Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-10

with the ballot cast by llisn who
boasts the ciearest brain, and whose
action is sWayed by the noblest inn
pulses. Can the people be too intel
| Iigent, when such momentons re-
sponsibilities are ever resting upon
| them? Vet we hear men talking
| that the schools are too good to be
supported at the public cost, and tsIat
the grade ought to be lowered! Is
peciaIly is this true OF the farming
community. AS if the farmers of
| Iowa could afford 10 lessen the oppor-
tunitfes of their children! is this
the way the calling Of the Farmer is
to be raised and advanced? They
/ tell us that the farmer must come up
in public estimation; that he must
be more eligible to Office aud honor
that he must be sent to the Legisla-
ture and to Congress, that he must be
recognized instead OF being ignored
and overslaughed to give place to
members of the learned professions;
but how is all this to happen I'M
less the farmer has the advantage of
good schools, and high order of
mental training? Will it help the
farmer to put him in a position for
which ne is not fitted? VIII it hon
or him to place him in An Office
which he cannot honor? Let the
farmers Of Iowa open their eyes!
They have the physical power to put
whom they choose in exalted places,
but they can only honor their posi-
ton by making it equal in intelli-
gence to any other; and to do this
they must raise the standard of the
country schools, and insist on having
them so managed and superintendent
as to give them the greatest vigor
and efficiency.
All this is well understood by the
members of the honorable profession
to which / belong, and l wish my
voice might reach them all to en-
courage them in renewed efforts to
maintain and improve our noble sys-
tenn Of common schools. If | could
be heard, would say: Brethren of
the Press! Let us give more atten-
ton than we have hitherto done TO
the welfare of the schools. Let us
encourage every reasonable attempt
to make them better and stronger.
This is for our interest as it is for the
good of the people. Stand by the
Teacher! the first prop of our proud
republic. Sustain the Superintend-
ent! and rebuke the error of those
who would leave the schools to run
at random, by depriving them of
an efficient head. Tht intelligence
of the masses is the only guarantee
Of peace and order; the only protec-
ton against the arts of the dictator
and demagogue; the best bulwark
against vice and corruption; the on
ly hope and stay of free institutions
and to these teachers | would say:
Persevere in your noble calling. The
world is coming, more and moreS to
magnify your Office. The fathers
and mothers of Iowa surrender into
your hands their jewels, and expect
you to return them shining with the
luster conferred by your skill and
patience. Omit no opportunity to
prepare yourselves for the high and
patriotic duty. Do good work and
demand the reward to which such
work entities you. Make our schools
what they should be, and stand by
them; and speaking for the Press, I
think l may promise that it will
stand by you. The Free Schools of
Iowa are the hope of her sons and
daughters-the measure of her civil.
iZation and refinement--and it will
be the glory Of her Press to fight
their battles, and to share in their
triuniphs.