-
I standing of it. Hitherto the issue has
I been obscured and the nature of the
law* themselves ha* heen concftlri I hy
; the Republican pre** and politician* ;
I hut the late discuiudon* have torn oil"
i the mask, and now the Republican
j managers will find that they have got
;to face the fact* a* they are. Hut bo
' sidea all thi*, my amendment reached
; still further in another direction, in
j that it inaugurated a complete change
in what I may cidl the atrategy of the
Democratic party. It lran*fered the
battle-ground ol politic* I rem the South
!to tlie North. It put an end to the de
! fenxivo system that we had observed
inco JK(IS ami inaugurated a plan of at
tack. It put tlie Republican* on the
defensive lor the firat time in the hi*-
lorv ol the party —defending a arheine
of laws which are indcfonaihlo before
any free people -and made the Democ
racy the attacking party -attacking
thing* which are entirely vulnerable,
and luted fall.
Cur. —What i* your view of the net re
null ol the extra *e**ion and its debate*
upon the public mind ?
Mr. A'.— That i* not an ea*y question
to answer. Tlie debate* of the extra
: *es*ion simply provided material for the
information of the people and the edu
cation of the public mind. The result
will be low of fruition. The people
will rend the speeches and almorb the
fact* set forth in them. Then they
will talk it over around their fireside*
and at tlie cross-road country store*.
Finally they will see clearly what tho
election law* mean and to what they
logically tend. Then you can form
some idea of what you call the net re
suit. Rut the process, a* I said, i* slow.
I have no idea that there i a farmer or
a workingman in tlie United State* who
-loc* not regard himself a* abundantly
capable of exercising tlie elective fran
chise without the least assistance from
the Attorney Ueneral, or any mar*hal
or deputy marshal. And when the
farmers and workinginen get to view
the question in this light the result* of
the extra session will begin to appear.
Rut not sooner.
Cur.—What will be the future course
of the Democratic party 011 thi* i"-uc?
Mr. A".—There can he hut one course
—to persevere. The Republican party,
which, as shown by the offi. lal total* of
the last vote, is in a minority of over
twelve hundred thousand in the coun
try at large, cx|>erts to win 111 18 SO,
partly hy division* among their oppo
nent* and partly hv adroit manipulation
of small number* of votes in closely
contested localities. In a word, they
hojie to prevail, not a* a majority party,
hut n* a plurality party. To thi* end
the machinery of tlie election law* is
absolutely indi*f>on*abic. With those
laws in full operation they can turn the
scale in any closely-contested State.
They can calculate beforehand just how
many voter* will have to be ditfran
cht*ed by arbitrary process under the
election laws, and then they can disfrsn
close them hy a simple stroke of the
pen. as the testimony taken by Senator
Wallace's Committee in D.ven|>ort *
case shows. This power, in a triangular
contest, such a* we are hkeiy to have
next year, would prove invincible. The
election law* form the Icq-e of the Re
publican manager* for success in the
next campaign. Take them away and
tlie Republican* would stand no more
show ol recovering the power they have
Inst than tlie Stuart dynasty stands of a
restoration in Kngland.
Cor. — You regard the deputy mar*h
al* as inore formidable then than tlie
" troops at the polls ?"
Mr. A".—Undoubtedly. The deputy
marshal* could he used in a hundred
place# to every one place where troops
could he used. And besides their ue
1* more dangerous because more insidi
ou*. In fact, the whole situation next
year turn* practically on the operation
of the election law*.
(s>r. How can the Iemocratic Con
gross prevent the Administration from
o|>erating the election laws in tlie inter
ests of the Republican party next year ?
Mr. A'.—That is a question which the
repiesentatives of the Democratic party
in Congress must decide. It is a ques
tion of method to be agreed uj>on in
the councils of the party when tho time
cornea for action.
(W.—Rut have you no suggestion to
olTer, baaed upon your recent experi
ence a* a representative and leader in
the House?
Mr. A'.—No; at least not now. A
man in Congress ia a lietler judge of
method in -Ueh case* than a man out
—even though the latter may have had
previous experience. It would bo pro
per for me to indicate a policy or advise
action in general terms, the same a# any
other Democrat in private life, but the
selection of immediate method must be
: left to the judgment of the legislators
1 themselves.
lor. — Rut as the inaugurator of this
whole movement your advice must cer
tainly lie sought hy those upon whom
will devolve the responsibility of carry
ing it out.
