The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-08-29

OFFICE OF THE SUMMERvTrIE ISsrrrrrrr
GHOLSON. Mss Anr d 1896

GHoLsoS, MISS, Aug. "a, 1866.
Editor Of Clarion The movement
for Teachers Convention now on
foot is one of the most important that
has transpired throughout the history
of the State. There are not wanting
teachers who, at this early day, pre-
dict failure, etc. Let me tell YOU,
and through you let me assure the
public, that there are men in this
Teachers movement who will not per-
nit the Convention to pass, and with
it the effects of its action. There are
men in the preliminary movements
that the Governor and Legislature viii
hear with the profoundest respect,
though they may be not half score
in number
There Is new era in our social ex-
istence, in our political history and
shall our educational affairs not be
elevated to meet the fearful response
bilities of the times No man lives a
life worthy of his form and features
who lives for himself alone He must
live for posterity. Cicero declares,
in his most finished Grafton, that g we
should not make name for the present
time, but that we should equal the re
membrance of our good deeds to the
duration of all futurity" This same
matchless orator and philosopher, who
hoped, even in the absence of Revela-
ton, to exist after death in an eleva-
ton bathed in eternal light and hap
piness, expressed the opinion that a
desire to live, beloved in the memory
of posterity, was the only incentive to
virtuOus deeds Let us come fully up
to the duties of the hour.
The Philadelphia Convention was
one Of questionable political policy /;
the proposed Teachers Convention
looks to the gradual elevation of man
kind.
No teacher can fail to see that our
whole educational labor in this State
is a mere guerilla warfare against
ignorance We need a systematic
warfare. If the forty or fifty thousand
dollars now annually expended upon
the new County Court were placed to
the credit of permanent school fund
the greatest results would be achieved.
The morbid thirst of fever cannot be
removed by drinking cool water, nor
can the prevalence of petty larceny be
abated by the infection of stripes or
Imprisonment IN both cases the
cause must be removed. We must
have system of common schools,
which shall cover the whole State.
The moral and intellectual sentiment
of our State must be raised above the
atmosphere of gross sensuality. Our
people must be taught the duty and
dignity Of labor An this cannot be
done in day or in a year, but it can be
done; and noaO is the time to begin.
The teachers are the men to inaugur-
ate the movement IT Is common to
hear my brethren complaining that
their social status and influence is far
below their merits; that a young
gentleman cannot negotiate congo
NAL marriage unless he abandOns
teaching and go into one of the learn
ed { y professions, or embark in mer-
camille or agricultural pursuits. While
there is much truth in the complaint
let it be asked when did the teachers
sof Mississippi make an effort to re
moveIthe cause of their injustice This
complaint does not exist in counties
distinguished by generous system of
public instruction.
Let every teacher in Mississippi
now come forward to the good work
of thorough emancipation of them
selves and society. Let each one
show the interest in this matter mani
tested by gentlemen of the press, not
alone by the press of Jackson, as is
charged, but by every paper through
out the State. Let me instance the
zeal Of Col. A. G.. Horn of the ''No
invitation, republished all that has
been written in favor of this Conven-
ton The Coloners head has grown
frosty in the public service, and that
too with no adequate reward. In
every liberal work that could rebound
to the benefit of society, for the last
twenty years, we see traces of Colo
mel Horns brilliant pen. Now in the
matter of Teachers Convention, we
observe him zealously at work, with
clear apprehension of the vast respon-
sibility of existence, and with u heart
unselfish as the sunshine.
Hoping to see a good gathering of
Teachers on the Sd proximo, | am,
gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
THos. s. GATHRIGHT.