98 



thousands of children had been barred from school by the rate- 

 bill, it was generally admitted that the results already attained 

 proved the wisdom and necessity of the free system. 



The Democratic State Convention, held in Hartford, January 

 17, 1871, unanimously adopted the following comprehensive 

 resolution : 



" Resolved, That the source of powder being in the people, Free Schools and 

 general education are essential to good government and the perpetuation of 

 free Institutions." 



The Eepublican State Convention, held in New Haven one 

 week later, adopted a resolution equally strong in favor of free 

 schools. Since that date, no opposition to the measure has 

 been made or intimated in the Legislature. The subject of 

 free schools was ably discussed by School Visitors in their 

 Reports to their several towns. To give a single illustration of 

 the strong and practical way this subject was brought home to 

 the people in local reports in 1873, the able Report for Litch- 

 field, written by Governor Andrews, then Secretary of the 

 Board of School Visitors, said : " The argument in favor of 

 free schools is short and decisive. Every person recognizes 

 the duty of society to protect the lives of children. Our law 

 protects the lives even of children unborn, for the reason that 

 it is for the benefit of society that children should be born and 

 reared. If, then, society may for its own benefit preserve the 

 mere animal existence of a child, the obligation irresistibly 

 follows that society must see to it that the life so preserved 

 shall develop into a useful, intelligent and moral citizen, and 

 not into a ruffian and a curse. The logic is impregnable; 

 society should either destroy all children, or guide, protect and 

 train them up to careful citizenship. Establish infanticide, or 

 some sj^stem of free instruction. But the time for argument 

 on the abstract question of free schools in our State is passed. 

 As good citizens, we ought to use every effort that the system 

 so inaugurated shall be successful." * 



In 1868, a leading objection to the system was its alleged 

 tendency to lessen the interest and responsibility of parents. 

 The natural argument was that men never value what costs 

 them nothing. But the fact is, parents do pay, and all pay 

 their fair and equal portion for the support of this central, 



