The hydraulic press., 1860-02-25
CALIFORNIA BEGGING.


IN our Legislature and before our agticul-
tural and literary societies, is now lucturing
to the people of the Atlantic States upon
California, and is doing her the noblest ser
vice by his glowing, attractive pictures of
her scenery, her resources, her productions,
her citizens and her progress. But in his
laudable eagerness to secure aid for the Gals
ifornia College he conveyed, In a recent lec-
ture before the ''Society for the Promotion
of Collegiate and Theological Education at
the West" the injurious impression that this
State is indiffert mt towards the cause of ed
ucation, and has done but little for its pro-
motion. He used language calculated to
make our eastern kindred stppose that the
educational welfare of the first Pacific State
depends upon the success of the college for
which he is laboring with such commend
able and effective ZEAL More than this, he
broadly affirmed that, in the matter Of edu-
cation, Jesuitism, thus far, has control Of
our State, and threatens to hold it forever
over it, and Professionalism has begun to en-
Tighten it," This is very similar to plea
made before the same society, more than a
year ago, by Rev r. Dwight Hunt, in favor
of the University of the Pacific, if we re-
member rightly. He exhibited the same
dread of Catholic or Jesuit influence, and
Al .l.,x \ Al. e.
ture, depended almost wholly on the assist
auce rendered at the east to her collegiate
institutions but he thought aid was pdrtic-
marly needed, because the formation and en-
istencc Of churches on the Pacific coast must
depend upon the University. Mr.. Bell is
more polite than Mr.. Hunt, but the secret
motives of both gentlemen are IDENTICAL
Neither is afraid that the proud, the wealthy
State of California will neglect TO educate
her children; they are chiefly concerned lest
the task of educating them shall be wholly
taken from the hands of sectarians They
Gesire Astrological schooling for the people,
for no plan of instruction is satisfactory to
clergymen which does not build up the power
of their church and weaken that of their en-
emies. AS we have said before, we do not
colleges let those patronize them who are
led by their convictions to do so; but every
Californian must regret to see his adopted
State placed abroad in the degrading posi-
ton of needy suppliant-a strong -limbed
giant, yet begging at eastern doors for as
sistance. Let us preserve our independence;
and rely for that improvement which we all
desire upon our own exertions and our own
abundant resources. Whatever is bad in
Catholicism, or in Professionalism either, for
that matter, the people are sufficiently pro-
tected against by the character of their po-
ltical institutions and by their supreme love
of liberty.
Such language as we have alluded to and
partly quoted, does great injustice to Cali
fornia, and may do greater injury. If be-
lief is generated as the east that we make
meager provision; or none at all, for the
mental training of the young, thousands of
families would be determined against emf
grating hither, and the accession to our pop
ulation of the element it most needs would
thus be much retarded. 1t is true, we have
not done all for education that should have
been done but considering the disadvan-
tages of our position, in new country, sur
rounded by influences unfavorable to any
fixed public policy, and with a heterogeneous
and rowing population, we have come as
near a thorough performance of our duty as
was possible. Public schools have been es-
tablished and maintained in every district
where needed, and if they have not been ala
ways well attended the blame rests with pa
rents and guardians, not with the State
In the most populous districts schools of
high grade have been established, and many
private academies multiply the facilities for
acquiring knowledge. 1t only remains for
the State to complete its duty by properly
disposing Of the magnificent fund in its pos
session, arranging for the establishment of
at least one high school in each county, and
crowning the whole system with free col
lege of the amplest capacity and widest
scope. This will be done, and speedily, for
we have now the will, and Congress has mu-
nifcently endowed us with the means. The
present Legislature should consider the per-
fection of our school system the most mo-
mentoas business of the session, and hasten
to relieve theologians of the odious neees-
slty of begging for US at the East.
CALIFORNIA PATENTs-Wm. Banbam, OF
San Francisco, has secured patent for an
Improvement in machines for pulyerizin g
quartz; Lucius Edd leblute, of Garden VAL
ley, one for an improve d amalgamator which
he claims preyents the WASHING ont of nuicL