The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-11-30
EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.

q
The institution for the education Of
the blind, located In Baton Rouge, has
entered upon new life,l not however,
80 full life rs the work to BE- done
requires, nor as the sustaining ability
OF the State can give; yet u life having
In It q true health and the promise Of
future vigOr. The Institution has grid
ell Up its lloins cfore IT. work, aud Is
transmitting the dole of legislative
bestowment into practical benefit. Dur
ing the late regime this Institution
suffered grievOusiy. Thank God, the
domlnation Of ignorance and rapacity
IL past.' The constitution OF Louisiana, >
10 itY one. hundred and fOrty-third ar
tlcle, declares that an institutiOn for the
education Of the blind shall he fostereti
In this State This article simply for
mulstes q. principle of the constitution
Of the universe, and translates the best
and truest In men into human words,
investing them with the solemn i'm
perativeness of law. It does not pre-
scribe new duty to be performed, hut
requires that O perennial obligation
shall be fulfilled. ajt.li s4f.i
Accepting as correct the report fur
nished by the United States census Of
1870, there are now more than 500
blind persons In Louisiana. Ofthis
number, probably, 100 are capable Of
education to the point of self-support.
Is training; these persons to self-help
Worth doing? ought it to be done:
These are Questions beyond debate,
which Christian civilization has an
swered, and Is constantly answering
in strongly emphasized :yes-ought
to be must be done. The emphasis ot
this affirmativeh has stirred Brazil, Aus
tralia and even Egypt and Syria and
they are trying to fulfill the require
lnents Of am obligation so clearly re-
cOgnised, so definitly Imperative,
Louislana ought not to be behind
Brazil and Egypt; but in philanthro-
pic work, she ought to be abreast Of
Massachusetts or OF the best European
civilization. = 4.are,,l yrs ss,tiZ
The object of education is to lift Iner,
to fuller and truer life. The blind
need this elevation. The seeing may
often work out life successfully without
Systematic instruction !; but the blind
cannot. They must be specially train,
ed and, even when best equipped,
they must meet life at grievous dis
advantage; but meet it they must
They may achieve only an humble iu-
dependence but that is better than
q humiliating and debasing depen-
dence. -. .1.'..e, 3, etls.... 5" n -.
In consequence of various htndrances,
the number Of pupils in attendance at
the Institution for the blind has been
small. This circumstance has been Per.
verted into datum from which to de-
duce an inference depreciative of its
actual object. and potential utility.
Small attendance has been assumed AS
sufficient reason for meagre support. To
measure the value of u manufacturing
interest by au disappointed aud un-
skiilfully managed factory would be a
gross blunder. It Is no less an error to
measure the magnitude ofthe educa-
tiOn of the blind by the condition oi
,anilnpertectly organized and persistent
1y depressed institution. i-'-- IF II"
True it Is that economy is necessary
In the expenditure. of public funds;
but retrencistncnt does not mean sup
preston Of educational institutions.
Louisiana is not too poor to sustain her
educational institutions; but she il it.n,
poor to do without any of tnem. To
deny education to the blind, would b..
to arrali.sn he State il cuIprit ut the b:,r
Of civilization, a,sd. at the bar of Prov
idence. Let the Legislature at its next
session wisely and generously consider
this interest, and provide for it ls it,
i Importance requires. In dealing with
such :,n interest, liberality is the only
true measure of wisdom and Justice.
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