Smyrna times., 1870-03-02
MISceIIu II e o us.
lFor the" Smyrna Times. "
ItUI INe pII! IHd IIIIVa'
Education and the State.

The government exists for the people, not as
despOt but as a kind triend-a protector
from foes without and foes within. History
teaches in numerous examples that govern
ments, overlooking this principal have inevi |
tably failed. The more strong threads of the |
past should be interviewer with the wOOts of
the future; and tracing out the progress of the |
past centuries We find that, 20 a certain extent,
such has been the case. But perfect realiza-
tiOn is still far from being attained. From
rude, despOtic form Of rule, exercised by one |
individual, pre-emlnent for his wisdom, or some
other prominent quality, Though too often
nothing but force) we have reached that stage
where men consider the government a compact
tor the general benefit. This change is the re-
suit OF an extended conception of personal
liberty and of equal rights. We conceive that
to be good government, whose chief objects
are: the encouragement OF virtue and the pun.
lshment and suppression OF vice; the promo
ton Of the social happiness by in>uring the Sc
curity and prosperity of the governed, and the
general advancement Of the nation in every
legitimate manner We further find that the
extension Of ideas of liberty has been cOmmen-
surate with, aud mainly resulting from, general
education. Starting from the rude ideas of
our ancestors, the way has been fought through
every obstacle, until we have at last come to
regard all men free and equal. The Repub-
can Government, from its very nature, is the
kind best adapted to carrying out this principle;
and such is ours of the present day. Knowl-
edge is power. We none will doubt but that
education, or, enlightenment, if you please,
has been the source of the worlds advance
ment; certainly no one will, fora single instant,
tail to admit that in republican form of gov
ernment, education is particularly needful to
effect the harmonious working of the whole.
The advancement of the citizen is the en-
lightenment of the State. Education is the
hand-maiden of Liberty. And now that oul
country is becoming an asylum for the down
trOdden and tyraDny-ridden classes of all the
world, who will continue to come in Thousands
as long as they see, or think they see, in oul
Western world, the ''land Of milk and honey
the claims for education are dOubly urged
Generally these foreign accessories to our pop
uatlon are people who have never tasted the
sweets OF liberty nor enjoyed in unlimited de
grees the blessings of education. Ignorant
po0r possessing strange ideas, and marrow
views, they land here with nothing but willing
hearts and strong hands to recommend them
Filled with the impression that i'll Americ
money Is almost excessively abundant, the
imagine that few years, at least, will pac
them IN independence. Sadly disappOnte
and OF themselves too often unable 10 max
otherwise, is it any wonder that they 60 to swe
ihe children follow closely in the footsteps {
tnelr parents, and thus it continues from yea
70 year. But the foreign element of our co..
mopohtan population is not the only one o
whose behalf education is to be urged. A
need 1t; In the town and in the country. /
lew years the rights of elective franchise wi
oe prerogative of every American citizen, i
eSpectlVe OF race, color, or social standing
power 10 be exerted for the veal or woe Of tn
Puohc; 1t seems reasonable, and no more tina
II !IIo', mat every voter should be able to rea
le names on his ticket as he deposits it at Il
po.ls' ana yet how many, in our large cit
atticuIarly, who not only cannot read, but wi
oS oaSe not the slightest idea OF why they vO
S. SSG ucEet Instead OF another. The election
n NeW York city alone are almost sufficient
"on'lnce any reasonable man that we are dOiI
sS.SeVes and OuF country vital injury by tole
~lg such state of affairs.
q hio meet the necessary expenses of educate
iele are TWO sources to be relied on: Prlva
Ggerahty and State patronage. Private EbC
aIy IIy can and has done much for the cause
~aueatlon. Through the magnanimous
nevOlence OF individuals, colleges have be
e99uowed, schools built, scholarships establis
~ aud men educated. But private liberali
ESuglt not, and cannot be expected to, provi
vi ne education of the masses. The hum
ace, In all governments, is divisible into q
fToeral classes-the affluent and the poo
Tae rue latter class far outnumber the formt
clu ae chances that they will ever merge into .
Ssss Ss are exceedingly improbable. g For
nave the poor always with you" In view
sSa sSca condition of affairs with small likeliho
;u1 any material change will ever take pla
would be unfair to expect the rich to educ;
iSs poor, even supposing such thing possib
aS aSSr however much all desire to see educati
tInahce, and made general, very few amo
coe aOse VINO possess means would be willing
toaatnbute tena SO largely. In districts, where nj
fossa fsns Oh she entire population have the m
''''une 10 be poor, "a Supposable case) I