Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-03
PRESIDENT HAYES ON NATIONAL EDUcA-
TInN

ton, Ohio, was thoughtful ana suggestive
Nothing could be more true than his asser-
ton that the safety of the Republic de-
ponds upon the intelligence of the citizens.
1t ia equally true that this intelligence re-
, quires to be cultivated by an enlightened
educational system. Month after month,
and year after year, the voting strength OF
The country is being recruited from alien
immigration, and considerable proper
ton Of this immigration brings to us only
an ignorance whose density can scarcely
be gagged. Nor is this the worst, for of
the ignorant class referred to very large
clement have inherited passion for politi-
cal agitation and intrigue which fits it to
be the ideal instrument OF our native
demagogues, and makes of it not merely
an obstacle to progress, but practically a
foe 10 all ordered government whatever.
President Hayes failed to lay stress
upon the fact that this most mischievous
element IS for the most part beyond the
reach of any educational system, more
over. Composed of grown men, whose
characters and habits are already formed, it
is incapable of being nodded to better
things, and continues to furnish the back
bone Of the most dangerous agitations
which threaten the stability of American
institutions. We might improve our edu-
cational agencies until they were as near
perfection as human fallibility can attain,
and yet not remove the evils which grow
out of this condition of things. The truth
is that the terms upon which we now ad-
nit aliens to citizenship are in flat contra
diction to every consideration Of the kind
laid down by President Hayes. He, in
common with all thoughtful men, perceives
the necessity of popular education as
guide to the right use of the franchise.
All who have discussed the nature of our
Government, from its foundation until now,
have equally insisted upon this funda-
mental principle. A democracy, If it
stands at all, must derive its stability
from the intelligence Of the majority. If
The majority are not intelligent it will fall,
no matter how elaborate the system may
be. An ignorant democracy is the doomed
craft described by Macaulay, all sail and
''n no ballast, and sooner or later it must
20 upon the rocks Of anarchy. There is
no controversy as to this, and yet our nat
uralization laws are based upon complete
abnegation of the idea that intelligence is
in any way necessary to the proper dis
charge of the duties of citizenship. We
say, in effect, to all the world ''Come
Is in among us, as many of you as
"please bring neither education nor ex-
"perience, neither understanding CT nor
regard for our institutions and after a
"sojourn too brief to allow you to acquire
" this indispensable knowledge we will ad-
g nit you all to full citizenship, and your
Ignorant votes shall weigh as much,
imam for man, as those Of our native. born
statesmen and patriots" The world ac-
cepts this generous but imprudent invita-
ton, and deluges US with immigration And
though We have thus deliberately provided
for the continual reinforcement of our
ignorant vote, and though its effects upon
government are monotonously bad, we still
amuse ourselves by wondering how it is
that popular education does not exert more
marked influence upon politics, and we
obssinatey shut our eyes to the fatal leak
which is swapping our intelligent suffrage
This is one point in which national edu-
cation does not help Us. There is another
which is not sufficiently considered. 1t is
possible TO so educate people that they
shall become hindrances instead of helps to
national progress And this is being done
to day at the South. The children of that
region arc being trained to believe that the
war Of secession was righteous one on
the part OF the South that tbe North is a
hostile section, to be hated, and to he retail
lated upon whenever opportunity rises; that
the doctrine of States Rights is not dead,
but on the contrary ig 70 be maintained 10
the bitter end and, generally speaking, that
the principal Of nationality IS heretical,
and sec:ionalism IS the only true and sound
/ political faith Now it is evident that az
long as these ideas are taught in the South
ern schools, it must be hopeless to effect
tat harmony between all parts Of the
Union which is necessary to the full de-
velopment of the eountry's energies and
resources. There are then both an ignor-
ance and an education, which work
against the best interests OF the common
wealth, and, what is still more to be
lamented, this ignorance and this malef-
cent education are in alliance. In the
South, wherever anything is Taught, sec
tionalsm is taught. In the North, wherever
, ignorance prevails, Democracy fourishes
and Northern Democracy and Southern
Sectionaism go baud in hand. Those who
do not comprehend American governmental
principles, and those who seek to dena-
tionalize the republic, are on the same side,
and opposed TO them are all the elements
which represent the national spirit, true
enlightenment, education and intelligence.
But it is evident that if the present state
Of things in regard to national education
and in regard to the naturalization of
aliens IS permitted to continue, the strug-
gle against these hostile Influences must
be perpetual, for they are being constantly
reinforced, and there is therefore no
reason why they should ever be less
formidable than at present, What is
needed is national education so super
vised as to exclude Sectionalism, and a
system OF naturalization so amended as to
exclude ignorance. The time has long
passed when we stood in such need Of pop
ulation that it was worth while to run
risks for the sake OF getting it. To-day
what we most require is the intellectual
elevation OF the suffrage, and that can only
be obtained by demanding from all who
seek to become American citizens seine
guarantee for the intelligent use of the
privileges and rights they aspire to.