Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-01-07
''WE MUST EDUCATE, OR WE
MUST PERISH"


man Beecher, many years ago, con
tain after all, a complete statement
or q great political truth--a truth
so true that it is positively terrible
The founders of American societ,
had clear vision Of this sterr
alternative. Great men and goot
men of the early days of the Repub
lie undoubtedly perceived it. 1
seems reserved for this generation
not only to have an intellectual
grasp of it, but to be on the verge
of an experience which-mav demon
strate it with frightful vividness, te
all our senses. Is there in any
mind the least doubt concerning
the proposition at the head of the
present article? Is, there reflect.
ing human being in America who
thinks it possible for popular insti:
tutions to live long on basis OF
popular ignorance While we have
wrangled over every other idea in
what is called the American politi-
cal system, we have been, we are,
absolutely unanimous in the opin-
ion of the inexorable necessity of
having the mass of peor lie educated.
Well, then, here is a common
ground of perfect agreement, All
standing here together, can we not,
with a quiet and tolerant temper,
talk over between ourselves these
sad questions which are pressing
upon us relative to our common
school system
For example, is there not fairness
in the following line of thought?
Popular education is necessary to
the success of Popular institutions.
To that we all assent. The ques-
ton now arises, How shall popular
education be most effcctuallv Sc
cured? Upon the decision of this
question everything turns. Let not
the statement which we are about to
make be dismissed from the mind as
either un-important or common
place; for it is really the pivot of
the whole question. We solemnlv
believe that popular education can
not now be effectually secured by
being left to the management of re
ligious organizations; but that, in
the present state of society, it can
only be efectually secured by being
controlled and supported by the
state. In other words, secular
knowledge, as destinct from theo
logical knowledge, can be best diff
fused through the community by
the secular system of schools, as
distinct nom the parochial or de-
nominational system.
at this point, of course, we part
company with all our Roman Cath
olic brethren. We part company
with them hopelessly. The Cath
olic Church has fully resolved upon
the parochial system of schools
has determined to establish them
wherever it has a parish; and all its
loyal disciples must and certainly
will accept the arrangement.
With the inevitable withdrawal,
then, of all the Catholic portion OF
society from the state schools,
whom we have left to defend and
support these schools ? We have,
at present, Jews, Protestant Chris
tians, and that numerous class who
are alienated from all the visible
churches, whom some reproachfully
describe as Infdels, but whom we
will simply call Outsiders. These
are undoubtedly the vast majority
of American people at present
Jews, Protestant Christians, and
Outsiders. And if they can only
agree upon this subject of the state
system of education, they can still
save that system if, however they
cannot agree, and will net stand
firmly together, tue state system
will surely be destroyed by it's ad
versaries, who are agreed.
Let US face this proposition thai
in the present state of society the
secular system Of education is pref
cradle to the parochial system
Why is it so? The principal rea
sons are two.
The first reason is one of econ
omy. 1t costs infinitely more t.
sustain the parochial system. Their,
is. a very simple thing to be done
namely, to teach all children il
America reading, writing, ant
arithmetic. To do this in eacl
community requires building ant
teacher. Is it not vastly cheape
to have the children of Jews, Pro
testan Christians, and Outsiders, i
order to learn to read, write, an
reckon, all availing themselves Q
the one building and the one teach