New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-08
PuRf1n rnunArf0H,

evokes.A caopel a 1bles
so.is it would teach and TO the new nsces
] sides and duties il involves. a. peopl'
debarred BY seryitude Of generations iron
the slightest cultivation of tie intellect
which, in common with the whole race o.
man, it possessed, has been added to the
sovereignty of the country through the
quiet but effective medium of free suffrage
This is most momentous result OF the rev
olution, and, we will joyfully add, desira-
Bile and suspicious one. If it should not
prove so, then let the responsibility
OF this rest, with shame and lnfamy, on
those who should, but do not, aim to make
the equality of all men before the law a
blessing and not curse, by the most
liberal diffusion of practical knowledge
with the whole body polite. We all I'M
derstand that common schOols-well
conducted and within reach of all
can most readily effect this ; and there
fore, on the subject of organizing first
rate system of this mode of popular en-
lightenment, the loyal, progressive people
OF the State have felt deeply since the
ballot box has been thrown open to all,
With circumstances apparently in their
favor for several years past, they have,
too, expected of the accomplishment of
their wishes in this respect. 1t re-
mains to be said that they have been
continually and grievously disappointed
in their hopes that they would have this
great help in. their dutiiul efforts to meet
the changes caused by the triumph of the
right in the "irrepressible conflict With
the appointment, doubtless with good in
tentions, by General Sheridan. of an acting
Governor and Mayor, not TO speak of other
officials, who, to the extent of limited abili-
| ty had always made the most Radical pre-
tentlons of loyalty, they expected loyal
schools as well as other right measures
would be initiated. But they soon found
that nothing was to be expected from these
accidental, high officials, but only what
was a practical warfare against Union
sentiment. They met ouly a cold
Indifference that would "break a
solemn faith, with solemn sneer,''
and they again sank back into their re.
retirement to hope once more for better
day. After the result Of the State election,
the loyal people again looked to its Repre-
sentatives for the necessary action, with
positive confidence, ludicrous enough con-
sidering their frequent disappointments, and
sufficiently amusing to their opponents.
After session of four months,
the Legislature adjourned with
out any action whatever on the
grave subject of public education,
except sundry motions, supposed to
belong to such body, preliminary to
the proper action. A Committee
on Education was constituted with
usual formality, which, after long delay,
presented what was charitably assumed to
embody the proper measures. Charity, in
deed, finally concluded to let the bill
written and printed with great pomp and
formality-fall to the Iground as SO much
lost paper. Nothing could have been so
ill-timed or pernicious in every respect as
this strange and wonderful specimen of
legislative papers. There are several
prominent features in it amply sufficient to
prevent its adoption and destroy its
power for good. AS if the introduction
of mixed schools alone woul not
require all the strength of its friends
to carry the ILL, two features at
this time entirely uncalled for-were
crowded into it, either Of which would
practically defeat its great object compul- |
sorry education and scriptural readings in the |
schools. We presume that all will concede
that society should have some safeguard
against those who permit the young COM
mitted TO their charge to grow up in idle |
ignorance, and also that 1t can, devise some |
method to prevent this. But we believe
that so far measures Of this sort have been
perfected in only few.of the older States,
and they should certainly not have been
attempted here now. The subject of the
Scriptures in the schools, too, was settled
here years ago, after fierce contest |
Public schools are for all without regard |
TO creed or sect-supported as they are by
all. In region, then, whereth those in favor
of this exercise are in decided minority,
such settlement was Inevitable. Since
this period, constant and fresh assaults have
been made on the common school system
in this city and State, but they have all
failed because its friends could defiantly
allege that nothing sectarian appertained to
il. This latter feature, then, incorp GRATED in
the ponderous legislative bill would have
completely broken up the schools. There
are several other minor but easily distfn-
guishable features Of this prodigious effort
Of bill which do not add to its dignity OF
capacity for good. There is great deal
Of herO-worship in these days, but the
quality and quantity which this bill con-
tafns, and which sweIls il to its enormous
size, is astonishing. The hero Ct the COM
mittee seems to be the State Su-
perintendent, who looms up perpetually
in the volume in almost all matters, grave
and gay, serious and light, executive, iu-
dicial and financial. Boards Of Commia-
sioners and other powers are constituted
by the bill, but they are all, as resistlessly
as fass, intermixed sud entwined with
thia offieial even To n denendenee