New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30

With this perception of equal right and
equal capacities the United States has real
lied the inspiration and revelation vouch-
safed by the higher and holier minds of the
earlier ages. But in demonstrating the
great truth it has employed a new and
unused agency, the universal education Of
the people. AS it is only in single aspect
that this agency will be examined, it is
proposed to con slider popular education
L. As an agency of political administra-
ton. 1t is an axiom that the good order of
Il state is exactly according to the ODE
dience of it's citizens to the laws. There
are governments of force and governments
of opinion. Modern Greece and India,
while under the despotism of Turkey, pre-
sent an example of the first. Italy, while
under Austria, and Ireland may be added.
In neither of these countries could the
laws be etfectually enforced. because the
people were either degraded to barbarIsm
as Ii the first example, or absOlved from
moral obligations to obey government TO
which they were not voluntary parties in
the second. Most Of such despotisms alb
stain from enlightening the minds OF their
subjects. lest it should make them too in
curing and too fertile of renour cling des
potic control, for under the axiom stated,
the republic has prepared its citizens TO
preserve order by instructing them that be
who governs himself requires no outside
ruler, and that communities composed OF
people who obey the moral law on principle
and on compact with themselves require no
extraordinary grant nor exercise OF power
by the government which they have them
selves chosen. To teach the children OF
whole people the nature and value OF this
law daily In the schools as in the churches
ia to secure a body guard TO the law always
adequate to its protection and enforcement.
This universal preparation also qualities
men for the highest official duties. 1t Is
striking fact in history that few men have
risen to eminent usefulness in a nation who
were not speedily imbued with the social
pecuiarities of the people they govern.
Coming from the body of the people such
rulers ara concious of the wants and re-
sources of their country. About the first
view OF the people ever vOuchsated to
Sardarapalus or the latter Bourbon by their
courtiers, was when they beheld from the
palace windows maddened mob with II
scatfold and executioner in pers pective.
There these victims of abused trust and in
supportable oppression beheld the results
of popular ignorance and royal mismanage-
ment. To such rulers the people was q rabid
animal, only to be stupefied by ignorance
or subdued by arms.
The statesmen Of our republic have their
origin in the people, their fruit aud branches
terprise and enlightened progress. The lite
of the republic is not in its head alone; it
peryades every limb and throbs in every
capillary Of the whole body polite. Other
governments boast the superior intellect
of their councils, the wealth Of one order.
or the military skill of another. This is but
the vision Of the incongruous statue inter-
preted to the Babylonian King by the He
brew sser. The emblem and illustration
of the peoples republic is far more simple,
significant and safe.
There has been no such example in the
world of the invaluable discovery, to which
we have adverted, as is furnished by the
republican form OF government established
in America, and now maintained for nearly
century. The right of private judg-
ment has encouraged all to examine for
themselves the title to eternal salvation,
and it is understood that the choice between
good and evil lies with each individual,
who can neither be saved nor damned
through the merit or error of. another NOR
tai. Error" said the great apostle of
religious freedom, 'tceases 10 be dangerous
when reason is left free to combat it,
Maintaining, then, the moral and political
equality of man, the. United States has
advanced a long step in asserting the equal
mental development of men in all classes
and conditions of society. 1t has thus
opened field scarcely occupied before by
any nation. ancient or modern, If we except
Holland and Switzerland.
The effect of this system has been tx.
traordinary, and entirely conclusive of IT'S
excellence. The universal education of the
people, with the admitted eligibility of all
To the pursuits, professions, honora and
service Of the republic, has given COM
petitive selection from 10000, coo, equal
in moral, physical and mental right, to
contend for the prizes. This would, under
a government Of political caste. have lin
tied this choice to q comparatively small
number legally competent to exercise these
trusts and perform these services. When
we add to these results the impulsive effect
of hope, ambition or necessity acting upon
o whole population, converting them all
into competitors for the social or political
service OF the State, the consequences are
beyond computation. They are around us.
Ii further examples are asked OF the
ancient error to which we have referred, it
is - be found in the COMMUNISM of France,
and IN the labor leagues and legislative
protection of the employers in England.
Wherever wealth and refinement dread the
popular masses as an alien, inimical and
destructive element, the liberties of such
\ country are not we'll secured. The re-
publican system of universal eligibility and
education provides a large class
If men competent to direct public affairs,
md too nearly allied to the people to per
nit them to be either betrayed or o.
'ressed.
LITERATURE AND ART CULTURE.
The seed of education is cast over
he whole social surface. Some may fall |
q stony ground; some may flourish for |
space, and perish by neglect or misfor- |
uue. but as there could be no harvest |
Tithout seeding, so the native capacity to |
erminate and bloom and bear the mature |
'uits of cultivated genius must be due to
40 universal opportunities of development. |
The value of literature and of the arts
ONES within the province of even the
,onomical calculation of the sources of
'ealth. Let us give some familiar ex-
mples. The literary intelligence of Egypt,
reece, and of that catacomb of systems
hose very origin has been forgotten-In-
to each of these countries |
10 emulation and imitation of the world,
which for centuries they were in their
rms the rulers, through their superior in
lligence. These enlightened nations, and
eir still more enlightened successors,
ave published, on granite or periphery, or
lpyrus, or parchment, or with the cylinder
,ess, systems of opinion, which have been
lopted and ditfused over tne world.
Even after colonial dependence has
ased the devotees of these opinions 90 in
lgrimage to worship at the scene and
URGE OF their ancestral faith 1t has been
7 such means of development that Eng.
nd has placed herself at the head of mod
n civilization. Regard her agriculture.
pom q limited surface improved by all |
lemical agencies and cultivated with the
ost improved mechanical adaptations,
e maintains population nearly equal to
If own, upon territory not SO large as
lat OF some of our own States. England
lports portion OF her food, it is true, but
lie SO utilities the industry of her popuIa-