Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-06-11

button among the sufferers IN the
back part Of the city during the re-
cent food. We are glad to record
this act of charity among the many
other instances Of fsrethought and
generosity, displayed by our enter
prising firms, and wealthy citizens,
amid the disasters of last week.
SUPERINTENDENT CONWAY'S
ADDRESS
AT THR TEACHERS INSTITUTE, HELD AT
LYcEuM HALL, REV ORLEANS,
JUNE 2, 1871.
We regret that lack Of space pre-
vents our publishing Mr.. Conways
able and comprehensive address IN
full as it appeared in the Nsso Or
leans Republican. We have room
only for the latter half Of the i'd
dress and herewith submit it to our
readers.
"Allow me now to say something
touching the difficulties in our way.
These are surprisingly numeroue,
unaccountable and inexcusable. /
will endeavor to name some OF
them:
The first and greatest is the mad
equacy of our school revenues.
The second is the prolonged ex-
istence of passions engendered by
the late war, and still cherished by
many who cling to the idea that any
system of learning made necessary
by that unhappy event should be
rejected.
The third is the disorganized
condition in which the war left the
affairs of our State-a condition
which required much time. expense
and care to improve.
The fourth is the general ignor'
ance of the people in most OF thu
rural districts touching school or
ganization, rendering it almost i'm
possible to secure competent mel
or women to carry on our work.
The fifth consists in the stringen
requirements of the constitution, al
we'll rs those still more severe which
are contained in the school act
passed by the General Assembly
requiring the Sdmission to tin
school of all applicants. irrespective
of race or color.
The sixth difficulty consists il
the malicious, grounlless, vindictiv'
opposition of that portion Of tin
public press which is edited by mel
who seem to have been aslee]
during the past ten years; Wit
seem to think that the black man i
still q slave; that there has been nj
war; that no blood has been shed
} that education must still be regard
I'd as the prerogative of a class
that when a small fraction OF
! people sees ft to oppose O system
of education the mass must &C
, qu:esce; and that they have no
} only the right to defeat great publ
, measures. but also to ruin the char
; acter and business of individual
} whom they may not admire. espe
: cially if they, like themselves. shout
: chance to have come here from an
! other section of our country.
I have not ignored the existenc
: of strong local prejudice in thi
{ community against our school syf
l tenn and its friends. ! do not no'
, ignore it. Ihave always recognize
. il. I now recognize it I conGde
! it the business of others to be GOV
! erned by their prejudioes, if the
{ see TT; but I do not recognize th
3 right Of any class, or any person, I
extend their prejudices whatever
nor of any newspaper editor; 90
to make them the rule of my life G
! conduct. As an officer, I hav
taken an oath, the moral obligatio
}. of which rises far above local prejr
: dicea This governs me in the dil
charge of my official duty. I too
it voluntarily. It obligated me I
! enforce the constitution Of on
: State; to enforce the law passed b
the Legislature, and to dischare
9 my duty to the best of my abiht,