The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-31

49, 4. I'D 20 fSSTAukTON, aug uSt <Hot Sos1s
The closing exercises of the Angnsts
Teachers Institute winch has. been holding
its annual meeting here since last .Iuesoay
under the direction Of our County SupeIln
teudeut, DR.. r. s. Hamilton, took place las
night OF the Baptist church. Your CORE
snondent was unable to attend the daily
meetings Of the Institute, but be has been
informed that it was perfect and complets
success. and in every way highly creditao Oh
TO The zeal and excellent management Oh tns
County Superintendent.
There was full attendance of the teachers
of the county, and number OF distln
puished persons from our own STATE ant
from other States were present, among then
Mr.. James a. Binford, Superintendent Q
the Public Schools of your city Dr. W.
Ruffner, Superintendent of Public lnstruc
ton of the State of Virginia: Professor Il
s. Jovpes, of Washington and Lee Univer
sity Rev. DR.. McGilvray, of Richmond
DR.. Edwin Leigh, of New York, the origin
ator of a new system of phonetics, ana Ut
e. Sears, of Stauntou. Addresses ulpor
various educational subjects, including schoo
discipline, &c. were made BY thcse gentle
men during the three days session OF Inc
Institute. :,
AS before stated, the closing exercises took
place last night ut the Baptist church. The
announcement previously made that an ad
dress would be delivered by DR.. w. q. Ruiz
ner drew quite large audience. The sub
ject of the address was Education and the
great importance of educating the masses
He showed the importance and value OF ed
ucation as shown in the success of Prussia
and the great wealth and influence of Eng.
land. Educated brain is always superior to
uneducated muscle. The Goiiabs of muscle
will always be overcome by the little Davlds
of brain. In speaking of the condition oil
our country he deplored the ignorance of the
masses, and said it was the subtle poison OF ~
norance which is nowatfectiDg the body lctI'
tic. He deplored the REIMBURSEMENT or the
negro. 1t had lowered the average Of our 20.
itical virtue. This is n age OF improve.
ment and progress. The machinery OF a
more remote period will not do now. The
reaDiug-hook cannot compete with the iic'
Cormick reaper. Horse power cannot COM
pete with steam power. TO use macnlncry
requires brain, and educated brain. This IS
an age Of brain. and if We would keep Up
with it we must educate the brain OF cur
people. He bad within the nast live years
seen much valuable property in the city oi
Richmond 60 to ruin fer the want OF edu
Gated brain. The State that does not edu'
cate her poor is sure 70 get lower and lower
in the scale of civilization. To keep Up with
the times the poor must be educated.
But for the race question we would have
no difficulty about this matter'of public III
struction. lie fully appreciated the many
difficulties of the situation. but he earnestly
hoped that no outside influence would be
allowed to prevent Is from educating the
colored people. They must be educated, and
it is clearly the duty Of the Government to
do it. We are all interested in this. 1t is a
matter Of public necessity.
AS to the comparative Importance OF prl'
vate and public schools. be laid down the
following propositions as lncontroTertlble:
l. There is no possible way OF educating
the people but by the State.
9. They give superior educational tacill.
ties.
8. They are much less expensive than pri.
vate schools.
He would not discuss the question as tc
the right of a STATE 70 educate its
people. Virginia has always admitted this
right. Is is shown in the virginia Military
Institute and the University OF Virginia.
The sources of our future prosperity be
considered to be Immigration, internal i'm
provement, and The education of the people
of the otate-Without this last the O.hcr two
will he OF no avail. He could point To miny
of our great internal improvements, such AS
through-lneS Of railway and canals, along
whose borders the people are no better OF
to-day than they were when they were first
built, and the lands are no richer nor more
valuable. A tGriltles> and uneducated pVpu-
lation will never improve.
The stages Of education are: [. The Una.
nimity of ignorance. ,. The diversity Of
opinion. 8. The unanimity OF the wise.
He was very thankful that tie means are
at work of bringing us to the unaniulity oil
the wise. "The night is tar spent aod the
day is coming on" The good WORK ia goip
on slowly, it is true, but surely. # not in
tcrfered with from without, the work Of edu
cation will progress in Virginia. Much has
been done, much is being done, but there is
still much TO be done in the future. Devel, Z
the people and you will develop the State.
The aGare>s Of DR.. Ruttler was listened to
with marked attention by all present. II
was admirable in every respect, and replete
with apt and striking illustrations. The
above is bare skeleton, and fear badly ar
by all who heard it in terms of the highest
praise.
DR.. Ruffner was followed by DR.. BarnaS
Sears. general agent of the trustees of the
Peabody fund, in few remarks upon the
relative value of public and private educa-
ton, and on the subject of mixed schools,
upon which subject he had been specially
requested to speak.
lie said the maxim laid down by DR.. Ruff.
ner that the whole people cannot be educa-
ted but BY the State, is true. In all the past
history of the world where can you find an
instance of the whole people being educated
except by the State. ALI history shows no
such instance.
Private schools do not propose to educate
all children. They never were designed for
universal education. The private teacher
teaches for money. He locates bis school
where he can make the most money.
The object Of public schools is entirely
different; they work on entirely different
principles. Public school buildings are 10.
Gated where they are most needed. The edu.
cation of the people is their sole object.
Public schools could be made TO supply
the place of private schools, but private
schools could never supply the place Of pub
lie ones.
He did not believe that mixed school:
would ever be enforced. He did not believe
it could be done. He denied that Congress:
had the physical power to enforce miXeG
schools, laying aside the want Of constitu
tional power. Such system cannot be i'm
posed on State. A State has the power t
abolish its system of public schools any day
Moreover, the State can refuse TO raise The
money necessary for the support Of the sys
tenn. Then what becomes Of the schools
They disappear at once.
Some persons. through false views, may
be in favor of seating the two races side BY
side on the same benches; but can Congress;