New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-11
EDUCATION 4 NECESSITY.

Excellent as was the eloquence which the
Rev. Mr.. Beecher brought TO bear night before
last on the value of education, there are two
cOlored maps accompanying the last census
which present the argument with greater force.
They are the maps which show respectively, by
shaded lines of graded intensity, the wealth
and the illiteracy of the country. The one map
is a counterpart, or rather a reverse of the
other almost throughout; the exceptions
being IN small, local areas. Wherever the
wealth is heaviest, the illteracy is lightest,
and vice versa. Poverty and ignorance go
hand in hand. And the extent Of the areas
covered by the darkest shades of illit-
eracy and unillumined by the golden lines of
wealth, will surprise those who have never
examined the subject. 1t may not, however,
surprise those who have already noted the
painful fact that more than one-seventh of
our population, 5,65S000 men, women and
children over ten years of age, cannot write
their own names. The first question would
seem to be, as a mere matter of dollars and
cents, can we afford this condition. Can we
afford to keep one-seventh of our people in
ignorance and poverty?
Other countries have decided this question
for themselves in the negative. The laws of
Prussia are usually cited as the most success
full attempts at compulsory education, and
though they are not very rigidly enforced of
late years i'll the cities, the pressure brought
to bear on the whole is so great that absolute
illiteracy is reduced to minimum. The diff
culties about enforcing such laws there, are far
greater than with us, because of the distinc-
tons in ranks of society and in scholastic
schools where no pay is required being almost
as unwelcOme resort for families of the least
responsibility as would be the almshouse here
OF a public school to which rich and
poor go without paying, they have no concep-
ton. In this respect we have great adyan-
tage over all foreign countries, England not
excepted, whenever we are ready to attempt
compulsory education. Is it not time to be-
gini Gov. Geary thinks it is, and presents as
reason, statement showing great neglect
of actual attendance at school, the total alb
sentees exceeding one-half the juvenile popu-
lation of Philadelphia. Do we suppose this
city is more fortunateY The census does not
indicate notable difference. As far as litter
acy is concerned, there are not two in a thou
sand more of people unable to write, in one
city than in the other. Boston enforces GER
tain municipal laws which, as far as they go,
nearly accomplish compulsory education. The
whole race of street Arabs, including news
paper boys and black-yer-boots, have to un-
dergo a definite amount of alphabet and
spellingbook instruction. Our public school
system, so far as this getty is concerned. is
gradually losing characterS> 1t IS impossible
to shut our eyes any longer to- the fact that
In many wards our public schools ave much
deteriorated. At all events, they fan ,sment-
ably of gathering in all the children In the
city not attendant on other schools. Th4s is
q failure VIC cannot longer afford.
Our political interests-our future existence
rs nation-are closely interviewer with the
question of education. Popular suffrage is
perdition if the voters know not wbatN they
are voting about. In just such proportiou az
hey are ignorant are their votes dangero US.
The time may come when they may hold {, ne
balance Of power. We have about eight an
! half million voters in the country VIC have