Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-30
General Garfield on the Subject Of Ed
ucation.

In speech delivered in Congress in
1866, Gen. Garfield mentions the millions
OF dollars raised annually in OHIO for the
support OF common schools, the thousands
OF school-houses there erected. and the
hundreds OF thousands of children edu.
Gated al the public expense; and SAYS in
connection; This, IL my Judgment, is
the proper gauge by which TO measure
the progress and glory OF a State"
AZ TINS time, he noticed the large hum
Der OF our illiterate population, who are
composed chiefly OF free white persons
over II years OF age, and the slaves OF the
South admitted to citizenship. He ex
Claims: "Such is the immense force
which we must now cunfront by the
genius OF our institutions and the light o.
our civilization. How shall il be donef
An American citizen can give but one
answer. We must pour upon them all
the light of our public schools. We must
make them intelligent, industrious, pa,ri
otto citizens, or they will drag us and our
children down to their level Does not
this question rise TO the Iull height of ma.
uonal importance and demand the best
efforts OF craftsmanship to adjust itf
lie gives some pertinent extracts from
NIN>NhNS VI Vui tilCI lthuttS, anu
then closes with the paragraph, at is re.
nafkabie that so many good things have
been said, and so few things done by our
National statesmen IN favor OF Sducauon.
LII we inquire what has been done by the
governments OF her countries to support
ana advance pubic education, we are com.
peiied 10 confess with shame that every
government In chrisIendom has gwen a
mi ru int oil ~.
schools than eur own"
The National Bureau of Education, At
Washington, WAS established LARGELY hy
the ettoits OF General Garfield. This is
his most distinguished service for the
cause OF public schools. The National
journal Of Education speaks OF him AS
The boss carpenter Of this Bureau. Hon
Phtletus Sawyer,a member of Congress
from this State, when the subject WAS uu-
der discussion In that body, testihes thai
Gen. Gartield's magnificent speech delv.
tred on the occasion, and his personal in.
nuence with the members OF both Houses
secured the passage of the measure.
Ihisls the most important scheme ever
adopted to systematic and nationaize
the work OF popular education in this
country. The prominent teachers asso-
Citations, State and National, had pei
TONED several years for its formation
Abroad, there Is no public enterprise of
the kind, which Is more useful or more
highly respected. The French Commits
sion OF Education to this country la 1876
speak OF 1t as "the beautiful and simple
organization" which does more for the
progress and improvement OF sch elastic
Institutions than the DEGREES Of an admin.
isirative authority, with the mCst exten.
sive powers could produce" They rep
resent that the purposes OF the bureau ere
publication OF the annual reports, which
contain ihe statistics and abstracts of
school reports Of the Union, and offer
comparative resumes OF official documents
OF the several States; and also of the CIR.
culars OF information which are intended
10 give accounts OF the condition OF edu.
cation In all parts OF the world, and TO
lay before educators valuable statistics
snd essays OF great importance.
Ia 1866, Gen. Garfield introduced into
the House Of Representatives. bill TO
establish q National Bureau Of Education
AZ his request, IL was referred TO a select
committee OF seven members, OF which
he was made chairman Within two
months the committee reported back the
bill with amendments, which ELECTED
considerable discussion, and WAS defeated.
1t was opposed strongly by the Demo
cratic members among whom was Hon.
Samuel j. Randall, now Speaker Of the
House. la TACT they strenously resisted
the measure In all stages OF its progress
through both branches OF Congress
Atterward, Gen Garfield secured the re-
consideration OF the vote by which the
| bill WAS lost; and in spite Of tho luke.
warmness OF the members OF his own
| party, and the antagonism of the oppos.
ing party, he then carried the scheme by
avote OF nearly two to one In the House
In the following year, the Senate con
Cured in this action, by very large ma
jorlty.
In his speech IN support OF the bill, Gen
Garfield presented more convincing rea
sons why such bureau should be created
He represented that II WAS impossible to
| obtain from any source complete and re
liable statistics showing the educational
! condition of the whole country. The Ma.
! ton had no means Of knowing the amount
Of the vast sums OF money annually ex
! pended by the States for schools. The
| General Government is poweress TO ascer-
| tnlu "nat use mas occH hhdt va luo w
lions Of square miles Of land which 1t has
! donated tor the support OF schools. He
argued that the reports Of this bureau
would hold up to the verdict OF public
opinion the delnquencies OF those States
which have no system OF common schools,
and compel them for shame to educate
! their children" The absoute need OF
public support to maintain schools OF the
different grades was forcibly stated by
him, and the opinions OF the great author
tiles on this subject were cited. In clos
In In In cad. al annual IN