Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-22

the power OF intellect alone. Educa
ton constitutes the apprenticeship
of those who are afterward to take 9
place in the order of our civilized
and progressive nation. Education
tends to increase the dignity and
self-respect of a people, tends to in
crease their fitness for society and
important stations of trust, tends to
elevate and consequently carries
with it a great moral responsibility.
This is why the Democratic party
in the South so bitterly oppose the
education of oil classes. They know
that no educated people can be
enslaved. They know that no edu-
Gated people can be robbed of their
labor. They well know that no
educated people can be kept in a
helpless and degraded condition,
but will arise with a united voice
and assert their manhood. Hence,
to educate the negro in the South
would be to lift him to a state of
civilization and enlightenment that
would enable him not only to main
tain and defend his liberties, but to
better acquit himself as an honor
able and upright citizen, and prove
himself more worthy of the rights
conferred upon him. This, then,
being the result of educating the
negro. I cannot believe that the
Democracy of Georgia or any other
State manifests this patriotism or
has taken this sudden departure.
They know the negro is loyal, and
while their present educational in
stitutions are fosterers of disloyalty
and nurseries of enmity and hatred
toward the Government and loyal
blacks and whites, I cannot hope
to ever see the Democratic party
endowed with sufficient patriotism
and justice to lend their energies
and support in favor of the educa-
ton and elevation of my people.
While the Democratic party adhere
to the ideas and principles that they
have now it would be against their
interests to educate the negro; not
only against their interests, but en-
tirely inconsistent with their faith.
Can we then suppose that these
firm adherents to slavery and State
rights are willing to educate the
negro and loyal whites, who are op-
posed to their principles, and there
by enable them to WELD the con-
trolling power of the South? No,
sir, I should think not. They are
more consistent and patriotic to-
ward the principles of the lost cause
than this. Let us not mistake our
selves, Mr.. Speaker. The Demo-
cratic party are opposed to any
system that will have the effect of
making a majority of the present or
rising generation loyal to the Gov
ernment. It has been admitted by
every lover of free government that
popular education, or the education
of the masses, is necessary to and
inseparable from a complete citizen
ship. Then let the nation educate
her subjects. It is to the interest
of the Government, as also to the
people, to do so. An educated
people possess more skill, and man.
ifest more interest and fidelity in
the affairs of the Government, be-
cause of their chance to obtain
more general information, which
tends to eradicate the prejudices
and superstitions so prevalent
among an ignorant people.
An educated people seek always
to improve their condition, not only
at home, but in all their surround
ings. An educated people are more
social, more refined, and more ready
to impart their knowledge and ex-
perience to others; more idustrious
because more ambitious to accumu-
late and possess property; while the
ignorant and uneducated are more
prone to idleness, more addicted tc
low habits and dissipation, more
careless and less ambitious, being
more of a "turn" to content them
selves and let things go about as
they are. The uneducated person