The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-06-30
rerULAn

The third section Of the republican
platform recognizes the duty Of the gen
eral government to aid and encourage
the great work Of promoting popular
education. The Importance Of eduea.
tion 10 tine people Of a free government
has 50 frequently been discussed that
little remains TO say concerning the
question The subject. however, is one
that will bear repetition a thousand
times. II our political institutions en-
dure, II they stand the strain to which
10 time they viii inevitably be subject
ed. education. and education alone, will
prove the instrument Of our political
salyation.s The principle Is self-eyident,
that In a country where universal suf-
frage prevails, the ignorant should
much outnumber the Informed classes.
With such a condition Of society 1t
would be impossible 10 maintain the
government. Az soon AS the unlettered
were sufficiently numerous TO outyote
the others, continual agitatlons would
occur, which would sooner or later re-
suit in political ruin. The natural
tendency Of republics Is TO anarchy.
All history gives evidence Of this, and
there is nothing surprising in the fact
when all attendant circumstances are
taken into consideration. At the ORR
gin OF free governments the population
Is composed OF n hardy, industrious,
homes, and Intelligent people, extreme
" attached TO their institutions, and
each man realizing that on his action as
an individual depends Ia a measure the
welfare Of his country.
In process Of time the population in
creases, wealth becomes universally
diffused, and a large immigration from
foreign countries brings TO the state a
numerous class unacquainted with the
politics and careless Of the welfare Of
the nation. As the material prosperity
Of the country advances, ignorance
and its companion, vice, also increase,
and in spite Of every effort TO dissemi-
nate learning among the people the ma
lion becomes relatively more and more
ignorant every year. Notwithstanding
the efforts that have been made In the
United States ever since they became a
nation, To educate all the people, not
outstanding voluntary contributions
and government aid given on an UMPIRE
cedented scale, the country to-day US u
nation Is more ignorant than 1t was in
lIso-that is, a larger proportion Of the
people n neither read nor write and
are less capable Of intelligently exercis-
ing the rights and duties Of citizen
ship.
In order TO preserve our government
IL Is absolutely necessary TO arrest this
inclination to anarchy, which task can
only be accomplished by a thorough
system Of education. The work al
ready accomplished in this direction is
creditable to the nation, but, great as
it is, u mightier task remains to be per-
formed. More arduous efforts must be
made and more devotion displayed in
the cause Of learning by the next gen.
Grafton. The mighty levero Of education
must lift the American people to a
higher scale Of intelligence, or in future
years they will be vexed by the convul-
sions and wars and bloody feuds that
have agitated the nations OF the old
world.
1t is well for the great political par
ties to cspouse this cause and for the
government to take it under its especial
protection, for the powerful influence Of
popular education can alone shield our
country from the baptism of fire that
has scorched all and consumed so many
Of the old world nations.