The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-23

all parties which you have manifested, en-
courage me to address to you my thoughts
sideration of them, and, if you judge
proper, your approval and assistance.
The chief part of what wish to say at
present, may be embraced in the considera-
ton of three principal questions:
1. What end should our State desire
to attain IN fostering common education
II. What means are most advisable for
attaining this end, and most in accordance
with the spirit of q free countryi
Ill. What other benefits will follow
from these meansf
1.-THE OBJECT OF COMMON EDUCATION
TO FORM GOOD CITIZENS.
What end should our State desire to at
tain in fostering common educationf
We are considering only the Common
cation intended for all the pupils of the
State. The subject of universities and
other institutions for the higher education
of the few involves totally different con-
alterations, and the present communication
has no reference to it.
What is the desire of the State in her eff
forts to give an education to all the pupils
within her bOrdersf The answer is
prompt: 1t is to make them Good Citizens.
She Wishes to have population of men
and.women possessed of the virtues needed
for living rightly in society with their fell
their families and their neighbors; doing
no wrong even to the weakest; and serving
the public good, as occasion offers, even at
some sacrifice to their private interests.
Observe that she needs not men and wo-
men who have only been taught that
practice them who have been trained up
in the dispositions and habits which lead
to the exercise of them.
She needs those who have. these virtues
in their conscience who will not only act
by these rules when it will elevate their
credit before others, but who, like Susanna
of old, are willing to lose their good name
with men and the esteem of their dearest
friends rather than to violate their con-
science before God.
OF course the State does not expect that
any effort, however wisely directed, will
make all persons to be such as have de-
Scribed, but this ls the standard that he
wishes to see approached as nearly as pos
sible and the more nearly the average
tone of the peoples character rises to this,
the higher will be the good fame and
prosperity of the State, and the greater
will be the virtue and the true enjoyment
of life possessed by individuals and fami-
AUTHORITIES FOR THIS.
Your Excellency draws attention to the
necessity of this moral training in your
special message on the subject of Public
Education, p. 10. Strictly secular educa
tion," you write, may develop one par
of the mind, but it leaves to nature the bet
ter, the nobler part" The Protestan
Episcopal Bishop of New York corrobo
rates this observation of your Excellency
BY making man stronger intellectually,
he says, "without making him str6Dge
morally, you make him more dangerous t
himself and more dangerous to the com
munity ."-Rt. Rev. Bishop Potters Annui
Address to the Convention, Sept. 1870,
IL.
And what American is there, with
without religion, that will not bow to tt
solemn Judgment of the Father of o
country, ses forth so earnestly in his far
we'll address: "Of all dispositions al
habits" he says, which lead to polite
prosperity, religion and morality are ind
pensable sapports. A volume could Il
trace all their connection with private a
public felicity. Let 1T simply be ask
-H where is the security for property,
reputation, for life, if the sense of religio
obligation desert the oaths which are
Instruments in courts of Justice7 And
us with caution indulge the supposit
that morality can be maintained with
religion. w Farewell Addr
to the American people.
But it is unnecessary to array more
thorities. Every one recognizes that
aim of the State, in fostering e
cation, is not merely that the pee
may have their minds stored v
knowledge, and be made smart in acquil
money, but that they have their i
trained to virtue. Knowledge is on
the means which help in the acquiring
tue; and Knowledge and smartness u
great powers for doing good, when
are welded by virtue. But knowlt
and smartness, without virtue, are an
the most dangerous instruments for
evil.
H.-MEANs TO FORM GOOD CITIZEN
What means are most advisable fC
tanning this end aud most i'll accord
with the spirit of free countryf
Let US consult reason and expert
We know that it is n hard thing to
up man in the love and practice {
ehat IL right. Each one feels how hf
IL to make himself such as he know
ought to be. How much harder to d.
with others!
THE STATE OF HERSELF HAS LITTLE n
FOR THIS END.
u From the nature of the casa tIe
has very limited means midi h.r
adm HtraLIou. Her ,n,,.l,.S....