MICHIGAN. 



503 



that it Is a matter that concerns no one but tho parents 

 thrm-i-lvi s whether tlu-ir children nro educated or 

 nut, that they huvo tho right to Bay whether t lair 

 rhililrrn shall attend the schools or not, and tointer- 



: all with this ri^ht violates tlio fundamental 



Irs nt' our democratic institution*. In govern- 

 mental relations there are other and more important 



-ts to bo considered than those of individual*. 

 Individual rights cannot conflict with tho public 



. for tho right of tho individual ceasca when its 

 .nj..\ meiit is inconsistent with the public welfare, 

 and more especially if the power and efficiency of tho 

 government ore endangered thereby. Thi-> principle 

 was fullv recognized oy tho early founders of our 

 government. 



And, after referring to tho colonial legisla- 

 tion of Massachusetts Bay, and quoting the ex- 

 isting legislation of Massachusetts for the pun- 

 ishment of habitual truants, he adds : 



This practical question now presents itself to us : 

 Can similar laws be enacted and enforced in thU 

 State, so that a more general attendance upon tho 

 schools may bo secured? Public sentiment has 

 so much to do in the decision of all such ques- 

 tions, that but little can bo determined with rc- 

 pircl to them without first knowing what this sen- 

 timent is. It would be impossible to enforce such 

 a law in this country, if the popular will is against 

 it. Effective laws are but the expression of the 

 public will. Hitherto tho general sentiment would 

 not have sustained any compulsory enactment. 

 There is evidently a change taking place among the 

 people, and many are now beginning to feel that 

 some measures must be taken to secure a more general 

 and constant attendance upon the public schools. 

 If tho opinions of men, as frequently expressed in 

 free conversation, can be taken as an index of the 

 general sentiment of the people, and especially when 

 these opinions correspond with the frequent utter- 

 ances of the press, there can bo uo douot that the 

 people are in lavor of some form of compulsory edu- 

 cation ; for all insist that parents and guardians 



should bo required by law to give to all tho children 

 of lawful age under their charge the advantage* of 

 school. We cannot, as a people, long ne^le<-t to give 



attention to thin matter, and our inotiiuttoiiit remain 

 safe. 



The record of the university presents nothing 

 of unusual interest for the year beyond the fact 

 that all tho departments were thrown open to 

 tho admission of females, but on the same terms 

 and after the same examination as in the case 

 of other students. The number of females ad- 

 mitted is understood to be as follows: Aca- 

 demical Department 13, Medical 17, Law 2, 

 Pharmacy 2; total 84. 



Tho attendance at the Agricultural College 

 was 129, of whom 10 were females. The total 

 amount expended for this institution up to the 

 present time is $31 1,098.20. It is now regarded 

 as prosperous. 



The railroad companies of the State, exclu- 

 sive of the Michigan Central and Michigan 

 Southern .and Northern Indiana, report a cash 

 capital paid in of $10,133,696.52. Municipal 

 aid received in construction, $816,932. The 

 paid-up capital of the Michigan Central (Detroit 

 and Chicago), $12,199,348, and of the Michigan 

 Southern and Northern Indiana (Toledo and 

 Chicago), $12,125,600. 



The following vital statistics appear by re- 

 turns in the office of the Secretary of State : 

 Marriages during the year, 8,459 ; births, males, 

 14,071, females, 12,958; unknown, 64; total, 

 27,093 ; deaths, males, 4,796, females, 4,306 ; 

 unknown, 43; total 9,145. 



The following is the Federal census of Michi- 

 gan, taken in 1860 and 1870 : 



The Michigan Institution for the Deaf and 

 .Dumb, and the Blind, is pleasantly situated in 

 the city of Flint. It is not, as seems to be 

 supposed by some persons, an asylum for in- 

 digent deaf-mutes and blind persons, but is a 

 school for the education of those whom deaf- 

 ness or blindness incapacitates for education 

 elsewhere. Egbert L. Bangs, A. M., is the 



principal, and Mrs. S. 0. M. Case matron. The 

 principal has fourteen assistants in instruction. 

 It is a part of the policy of the institution to 

 give the best possible training in the school- 

 room, and to add to that such mechanical in- 

 struction as will fit the pupils to earn their 

 living when they leave. Up to date, however, 

 the State has not made sufficient appropriations 