Mr. A.—Oh. well, in that ca*e I sup
pose the Democrat* in Congress, when
, ever they have occaaion for my advice,
will not hesitate to ask it. Rut you can
, depend on one thing : there will be no
tailing back, tin tlie contrary when the
party move* again it will be to advance
—an advance which the occupant of the
| White House will soon discover to be
in force, and not a feint or a reconnoia
i sance. In fact, I think we call the ex
tra session a reconnoisaance. Tlie real
battle will begin next seasion.
With which comforting assurance the
genial Ohioan betook himaelf to hi*
rooms to attend to hta professional af
fairs. Rut your correspondent must be
permitted to add that the loaa of so cool
a head and so sterling a character as
Mr. Southard from the Democratic
ranka in the Hotiac is little short of a
calamity, in view of tho approaching
struggle, it afford* no consolation
to reflect that Mr. Southard ia himself
to blame for the loaa—not his constitu
ents. It ia to be regretted that the in
ducements of public life should not be
sufficient to keen such men in the ser
vice of the people. lxTsaruirtß.
Common School Itojxirt of Gont.ro
County for the year ending
Juno 1, 1870.
tir 11. MK Y Kit.
C-oinparing tho work of the past year
with t tint "t tho year before there ap
peals hut little progress. Rut in our
sanguine expectation* of great resuit*
wo are apt to forgot that education i* a
plant of slow growth. Reviewing the
history of tho most favored race, we an
surprised tiiat so little La* been accom
plished morally and intellectually, and
it is only hy comparing century with
i century that wo can appreciate any
striking difference. It, then, our
schools of tho present day he compared
with those of fifteen or twenty years
| ago there is found abundant cause to
rejoice at the uteat improvement in our
system. And it may he confidently
predicted that many of tho evil* now
I complained of will not ob-truct tlie
way of educators thirty years hence. It
is probable, also, that many ol our line
j spun theories of to 'lav will he brushed
away us so many cobweb* in the educa
tional temple of the future.
I'ul few house* were built during the
past year. An excellent building w
pill up hy the board 01 Spring 'listri'-t
j and furnished with patent seats and
desks. '1 he board made a great mis
take, however, in not purchasing sufli
! cient space for u play ground. The
house is situated within a few feet of
the Reiiefonte and Mileshurg pike and
the pupils have no pla'-o for exercise
and play except thi* pike. This subji < t
of too limited school grounds is becom
ing monotonous, hut directors mu*t
( have their attention called to il until
the evil is rem<-died. I.ike Darius of
old, who had detailed an officer to cry
, out to liira with u loud voice every
night: "fur, remember the Athenians,
so it *e< m* necessary that some one
shriek into tin- ears of our director* at
least annually to remind them of cer
tain of their duties. ill Miles district
five 'if the nine schools have not a
• quare rod of j.. grind, j t the dis
trict I* one ol the w- ilthn -t in tlie
county arid abundantly able to pur
chase all that i r<-q ur- d. I lie hoards
of sev-ral otlo-r u.-tr ■ts are coming
short of their Duty in this respect.
Good fences should be put round the
• ol.* a matter 1KI much neglected by
directors. Heboo I grounds should be
planted with trei . a work that enter
prising cituciis ill each sub-dlslrel
could jarlorm. The lot of th<- primary
school at ltd* rsburg was planted witn
some twenty tree- last spring hy several
of the patron*, and it t* hoped their
g -o<l example w ill he followed by other*.
In looking over the reports for form•
<-r year* it i* found that there has been
a gradual increase 111 the average jrr
<*rr,rwm of attendance. in Im,', the
average |-er cent, in thi* county was
Go ; in 1*79 it was 7*. having increase 1
regularly during the intervening year*.
Rut these figures do not convey a cor
rect idea of actual attendance; there
aro many children of school age who do
not get to school at all ; others may at
tend regularly for hut a fraction of the
term and yet receive credit on the
nook# for list percent. It is seldom
one *-e tunny large scholar* in our
school* at present ; they leave school,
Willi a few exceptions, at the age of fif
teen or sixteen years, in this respect
thete seem* to have been retrogression,
for in former y ears a large number or
j>or|ortion of grown scholars were
found in our schools. There are differ
ent causes for the non attendance of
the larger Iwiys and girls; some of the
brighter pupils are sent to higher insti
tutions, some sre obliged to work, and
.1 t* to Ik> feared a large number ot ab
sentee* pass their time loafing. 1 am
convinced tiiat much ol the time pupils
devote to the study of gnuiiun-r is
wonted. A* already stated the majority
of our boy# and girl# leave school at
about th age of fifteen or sixteen, and
at that time they- have committed a
number of definition* and rule* of
grammar but have not learned to ap
ply them. If teacher* would give lan
guage leasoti* in place of having pupils
study technical grammar and would in
sist on constant practice in writing
sentence* and short com|xsilion, 1
la-iieve pupils would derive greater ben
efit. Il book-keeping were substituted
for abstruse grammar it would lie of
more practical use to a majority of our
pupils. I would, of course, not he in
lavor of afwtlishing grammar—if pupils
are'far enough advanced to take up
this study and the probability is that
they will stay at school long enough to
acquire a practical knowledge ot the
subject, let them study hy all means.
