New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-03

abolished; but the system of education
based upon it is still unchanged and unmOdi-
| fed. The old method of instruction was
never wise; it is now worse than folly-'tis
absolute madness. Is not attention to our
field and treside of infinitely more impor-
lance to US now than attention to national
atfairss Is not practical acquaintance
with the ak, the plane. the saw. the anvil,
the loom, the pillow, vastly more useful to
an Impoverished people than familiarity
with the laws of nations and the science of
government What will knowledge of
classics. OF metaphysics and bellies lettres
do to relieve our poverty What will it add
ing, not scholastic lore. We want business
men. with brain and hand for work, not re-
cuses OF the library or the convent. Let the
studies pursued when prosperity crowned
the land be buried with that prosperity; and
let us have system which will bring a
greater beauty and glory to our desolate
places than ever adorned them in the days
of their pOmp and their power. All uncon-
scious of it though most of US may
be. q kind Providence is working for the
land we love. As a people we specially
! needed two things. We needed the cutting
Oft the temptation to seek political SUI.
premacy, in order that our common school.
academic and collegiate training should be
directed to practical ends: not to making
orators and statesmen, but men whose
stores of useful knowledge may prove
blessings at home. The state of probation,
pupllage. vassalage. or whatever it may be
called. in which we have been placed IS. we
believe. intended by the Giyer Of every
good and perfect gift to give us higher and
nobler ideas Of education. and of the duties
OF educated men. We deprecate. as much
as any one can. a low utlhtarianism in edu.
cation. But surely the gifts and learning
which God has thought proper to give to
only few should be devoted by them. not
to promoting personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but
to comforting benefits u2ou the less favored
classes.
Again. We needed 20 have manual labor
made honorable. And here !. kind Prov:
dence has brought good out of evil. The
best. the purest. the most nnseItish. the
most patriotic OF our people are now the
poorest. They gave their hearts. their
energies, their property to the cause they
believed to be right. and they are honored
by all true soldiers who fought against
them as much as by ourselves. Such men
dignity labor. 1t has become the badge OF
manhood. patriotism and unseltishness.
God is now honoring manual labor through
us as he has never done with any other la.
ton. 1t is the high born, the cultivated,
the brave. the generous who are now con.
strained to work with their own hands.
Much as we regret their misfortunes. we
doubt not that in The long run inestimable
blessings vii! TOW upon us through these
calamties.
Now that labor has been iignified and
cherished. we want it to he recognized in
our schools and colleges. We want i. con.
trolled aud directed by education. and to
have all the appliances of art and science
thrown around ii.
We want comprehensive plan of instrrc.
ton. which vii! embrace the useful rather
than the profound, the practical rather than
the th eoretic: a system which will take up
the ignorant in his degradation, enlighten
his mind and cultivate his heart; Il system
which will come to the poor in his poverty
and instruct him in the best method of pro.
curing food, raiment, and the Eecessaries of
life: system which will foster and develop
mechanical ingenuity and relieve labor of
its burden: which will entwine its laurel
wreath around the brow Of honest industry,
and frown with contempt upon the idle and
worthless. When our young men come
forth from schools, academies and colleges,
with their minds imbued with this sublime
teaching. to enter upon tn" busy arena OF
life. they will be fully qualified to turn theiv
strong hands and weli-st0red minds to any
and every useful employment. Then tho
wilderness and the solitary place shall be
glad for them. and :he desert shall rejoice
and blossom as the rose.
And. Mr.. Editor. this was VIVA: was con.
by the board Of managers Of the |
Poiytecinic and Industrial! Institute when |
hey applied 70 the Legislature for the edu. |
,ationa! fund or congressional grant. which |
: apparently abou. TO be los: to orr State !
or iac. Of legislative action at the present !
ess:on. J. X. WALKER.
March y ISL