Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-16
DARKNESS.

following timely remarks, and sug-
gests some action Oh the part of the
Press Convention
IA new era seems about to dawn
upon Louisiana, consequent upon the
successful completion of the jetties
and railroad connection with Texas ;
and while we hail with joy this prom
Use of a brighter day for our beloved
State, this infusion oflife and energy
into it's physical system, we cannot
afford to be unmindful of the moral
and intellectual development Of her
citizens, necessary to keep pace with
the progress now foreshadOwed. AS
we look around and survey the means
and appliances furnished to draw ont
and develop the intellectual growth
OF her sons, we are confronted with
the startling fact that under the ex-
listing laws regulating public schools
only twenty cents per year for each
cducable child is allowed by the State
to her children.
''This is the greatest libel that Lou
isiana could possibly intlict upon the
emblem she has chosen for her coat OF
Of arms. Instead Of giving her life
blood for her children, she inhumanly
denies them the intellectual TODD ne
cessary for their mental growth, and
thus by a suicidal policy, al insane
attempt at economy, she is not only
guilty Of criminal injustice to her
offspring, but at the same time delays
the development Of her own resour-
ces and retards her own prosperity.
She stands in her own light, and
wonders at the gloom and darkness
around her.
''Let her fiat 60 forth throughout
thelepsthand breadth other territory,
'Let there be intellectual light for all
my Children that they may be pre-
pared to exercise with reflection the
responsible duties of citizenship, and
that the seeds of morality and virtue
may be sown broadcast over the land,
to terminate and grow into a fruitful
harvest of civil virtue and political
economy.
eve commend the consideration of
this important subject to the earnest
attention of the Press Conversion soon
to meet in Baton Rouge. The La.
Journal of Education says: "The
proposed Convention ofRural Editors
will enable our excellent friends of the
"Review' and the Louisianais' to
demonstrate thenecessity ola LIBERAL y
supported public school system, to
provide rural editors with intelligent
readers and appreciators Of their
opinions, no less than to secure the
prosperity and advance the civiliza-
ton of Louisiana"
1T is indeed the province, and it
should be the pleasure OF the Press to
foster and aid every thing that tends
to the enlightenment of our fellow
citizens. 1t is certainly its interest to
do so. Let the Press Convention ex-
anime the condition of the Public
School system Of Louisiana bequeath-
ed to us by the Constitutional Con-
yention and our late Legislature, and
determine upon some concert action
to remedy the evil by arousing the
people and enlishtening our legisla-
tors upon this important subject,
Nothing that can come before the con-
vcntioN VIII be productive of more
good.
"We sincerely regret that the stat.
OF our finances prevents our attend
ance. Om heart will be with the con-
yention. and our sincere wish is that
much good may result from its delib.
crations. The Press is a power IL
the land. and has been called the
fouth power of the government, anC
it can be made al instrument OF many
great and lasting reforms in govern
ment and morals when it works il
harmony. When the roll OF the con-
yeution is called and the Review does
not respond let some kind friend ans
wer. absent from cause and not from
indifference"
The services ofMr. Hugh Tullis have