It may be pro|>er in this connection to
allude to the study of mental arithmetic,
i Certain of our teacher* have assumed
tlie authority of discarding this branch.
This, I think, ia a mistake; it is taking
ua ftack a quarter of a century—when
both pupila and leachera, though able
to "do" liieir "aunts" mechanically and
trariscnlw them artistically into a blank
book prepared for that pur|>o*e. knew
very little of the principles involved in
Ik* solution of a pmhlwn That aome
teachers devote too much time to this
; branch is admitted, but to drop it en
tirely ftoni our course of study would
be productive of still greater evil.
For aoveral year# there ha* been a
growing sentiment in favor of county
uniformity of text books. Friends of
the measure claim the follow ing as the
leading advantages:
Rooks could he procured at much
I~wer rales than under the preoent sys
| lem.
At present neatly every district lias a
series of books different from those of
all the other districts, and a family
moving across the line of a township or
borough necessitate* the expense of a
new out-fit of books—a heavy burden.
This burden fall# generally on that class
least able to bear it. This fact and the
high prices of bonks are, in a great
measure, the cause of non attendance
and ini|terfect classification, for many
parents are unable to buy a new series
of books every year or two; hence
their children either stay at home or
come to school with but half the books
needed. If there were a uniform ser
ies of book* thwre would then tie a con
siderable saving financially, and our
schools would tie improved in regard to
attendanoe and classification. A con
vention of director* was called which
met at Bellefonte during Institute week,
December 28th, 1878, and a plan was
agreed on for ill* Mlrdion ola seii'-*
/if hook* for the county. A wleclion
linn since beeri made nit<l announced in
the different county
Millheim ith been crr-ct<"l into #
borough, and the director* of this bor
ough nave now an op|tortiiriity to grado
their school* in a manner to improve
them greatly. There should he four
grade* inn lend of three, and better ac
j comrnodatiorta should he provided.
The Independent district (Farmer*
Mills) was abolished last year by de
: cree of court. It had been in exist-
I enee since Ikf/fi.
Our Teacher*' Institute was held a*
usual at itellefonte, beginning I'ec., 24,
and continuing during the week. 'J he
instructors wi-re Professors N. Shaef
('•r, John -talir, W. A. Bu'khout
*nd VV. A. Krise. Lecturer*, N. C,
-iinefh r, ,I'ihn S, Stalir and Mr. Wal
I lace Bruce. We had about the usual
number of teachers in attendance, and
the inlet'- i manifested on the part of
most of the member* was commend
able. lam under many obligations to
Mi srs. lhincan, l.ieb, llershberger,
,'\ ewcomef and several others, who la
bored I iiAhfnlly for the success of tho
Institute. There are other* who hold
the higli->l grifle certiHcates and of
whom much might Its expected, but
they generally disappoint u>. Their
presence would not 1- discovered were
M not for the vigilance of the roll clerk.
A majority of the teacher* are in favor
of holding the Institute in the smaller
low us of ihe county, for the reason
that the citi/. ns of ilellcfonte do not
support the cause very liberally, finan
cially nor mor.lt/1/, by their presence.
Beside* the suggestions already made,
I would again call the attention of di
rector* to certain others of their dutie*
which in wijn- districts, are sadly neg
lected . Nearly all our schools n; I
more apparatus; the teacher* cannot
work to advantage without tool*. Out
houses are still wanting in some of
the districts. lamat a loss what plan
to propose to arouse our director* to
the im|>ortari' e of thi* matter—unless
it were Ui send them, when snow* aro
deepest and days coldest, to those saiho
-i hools ah' re th<-*e convenience* arc
lacking. Visit* to school* should l>o
more frequent; directors want* to
know wl at their teacher* are doing,
and schools are greatly stimulated by
regular and frequent visit*. Some di
rector* blT* an aversion to making *d
drcso- to s hools nd fvr thi* reason do
not vi*;t. Long *j <-ech<s are not essen
tial ft few wor'll to the teacher in pri
vate ma* accompli-h more than labored
harangues t" the school. JhrATtor*
should .. i lure cheap teachers; they
are the dearest in the end. It is the
intelligence ui a community that in
ha nee* the value and insures the safety
of its property. Therefore, paying a
reasonable salary so that good teachers
may lie secured. i> true economy. We
have a nutnl-er of excellent director*
in ouroounty who are keenly sensible
of the great trust committed into their
hand*. They pay living salaries, visit
their schools, respect their teacher* and
assist them in their work. They keep
themselves well inforrne<l in reference
to all the detail* of the educational af
fair* of th'ir district*. If the teachers
get into any difficulty they are prompt
ly there to correct it; if anything is
wanting it i* immediately supplied.
