V IN HUMAN SOCIETY. 231 



done all these things for me, asks me in turn to 

 do something towards its preservation — even if 

 that something is to contribute to the teaching of 

 other men's children — I really, in spite of all my 

 individualist leanings, feel rather ashamed to say 

 no. And if I were not ashamed, I cannot say 

 that I think that society would be deaUng un- 

 justly with me in converting the moral obligation 

 into a legal one. There is a manifest unfairness 

 in letting all the burden be borne by the willing 

 horse. 



It does not appear to me, then, that there is 

 any valid objection to taxation for purposes of 

 education; but, in the case of technical schools 

 and classes, I think it is practically expedient that 

 such a taxation should be local. Our industrial 

 population accumulates in particular towns and 

 districts; these districts are those which immedi- 

 ately profit by technical education; and it is only 

 in them that we can find the men practically en- 

 gaged in industries, among whom some may rea- 

 sonably be expected to be competent judges of 

 that which is wanted, and of the best means of 

 meeting the want. 



In my belief, all methods of technical train- 

 ing are at present tentative, and, to be successful, 

 each must be adapted to the special peculiarities 

 of its locality. This is a case in which we want 

 twenty years, not of " strong government," but of 

 cheerful and hopeful blundering; and we may be 



