Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-08-18

try, aggregated largely IN the nands OF
the specializing gambling class. This
class. having got, by circumstances, a
special education in the art of lawfully
stealing the results of the labor of the
uneducated, has outstripped the men
trained in the old fashioned literary
academies and colleges, and reduced
them to vassalage, SO that now we are
ruled by the capitalists, through the cler-
gy and lawyers; but mainly the latter
for the former are simply muzzled as
the friends of popular rights-or Chris
tianity, which as regards this world is
the same thing while the lawyers are
the willing tools by which laws are
made, interpreted and administered for
the benefit of monopolizing wealth.
These different classes, capitalist, law
yers. and the producing or industrial
class. cannot in this country be defined
by any sharp lines. They blend into
each other, and an individual may in
part belong to one and in part to anoth-
er. But as actual interests they are
broadly distinct, and capital and labor,
though they are really necessary to each
other and the progress of mankind, tend
to take antagonistic positions, and un-
less they possess equality of knowledge
as regards their ghts and the means
of protecting them, one will unfairly
and injuriously dominate over the other.
The true interests of the country, and
of human progress, require that neither
should have the power unjustly to injure
the other
TO reach this necessary end we must
have better education of the industrial
class. Thoughtful men long ago saw
this, and benevolent men have tried to
promote it. But it is eminently true in
this case that
"Who would be free, themselves must
strike the blow"
1t is hard to arouse the people to the
absolute necessity of thorough popular
education. as the safeguard of their lib
critics. Most of the farmers of New
England think the meagre learning of
our old-time district school, devised to
teach us just enough to help us make a
living and understand the law as laid
down from the pulpit on Sunday, is
sufficient for their children. In truth
it is but mighty little better than moth
ing. Yet so few of our farming youth
get anything more in the way of learning,
that those who do are absorbed at once
into the ruling class, leaving the work.
ing people none the better. But when
every boy and girl, no matter how poor,
can have all the knowledge they are
mentally able to take, labor will be en-
lightened, and the laborer become the
master of his fate. The fearful aggres-
sion of capital upon labor exemplifed
in the southern slave system reused us
to spend fabulous sums of money to SUBJ
due and extirpate the evil. If our peo-
pie could be induced to spend ten pei
cent. on the amount paid as the cost Of
that necessary victory upon the improve
ment of our school system, the average
wealth in the hands of the working
; people would be doubled in twenty
years.
Before we shall do this we must CIV,
up the notion that poor education il
good enough for poor man, and tina
academies and colleges are only for tn
laboring mans "betters.' An Ameri
can freeman has no s.betters." unless h,
willingly submits to the betters ant
gamblers who are now ruling the repub
lie. We mast spend more money 70
popular education.
Graded free schools must take tn
place of the old academies, and tn
state must provide for all who seek it,
free collegiate training, Of practica
character, such as shall fit each one
according to his natural bent, for tn
highest usefulness as citizen. This i
already being done in number of tn
western states, and the facilities for
complete education which are thus afford
ed will become daily stronger temp
tation for emigration, and source {
, preponderating power to that sectio
. of the republic, unless we in New Eng
land arouse more fully to the necessitit
L of the hour.
NJ n 4 r