It is a pleasure to visit their schools ;
one *eoin to pass into a ditfercnt
atmosphere the moment he crosses the
township line. I do not wish to be
(•ersonal, yet I cannot forbear commend
ing in thi* connection the director* of
IWnner townhip for the interest mani
fested in their school*. On the other
hand, l>oard* might l>e named which
take very little interest in their school* ;
their school* merely cjruf. If the Irttrr
of the law i* compiled with so that the
State appropriation may le drawn, the
director* are satisfied.
lira* mo* STATISTIC*!, at roar.
*c*s .t starves.
(4 Hifli iffit *ir* _ 34*,
•* (Bt|*r< -ad „ A
not c M
..f ■rbwsl h U*" - I*2
" t*<lf luring 3
" N fit f>f tle- )*
fuiUi lc .. 1#
nurrru
\ t (4 Mh ) *nHool •uttaM* fomifnrr .... 49
" •ith iftjurvntt luriillttN... 47
N|r.i f ath s,] 21T
M frmM vhonti ..... ii>
" fchft.J* N—wl—l „rs.SL.s l .xj.s-t IT
*lti..l.||.U.iM _ I^2
|r. *ln< l • -R wrr uniform ... Jf4
" fg in * |i. ii ih# flit.l® wan 4 fl7
** it i. b Ur | f fc.< lino
Uu|til „ W
TM '-HCM.
N i.Trdv#* < f tN* li*ta "JrT7
** fwahm M
" lAUbfti HA** Ihml no 3d
" t-N- lr lw Ut* \MMglil imd than
t** J-NM*. „ W.
H bft UAT* r4 UKAI I*N
tfi bing .U.hli IL i■— I®l
Atr*g gfe €4 i+m
N'nn Uf of riimtAaltorit hi14.. m ...
i Innn!. .... SP"
** 3
nf (rfUSfltm .. 2
Nutl.U-r of t*Mt to 34 .
nof 1
" mile* (t(eH
t',%' iaJ Mm tiUVh
" 1 rjr.it i-. j ie-l n4 ••*! U> IW
iNjtdflihmi 31
• •f all the cities of the "Sunny South,'
Memphis, Tenn., seem* to Ire the most
afflicted. That terrible scourge. Yellow
fever, ha* again broken out there, and
the inhabitants of the city are panic
stricken, and leaving the ei'ty a* fast a*
the trains can carry them. New >r
lean* ha etabli*hed a strict quarantine
agamst Memphis.
AVw AilvrrtinfHtcnt*.
Auditor'* Notice.
IN the Orphans' Court of Centre
I rnir In th. m.tt.i nf IS. lUtal. of JOIIS
HANICV. IU ..f Mi> touhdiip, dew 4.
TJ| AN Atililof. hf llw AhoVA
♦Vwiit to r |s.,t UfVM A|fAtn*t ih Roil Ikut* *4 mm>l
dfOAtlAOt. rvr t th* fit fed fMUtrcd . n (Re AIUA thcrAff.
Will Nicv-t All |mrtlr tt>CMtvil At lII* nllfy li H*lie
IrotfA.ofi Tl MIHV, Ai rT u 1 T. At i oVWk,
r M , lot Ue JNrptw (4 hN A|l rtifit
**** Wft 11 I. HK.k. Auditor.
CANCER CURED,
\VITHOUT KNIFE, and in moat
I * ISM vrok-Ml twin Aral. In
tx w. r. Yisiua, m n. a...i.i.nr R ,
am iVnlr. Av-nnty. f*
AHHijjfiiee't* Notice.
VJOTICE it hereby that Ums
•1* Jnlsl hewslnt ISA AC At ITVII KI.L A<M(t.
M IS. h'S.ei <4 rmSlt'SV at laaar IVnn sad Jmnph
D Th-mn., fan Ann* IM I* IS. nShn ll* CiMkm
IAvO nt t*. Own at (IMM, Plna at IVnln mut;'
wklrk Mi l arcewt *Ol In prMMilnJ (w matmnU-ai
•4 Ui. assl tat* at Mid Court.
i. C. UARPEK, ProAkonoMa.