Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-04-29
THE QUESTION OF INTEL
LKoTUAI- oULTUHE.

Stuart Mill, referring to the state Of
education in this country, says:
America surpasses all countries in
the amount of mental cultivation which
she has been able to make universal
but a high average level Is not every
thing. There are wanted, I do not say
4 classs but 4 great number Of persons,
Of the highest degree Of cultivation,
which the accumulated acquisitions Of
the human race make II possible TO
give Them" This Is all very true.
But We might employ the same argu-
msnt in this wise: GA certain archi-
tect has exceeded. all others in laying
a broad and deep and ecure founda-
ton. But q good foundation Is not
everything; there is wanted a super
structure" It is common, even with
ourselves, to think of this republic as
a finished undertaking. We must dis
abuse our minds Of this error. The
principles formally s~nunciated scarce
a century ago are as yet not entirely
understood, much less fully carried
out. The 'high average level" is only
the foundation. On this the future Of
the republic is to rest. With a high
average among the people, their choice
Of law-givers and governors must some
day-even II not now-be made among
the men who equal the best OF their
compeers In intellect and In attain
ments. or course the ~chicanery Of
politics and the arts Of dsmagogues
disturb It's operation, but the law is as
certain As any other, that, In the long
run, the higher the average Of the
voting body the better will be the
character Of the men whom their votes
return to office. And the higher the
general average OF the people, the less
marked is the distinction between the
mass and the "persons Of the highest
degree Of cultivation" etc. The ad-
vocates of the republican theory Of
government, In its practical exempli-
~fcation in the history of the United
States, have less to be ashamed Of than
the champions Of any other form Of
government. OF course errors have
been committed. OF course some
wrong has been done. But the steady
advance, interrupted by circumstances
inseparable from human weakness and
infrmity, has still gone on; and, while
we can keep the general average
high" we need not doubt that our
country will come out right, and our
course will still be onward. Excep-
tional events may retard; but OBJ
structions mastered become a new
source Of strength. Mr.. Mill says:
"The great desideratum in America,
and, though not quite in an equal
degree, in England, too, is the i'm
provement Of the higher education"
This phrase, "higlier education" Is
very vague. If 1t be applied to politics,
our democratic or republican form has
given some evidence OF power to gov
ern, either intuitive or acquired. A
higher practical education could hardly
have been exhibited than has oeen
shown in the mode with which Inn
- H. - -, 49,
cu!ties greater than nave met any
other government nave Deen met
and mastered by the government
OF the people OF the United states.
If "higher education refers TO ques-
tions Of daily life, our social condition
will certainly favorably compare with
that Of any other people. In purely
speculative matters OF higher educa-
tion," metaphysical anu other, older
countries, and England among them,
must have men who seem TO DC iar IN
advance OF the Americans. SUI n
lame OF these may NC IA
some aegree omins " 'He 'ne
ment they receive from heh VI @
learned leisure WIN themselves We
are very practicai IN AmericaISn are
necessarily 80. "e may suu '.'.
are App'' rn 80 $50.
"nooi -" ~"
gooao y TIC s'e"'e'' n" we
nave ho'" ei's', s''
Oh persons Vi .ne n'sne'' ueslee W. u
tlvatioh' WIN leisure !" ute"'l ou'
Utopiah schemes, we nave u "hoi
people "of a high average ieVei'
pushing at the problems OF life ana
government In such a practical way
that they solve them without knowing
that there are any prooieihs uiluer con-
E,ronsor friends of ..the HIGHEST de-
rroe Of cultivation " that whatever
,hsv n,oducs worthy of their fame
Amsricsns will, not he dow to use II
rr,o,;,., ord n ,.,no,,,adoa too.
Al wh,,ov.r ,hov .;va tho world NJ
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