Arizona citizen., 1872-05-11
COMMON SCHOOLS.

crowded city and in the roomy frontier settlement. It is the peculiar institu- ton embodying in itself the very es- sence of our form of government. Around its fire gather alike the chil- dren of the rich and poor, and on its broad platform the inalienable right of man is fully recognized, while child meets child with no question of birth or condition.
 There is no corner of our vast domain that is free from its blessed intrusion and those who meet its ad- vance with the most generous hospl- tality are the most benefited by its benign influence. We boast of our form of government, of our brilliant and gifted men and women, of our great marts of commence, of our ideal homes, but the great conservator of all is the common school. It is the fountain that vivifes all our garden, and shall yet prove the only agent that can sustain us in life and vlgor as 8 nation. So long as the weakness and vice of human nature shall endure, so long will corruption exist even among the best of men; and we can- not but expect that however true and pure may be our social and political organization, evils attendant upon everything human will creep in. We can only hope that the exercise of that eternal vigilance, which Is re- commended for the preservation of liberty, will retard the evil sufficiently to allow the good to grow.
 But increase in wealth and power will weaken our guard, and the sentinel on the watch tower will be- come drowsy and careless. Looking around then for some great corrective, some second line of defense, we have but to enter the open door of the school house, and there silently at work, preparing great and constant reserve for the republic, the agent of thorough general instruction says, "be not afraid; ;" the watchman that never sleeps-that cannot be bribed- that is no respecter of persons.
 While we generously ecucate the children of the nation, our liberties are safe. Leaders may fail us, thieves may break into our treasuries, and corrupt men through fraud may rule and ruin for the hour, but an educat- ed people cannot be corrupted, nor can their power be taken from them. General education is the great foun- tain of life and strength to a people, and looking abroad the student of na- tions must be blind indeed, who does not recognize in it the master spirit of the world. Without exception its use or neglect marks nation with power or weakness, honor or shame. The secret of the last great European contest hinges simply upon the recognition of this fact, and he who searches its ghastly fields for cause and effect, can find none other that so simply and concisely explains the whole. So will it ever be. Igno- rance is but a sorry antagonist for knowledge. And the morning star of the century, is wide spread. general education of the masses. The bright est promise for the republic is the re- cognition of the power and necessity of general education.
 In the new and disturbed condition. of our Territory, we could hardly be charged with neglect, if we had given the common school no place; in a hand to hand struggle for life and bread, one has but little heart for anything else; but if you look for a country without public schools, you must go further than Arizona.