Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-21
Results of the War--No. v.

The war has advanced the ideas
and aims of our people on the subject
of education and free schools. These
ideas were only started in the right
direction; they had not been carried
into practical effect. The nation had
made no efforts to establish Public
School s. stem. As matter of histo-
ry it is found that the people were
loyal, almost in exact proportion as
they had been educated in public and
free schools. In none ofthe insurgent
States was there free school system.
Ii there was at all in the Semi-rebel
States, it was imperfect and inopera-
tive. In States where the system OF
froo sehools was most efIootivc, the
loyalty of the people was the most
staunch. 1t is now seen and admit
ted that an effective free school system
i'll all the states would have saved us
from the rebellion. 1t is seen also
that the five billion dollars, expended
in various ways in the war, would
have given fund which would support
free schools in all the land to the end
Of time. If put to interest at six per
cert. it would have Welded thirty
dollars a year annually for every
child of school age now in the nation
a sum large enough to furnish free
tuition to every child, up through
all the grades of education, common
school, academic, and collegiate, with
a large sum 10 spare.
Thus the people are beginning to
see that it is an economical as well
moral and national duty, to provide
free instruction to all those who are to
become citizens Of the Republic, and
on whom its peace and welfare must
depend. A national system of educa
ton has already been proposed in the
halls of Congress, and finds many ad
vocates there and elsewhere.
The early fathers of Vermont pro
Jected a grand system, our University
Tor the state, grammar school fol
each county, and a common school fol
each district or neighborhood. and al
tree. Their poverty prevented THEN
carrying it into actual effect at once
and the Jealousies and rivalries of par
ties and of towns have multiplied
academies and colleges much to the
injury of the system, and the comple
ton OF it has been delayed. But the
impulse ofthe war, even in the face o.
our other enormous expenses, IA :
brought US to make the common school
free for the first time in our history
A movement has just been made in
uniting the Agricultural college fund
(now amounting to one hundred and
forty-three thousand dollars with the
funds of our University, which will, We
confidently hope, facilitate the acquisi
ton of other funds, so that we NAV. al
no very distant day, offer collegiate
instruction free to every son of Vt
Then when we have have provided fol
free academic instruction in our in.
stitution of high order in each county
and Tor a much needed free college
for young ladies, our system will be
complete, and noble beyond praise.
Other States are pushing on in this
direction. Probably majority of the
Northern States are ahead of Vermont
for we move slowly. The Middle
States are acting on this matter. The
loyal people of the South are examin.
ing the subject with great interest,"
The Freedmen are eager for educa.
ton, and permanent schools, giving
literally of their first coveted earn
lngs, and liberal men from the North
are helping them. Senator Sumner
introduces on the floor of congress-
the first day Of the present session a
resolution requiring in all the States
late in rebellion, "The organization of
an educational system for the equal
benefit of all without distinction of
color or race" Other men in con.
gress, and out of it, are pressing in
their arguments for the same end
The House of Representatives has
just passed the bill giving the colored
men of Washington the right to vote
and most surely those who vote for
such measure will not deny to these
sovereign rules of the land, or to anv
voters, the privileges of education
Surely the world moves. A mighty
impulse has been given to it by this
war, and, in the matter of education.
the impulse is III the right direction.
With all our tears, and the sad mem
cries that will cling to many of ms 70
our dying day, here is mighty cause
for gratitude resting upon every one
who loves his country for it's intelli-
gence, freedom, and virtue, and who
will preserve that country by putting
Its destiny in the hands of educated
and virtuous freemen.