206 Charles Abner Howard J. H. Wilbur, T. F. Campbell and Bishop Thomas F. Scott. But they thought of "higher education" as a matter to be carried on by the church or by private enterprise. Others there were who vigorously and persistently attacked every effort at public education beyond the common school. 12 Probably the strongest opponent of public secondary education was Harvey W. Scott. As editorial writer of the Oregonian from 1870 to 1910, he wielded a tremend- ous influence in the direction of his conviction in this matter. Mr. Scott was a type of the intellectual aristo- crat. A man of fine mind, he could not but perceive the intellectual inferiority of the masses; of unbounded en- ergy and with an education secured by his own efforts, it was but natural that he should assume that those who could not work out their own educational salvation were not of sufficient value to the state to justify the expense of saving them. The following editorial from his pen clearly expresses the opinion, not only of the editor him- self, but of a considerable group of influential men of the time. Cure for Drones 13 "***** it is an axiom of those principles of political economy which are professed by all enlightened nations that taxation, however cunningly devised, is ulti- mately paid by the laboring classes. The real estate owners and the owners of taxable personal property are, after all, nothing but 'middle men' in the taxation busi- ness. The laboring classes are the real sufferers for the extravagant expenditures in the name of free education, which would otherwise seek investment in organized in- dustries that would afford their children employment and make their households happy; it is the laboring classes who ultimately pay the bills that enable the school book 12 Fourth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Oregon. 1880. p. 63. 13 The Oregonian of Portland, Oregon, April 16, 1879. This editorial and others referred to unless otherwise indicated, are listed in the "Index of the Editorial Writings of Harvey W. Scott" prepared by Leslie M. Scott. This index is in manuscript in the office of Leslie M. Scott, Yeon Building, Portland, Oregon.
