New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-28

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| Ers Publ1e BAucaeioa.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
That . thorough system Of pubic eduea-
ton in every State IL tho fundamental basis
ON which the perpetuity Of popular govern
mentcan alone be maintained is o proposition
thst no one will attempt to gainsayy or CON
| trOvert. ~
The party in power, and having the entire
control and direction Of affairs in the State,
cannot escape the consequences following .
failure to inaugurate and enforce system
Of education that will secure to the rising
gencration the advantages Of free schools,
open to all children throughout the entire
commonwealth.
The Republican party is now in possession
OF the whole machinery of government of
the State, including its municipalities.
Much to its honor and credit, be it said, it
has made great efforts to carry into effect
this first and cardinal measure of its creed.
That it has thus far failed, or, in other
words, ITS efforts have been crowned with
only partial success, il not imputable to any
indifference or lack of appreciation of it's
importance ON the part OF tho authorities OF
the people. Its shortcomings in this re-
spect are more properly chargeable to other
causes. hi t'
In 1868 the Republican party, for the first
time in the history Of Louisiana, gained
partial control of tho direction Of her
affairs. At that time, and for many
years previous thereto, the whole people
were in . state Of anarchy and rebellion.
Disc0rd ruled the hour. The great task Of
restoring order and establishing govern
ment and law .devolved ON them alone.
The party derived NO aid or succor from its
opposing elements. It may today we'll
point out its work to an admiring and
wondering world, with pride and satisfae-
ton. But, - before stated, its work is
not yet complete. its mission 10 not yet
ended. The failure Of the party on the
school question is chargeable in . great
measure to the mistake it made in 1868 in
the selection Of . proper and compstens
man - superintendent. Tho whole ques-
tion Of establishing proper and efficient
public school system was naturally enough
remitted to that functionary. Three years
Of trial have shown almost an entire failure
on his part to develop any practical plan
BY which common education has reached or
promisea to reach the masses Of the youth Of
the State. q9 ss.7 s5
The Legislature, at its several sessions,
has had this question under consideration,
am hoe Al
and recommendations Of the superin-
tendent with . promptness and liberality
quite c0mmendable. But what has all this
amounted to! just nothing at all. The
people have been sOrely taxed for the sup
port of education, but the tax would not be
felt, or even alluded to, if We could see =
corresponding benefit, or even . guarantee
that in the future the money thus raised
will be applied in furtherance of education.
We confess We have no confidence that
anything will be done under the present
regime calculated to inspire even hope
that things viii mend during its reign.
This distrust on our part is founded in the ]
past record Of the acts of the superintend- !
ent, which are spread before the world and |
have now passed into history, together with
the present posture of affairs In the
month Of December last, at meet.
ing called by Mr.. Conway, of |
the ward boards of school direct
ors for the city of New Orleans, while |
that miserable system was in vogue, Judge
Hawkins, director of one of the wards,
the superintendent as ''incom-
petent and perverse," and imputed much of
the trouble and confusion existing ON the
school question to that incompetency /
and perverseness. This gentleman, whose
will not be brought. in ques-
tion by anybody, doubtless had in view at
the time the past record and acts of the su-
and, therefore. his declara-
lion thus deliberately made goes very far,
even if there were not abundant evidence
outside of it, to establish its truth and cor
rectness. ofYaat4
We may here remark, while on this point,
that the selection of Mr.. Conway as Super
Of Public Education. in 1868 was
1ot the only mistake the party made at
hat time. George NJ. Wicklife was elected
Auditor of Public Accounts at the same
lime. The public mind was not slow in
discovering the blunder, and in the follow.
ng year he was repudisted by the party
hat had raised him to power, dismissed
rom Office, disgraced and consigned to
nfamy. This noble act of the Republican
'arty of Louisiana gave it new life and
7igor, and secured for it in great measure
he confidence of the people.
The Governor and the Legislature, in
heir action toward Wickliffe, acted on the
ligh and noble principle that when mis-
AXE or blunder has been made it devoIves
N the party making 1t to apply the cor
ection. They did this work, and did
lobly. It is now apparent to everybody
hat q like blunder was committed in the
election Of the Superintendent of Public
Education. The same duty devolves on the
arty, now that it has discovered the mis-
AXE, to apply the correction.
JUNIUS.
Marrow GanGe Railways. ,
We have called fhA affenfiOu- of nur rail