Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-02-04
HDUCATfON IN AMERICA.


their subjects for the study OF litera-
ture, and for the purpose OF extend
ing system Of high education. The
former is continually appropriating
vast sums Of money for the establish
ment OF Universities, to begin where
our common colleges leave off, to
arral ge costly and splendid cabinets
for advanced science, and to purchase
libraries for the study Of Literature in
every phase. The English parliament
is always filed with men of the high
est culture To find their desk void
of the daily, or even weekly, news.
paper, is thing not uncommon; but
the absence of quarterly review, in
which the literature and great political
questions of the day are thoroughly
discussed, is an offense not SO easily
forgiven. The best poets are quoted
almost daily by the members OF both
houses. Longfellow has become pro-
verbal; Milton, Pope and Shakespeare
have been read, committed and quoted
by half the members of parliament.
III short, the high officials in such
countries are men of learning and
refinement, that the youth Of the
country may initiate with pride. The
result has been that Germany in adj
vanced literature and science now
stands alone. England has had every
century for i've hundred years gal
laxy of writer's that have shown with
scarcely DINNER light The genius Of
Chaucer was brought ont by donations
from the government. Spencer re-
ceived court tavors on account OF
poetic talent Elizabeth admired and
tostered the genius of Shakespeare.
Milton received on account Of his lit
erary talent IA government office, the
salary Of which enabled him to devote
his time TO study. 1t is an endow-
ment of this kind that Joseph Addi-
son also owes his fame and utility to
the world. There is not one English
man of great fame for learning, that
has not been encouraged by pecuniary
aid from the government.
Such endowment from our govern
meut we cannot hope; but examples
of honorable and refined men who will
throw their influence on the side OF
high education AS to be expected
among the leaders of "a nation. Such
in our national capitol aud state legis
Iatures are painfully wanting The
marks of strong drink, the fumes of
tobacco, mingled with the sound of
horrible oathS, have become the associ-
atoms of our legislative halls; yet such
men are best known aud honored
through the land; and in such a
country what incentive is there for
young men to seek position higher,
or character better. We do not
wonder that there is corruption in the
government. that there is ignorance
in our legislative halls, and that the
few teachers who labor for better
state of things, wear out their valuable
lives in accomplishing so little. The
only wonder is that they meet with
any progress at all. Says President
White of Cornell University:
Next name the United States. where, in sight
OF all mankind, popular education is lifting a
nation above all the efforts OF demagogucs in the
field, in the senate.housc, and in the press.
1t is not only in accomplished re-
, fined men that our country is IN de-
l fault. Orr institutions of learning
must receive appropriations from the
legislatures under whose supervision
, they exist. In the majority of eases,
, such are filled with men who have had
none of the advantages of refinement,
and being without the appreciation of
such. are the last men TO give and 10
support that which they think is use
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