The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-08-12
VOLUME XXVIII.-NUMBER 999.


NAMED as they had been, also citizens.
Thus the grave duties and responsibilities
Of citizenship were developed largely in
the States lately in rebellion upon unedu-
Gated people, white and colored. And
with what result2 Liberty and the exer-
else OF the rights Of citizenship are excel
lent educators. In many respects, we are
glad TO believe, that encouraging progress
has been made at the South. The labor
system has been recognized, material
prosperity is increasing, race preiudices
and antagonisms have diminished,
the passions and animosities OF
war are subsiding, and the an
cient harmony and concord, and patriotic
national sentiments are returning. But,
alter all, We cannot fail TO observe that
immigration, which so iniallibly and in
stinctiyely finds out the true condition OF
AL countries, does not largely go into the
slaVeholding region OF the United States.
a great deal OF cheap and productive land
can there be found where population Is
not rapidly increasing. When our revo.
lutionary fathers adopted the ordinance OF
1857, for the government OF the North.
west Territory, out OF which Ohio and
four other great States have been carved,
they were not content with merely put.
ting into that organic law firm pro-
hibition against slavery, and providing
etfectual guarantees OF civil and religious
liberty, but they establish, as the corner.
stone Of the free institutions they wished
to build, this article: "ReligiOn, morally,
and kllotrledge being necessary 10 good 9Opan.
meni and he happnss Of mankind, SCHOOLS
AND THE MEANS OF EDUCATION SHALL FOR
EVER DE ENCOURAGED" Unfortunately for
the complete success OF reconstruction in
the South, this stone was rejected by the
builders. Slavery had been destroyed by
the war; but its evils live after 1t, aud de-
priye many parts OF the South OF that in
telligent self.government without which,
in America at least, great and permanent
prosperity is impossible.
To perpetuate the Union and TO abolish
slavery were the work OF the war. To ed
ucate the uneducated Is :he appropriate
work OF peace. AS long as any considers
BILE numbers OF our countrymen are uned-
ucated, the citizenship OF every American
in every State is impaired in value and is
constantly imperilied. 1t is plain that at
the end Of the war the tremendous change
in the labor aud social systems OF the
Southern States. and the ravages and i'm
poverishment OF the conflict, added to the
burden OF their debts, aud the loss OF their
whole circulating medium, which died
in their hands, left the people OF these
States in no condition TO provide for uni
veIsal popular education. In a recent
memorial to Congress on this subject, in
behalf oil the trustees OF the Peabody
Fund, Hon. A. II. II. Stuart,
OF Virginia, shows that 1.-TWO millions OF
children in the Southern States are with
out the means OF instruction" !" and adds,
with great force, "Whete millions OF citi-
zens are growing up in the grossest ignor-
auce, 1t Is obvious that neither individual
charity nor the resources OF impoverished
States will be sufficient to meet the emer-
gency. Nothing short OF the wealth and
power oil the Federal Government will
suffice to overcome the evil.n
The principle applied by general con-
sent 10 works ofpublic improvement is in
point. That principle is, that wherever
public improvement is OF national import
ance, and local and private enterprise are
inadequate to its prosecution, the general
should undertake II. On this
principle would deal with the questions
Of education by the aid OF the national
Government. Wherever in tie United
States the local systems OF popular educa-
ton are inadequate, they should be suple-
mented by the general Government, by
devoting to the epurpose, by suitable legis-
lation and with proper safeguards, the
public lands, or II necessary, appropria-
lions from the Treasury OF the United
States.
The soldier OF the Union has done his
work, and has done it well. The work Of
the schoolmaster is now in order. Wher-
ever his work shall be done, in all our
borders 1t will be found that there, also, the
principles OF the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence will be cherished, the sentiment OF
nationality will prevail, the equal rights
will be cheeriully obeyed,
and there will be "Lhe home Of freedom
and the refuge Of tho oppressed OF every
race and OF every clme.h