New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-28

cept to labor and to obey. The gates o
|, knowledge, especially of political knowl
edge, had been kept guarded and shu
In crushing out the rebellion, we put an
end to the former civil and social state
destroyed the oligarchy, abolished human
cattle, and made al; human beings equa
before the law.
But we did no: and could not eradicate a
once the evil effects, upon all classes, of TIVE
hundred years Of slavery. These remain
till new generations are born and trained
under the segis os liberty
Through political necessity we usherei
them all at once, late oligaTchists and late
human cattle, into the temple OF democratic
republican freedom and gave each Of then
the same powers and rights tina. we pos
SEES.
The most difficult ship 10 manage is the
ship of State; the most intricate and trouble
some piece Of machinery to keep in perfec.
running order is The machinery of human
government.
Statesmen OF all ages have endeavored to
Keep this machinery in skilled hands. Phi.
losophers have taught the necessity Of in.
telllgence, wisdom and experience in
rulers. Lycurgus compelled the education
Of every citizen Of Sparta. Scion made
the education of all citizens OF Athens
obligatory. Charlemange established shoots,
and required the children OF all courtiers to
attend, 80 that political power might be II
cultivated and skilled hands.
In the simplest form OF government
military daspotisnl-the officers before OBJ
tanning commands submit to d careful
training and discipline.
The Chinese system 81 government, so far
as we know, is based wholly on intelligence.
Ccnfucius and Mencius SO taught. and il
seems to have been the practice there long
before their period. The ignorant in China
have 10 voice whatever in the government.
and have not had for several thousand
years. As consequence, the Chinese have
endured longer as an independent nation
than any other people recorded in history.
They govern a larger population, and sus-
tain more human beings 30 the square mile,
and are held up as models OF perseverance,
and economy. This demonstrate
the intelligence and wisdom Of those who
have ruled.
France, in 1875, established the republic
and universal suffrage. But the majority
were illiterate, and the republic soon be-
came a military despotsm. She did the
same thing again in lS4S; but even then
lpore than half OF her citizens could not
read the ballots they put in the urns. In
fourteen years this illiterate mass voted for
a military despot. l attended the election
1t Paris and at ROuen, in 1852, for two
lays, and by conversiDg with the voters
learned that they had no clear conception
IF what they We're doing.
Spain has just gone through similar
,arcical and tragical experience The
spanish republics in America fifty years
Ego committed like mistake, and have
enjoyed neither domestic peace nor pros
Wit q Nn II
If revolution; and will be, till power gets
nto intelligent hands, and the form of gov
is in harmony with the conditions
ind necessities of the governed.
Conservative and staid England extends
ne ballot, but extends education with ii.
distinguished liberal said IA the last
'ar'ament TO the moro advanced wing Of
lis party: "YOu demand universal suffrage:
demand universal education to go with It." |
it is an axiom in political science that ip. |
in the rulers is essential to good
government. And the larger the country,
nd the more varied and complicated the |
interests, the higher is the degree of intelG. |
ence required OF the citizen. IL our sys-
EN- every voter is ruler, a sovereign. In |
ny city or State, where body Of voters |
large TO hold the balance OF |
over is ignorant or corrupt; this bad or
angerOu5 element as frequent periods will |
optroi the whole government, and reduce
he elections, the laws, and the adminisyra-
on to its own level. We have passed
rough this experience in New York city,
a cost Of fifty millions Of dollars, and
otous and fraudulent elections, and much
ad legislation and are now. guarding
sainst its recurrence by compulsory eGu
atom.
At the end OF the rebellion, when tie re.
'ganiZation OF the South came I'D, one of /
II most patriotic and sagacious statesmen.
10 late Governor Andrew, remarked TO a
'mmittee in New York in consultation on
lis very subject that it was useless to reor.
anize the South by its tail; it must, TO he
ccessful, be reorganized by its head.
luton OF the difficulty. It is the thread |
Aradne that, il followed. will guide Us |
1t of the otherwise fata. labyrinth.
But the South must be saved from the |
llettered of both classes. In short, il |
ust be redeemed from the rule o. igno-
nee. This can not be done at once py
strictiug suffrage to the intelligent; for.
matter OF fact, right like that OF sGf- {
,ge, once conferred upon millions OF men,
4 not be peaceably taken away. Nor =,
,uld it be wise at present to do SO, even
it were practicable, for the forty nine per q
at of The present generation in the cotton | G
ates, who are not illiterate, are, as al t
ldy shown, not themselves qualified TO | t
vern with justice and equity Repuo- e
an State, people1 TO the extent Of nearly | v
e-haf by their former slaves. The 5000 | q
punished murders. stated BY a Southern .
mber OF Congress TO have been com Ii
tied by them since civil government was |!
tored, are proof OF this. The political
lighters of New Orleans, Coushat.a and
fax demonstrate ii.
he redemption and restoration Of the L
ton States can bs accomplished only Il
and through universal education. Die ;,
ors. military governors, martial law.
Q nothing, remedy. nothing; they are le
re temporary restraints, like the hang .;
MS rope OR the headman's axe; often r,
essary evils, but never reforma tory ele-
ats. Compromises to keep the kelioggs
the McEnerys in power are equally ii
lie. F
he free common school must be TAINTED. :,
tured and sustained within reach OF -,
~ mans children, white or colored. froul III
omarle sound TO the Rio Grande; and a cl
must be enacted and public sentiment w
ntorce 1t created that viii, require the D.,
dren to attend these schools. In the 70
.uage of Milton, statesman as well as tn
), ''To make the people fttest to choose, St
the chosen fttest to govern, we must r;
b the people, The patience and perse- ~
nee of long years are essential to sue. I'LL
in this undertaking. ed
le panGceS- perhaps we should cay the
the political ills OF the recon
cted States is just that which made
sachusetts colony the cradle and
cry OF American liberty and DEM
cy-the district school; and through N
the instruction and development of lA
and conscience Of each Co