Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-09-04
For the GuARDIA
Intelligence a Safe Investment.

of national liberty.
The history Of every civilized nation
has shown, that the rights Of citizen, his
property, his person are insecure in the
midst Of an ignorant and british popu-
lace; and what is true of an individual
may be said to be equally true of a nation.
Attempts have often been made to es-
tahlish liberty for q people, ignorant and
unoducated, and the efforts have always
failed. The wise and the virtuous, with
clear vision, who have seen that liberty
was best for nation, and have realized
IN fancy the many blessings, which ought
to flow from it, have laborcd, and sac
| riiiced to give it TO the masses; but the
Ignorant and besottcd, have trodden il
| under foot, and turned to rend their bcne-
! factors.
Republican principles have often been
established i'll France, but have never
lasted n score Of years; the efforts of heF
best patriots have been given TO the cansc
and il has been sealed with the blood Of
her noblest citizens, but even at this price
it has not been secured. Why is this'
Why may not one Of the most polished
nations of earth enjoy liberty' Why may
not that nation that ranks among her
sons, the first scholars Of the age in every
walk Of learning enjoy this iHestimable
gift' Indeed there is none other cause
save that her labaring classes are unedu-
Gated and ignorant as to those principles
upon which national liberty depends.
/ The system of education tina. prevails
there, even through books and newspapers,
are under the control of priest.crd6 aud
| night-crdh and they well know that the best
means OF affecting their security is to keep
the people ignorant, or to instruct them in
those dogmas which are alike false in the
Org aud damning i'll practice.
A people TO be free, must have inteili-
gencc. Freedom requires thought, il ic-
quircs knowledge and SCRUTINY into the
claims aud measures Of magistrates and
law makers. The man who is ignorant of
the first rudiments Of reading aud writing
is destitute of the first elements. and in
capable Of the first duties Of freeman;
indeed he is n being uncontemplatcd by
the gcuius OF our Constitution. where the
elective right il extended to all; he who is
unqualified to exercise with diligence The
noble pririIegc, is a being dangerous to him
| IL" r,nuyru nj ii. I,Lcrf.
No nation is safe that has in her bounds
an uncducatcd element accessible to her
ballot box; while we may shed tear over
the unhappy condition Of one Of the brav.
est aud most generous and highly gifted OF
Iaees let us remember that there is in oul
own midst an nncducatcd mass, botl
white and black, each with as loud a voic,
ut the ballot box as the educated, that ar,
only fit tools for the artful and designing
whether they lie to build up or tear dow
our boosted Republic.
Then, as citizens Of Louisiana, and a,
subjects, and as well wishers of our nation
al government, let Us labor TO raise til,
vail OF ignorance and superstition tha
has 81 long compasscd about 80 great
part Of our citizens, and "lct i'll even upoi
the darkie's soul" the sweet ray OF intclli
gencr; not until then can we say that w
are a free, happy and a prosperous people
J And to do this there is but one alterna
, tive in our power, aud that is to labor fo
the efficacy of our common schools. Aronn'
them all true lovers of freedom shoul'
gather, and every means that can improv
, and perfect the system should freely b
r. lavishrd upon il. Ii is only when mad
. worthy OF the confidence Of all interest
that they will accomplish the creates
good Each man should feel that he ha
: q personal interest in them, around then
7 his dearest affection should cling as tn
4 great nursery of his Children, and the onl
r safe guard 10 his national liberty.
Z If then, we should erect n bulwarl
which shall he substantial means {
safety, if we would guard against the a.
saults of open foes, and the more danger
| Gus attacks of the false hearted ihtrigurf
from foreign lands; let us, one aud ALL strik
!, hand in hand in the great interest of GU
: common schools.
j. WILSON -