The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-07-06
POPLAR EDuCATInN.

land, contemplated a general diffusion Of ed
ucation among the masses. Any other idea
would foster and premumize the practice
and spirit Of mobocracy, and advance the
thesis that healthy and prosperous govern
ment could have its foundation laid in igno-
rance and corruption. Indeed, our inherent
predictions are, and have always been, in
favor of restricted suffrage. We arrived
at this conclusion years ago, arguing from
the basis that each man had more or less cor
ruption in him, and in proportion to the mum
Der of persons participating in an assemblage
would be the aggregate Of corruption. But
the progressive spirit Of the age, and the
spirit which is logically deducible from our
political system-which we have never en-
dorsed, and never expect to, as the true idea
Of stable and well-regulatcd government
having amplifod the application of the gov
ernmcntal principle so as to embrace the ne
sro, the conclusion is irresistible, that if we
wish to avoid the quicksands and breakers Of
mobocracy and anarchy-to check the recess
sion Of the social organism to condition APP
proximating communism and agrarianism,
general system Of education must be literally
encouraged, and vigorously prosecuted. The
mass Of ignorance which has been engrafted
upon our political institutions, and infused
into the elementary channels of government,
must lie grappled with by a master hand,
and moulded and educated so as to harmon
ize with the interests Of community
We are well convinced that the faithful
Development and encouragement Of the pres
ent Free School system is the only means by
which We can hope to amcliorate the evils
incident to the sudden aad unpropitious en-
Establishment of the negro. It is repulsive
to every instinct of our nature-it is brazeu
outrage upon the property, political and So
cial rights Of the country-that the privilege
of suffrage should be conferred upon class
Of people, who have no elevated ideas Of the
obligations of good citizenship, and no ap-
probation Of the enlarged power they pos
sess for good or evil But it is fact accom-
plished. We must deal with it as such, and
march forward to tie solution of the difficult
ty, with steady purpose to work out of it
all the good we can. The first and al-im-
portant step is to educate the mind, broad
en- the comprehension; and so train the think
ing powers thatan intelligent view may be taken
of public questions. It is only by vigorous
ly prosecuting this idea, that the pestiferous
Union Leagues can be broken up, which are
calculated to work a social and political harm
Let the people of Virginia, by their ac-
ton, their earnest endeavors to enlighten the
popular mind, impress the newly enfran-
chiscd with their sincere and honest desire to
better their condition, and prepare them for
a conservative exercise Of the high priv-
liges with which they have been endowed
Kind advice, concilatory and encouraging
spirit practiced toward them will accomplish
far more than can ever be attained by abuse
and contemptuous treatment.
The Tryinian was the first paper in the
State to urge the Importance of carrying out,
in its fullest meaning, the free school system
adopted by the Legislature. We wish to see
it fully tested, and as experience may devel-
op defects, to have them corrected and the
system made as perfect as possible. The ne
gro must be educated, if we wish to see him
become conservative element in our politi-
cal affairs It is but right that he should be,
and any one who throws an. obstacle in the
way Of accomplishing this end, does not ex-
hibit the traits Of good citizenship While q
did not think the time had come for his en-
7 franchisement, yet as the privilege has been
granted, self-defence suggests the eminent
proprcty Of fastening his education, SO that
he can exercise that privilege intelIigcntly
We regard the introduction Of the element
Of ignorance into controlling position in our
political institutions, as indicative Of rapid
decadence in, and departure from the true
spirit which created them. We are rapidly
passing to that condition foretold by Byron,
as the sum of human government. Greece
and Rome had passed through all the stages
he enumerates and finally resolved themselves
into state of Standardization.
ssThis is the moral of all human tales
TITS but the same rehearsal of the past
First freedom, then glory; when that fails,
Wealth, vice, corruption, barbarism at last
CliaII0On.
This man, at one time Mayor of Richmond,
BY military appointment, and who was tried
/ md found 1ruiltu Of fraud and f.arnaru h 4