Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-12-08
EDUcATToN ANp POLITICS

EDUCA TTON AND POLTTICS.
Fifty years ago--whon this country
was sparsely settled, when there was
but ono or two school houses within a
radius of twenty or thirty miles
there was some excuse for man, wo.
man and child to lack education. But
TO day, when we have school buildings
almost within Il stonos.lbrow OF our
houses, and where the cost under our
tree school system Is but light, there
can be no excuse for not having rcceiv-
ed common school education, aud the
plea of not knowing how to write or
read should revert back to him who
makes il as objectionable. Parents
who have children in their care should
be particularly careful to see TO il thai
they receive at least common school
education, for the impartng Of knowl
edge to the young mind will DO better
than all the riches he may leave them
knowledge we'll applied is riches, ioI
with good education and an homes
trade child when come to manho
will always be able to support himself,
whilst wealth with ignorance may soon
beget beggary.
Aside, however from personal ad
vanlages, let Us see what influence ed.
ucation has politically. In this great
Republic Of ours, where there are no
titled lords or crowned heads, but
where rich and poor stand alike, aud
where the chances Of ruler of this grept
nation as well as law.maker arc as
quickly obtained by the poor man as
by the man of wealth, education is
surely a necessary requisite. How
many young men--sefmade men
have obtained the highest positions in
political society, because they have
not neglected the opportunity of TAX
ing advantage Of their educational
chances. But how many bright little
boys and girls do we see daily, who,
il their parents would give them th,
opportunity of schooling, might real
ize their friends fondest hopes, were
it not for the parents neglect. Ifsuch
parents are approached upon the sub
iect the answer comes Il had to
work fora living and had no education
and he can do the same How wrong
Is this morally and politically. A man
who cannot read or write is not capa
Bile to study or have knowledge of the
workings otour Government He can
not read the Constitution Of his own
State or the United States, be has no
power to learn the laws made in aS
cordance with said Constitutions, and
would not know right from wrong, but
for the teachings OF bis own conscience.
Ignorance ofttimes rules the nation,
and an ignorant voter knows not why
he votes the Democratic or Republican
ticket Too many merely vote such
ticket, because "my father and grand.
father were Republicans" or "Demo.
crats" These voters have no idea OF
change in their votes, though the
country, under the name of party,
might go to anarchy aud despotism,
As citizens we should study the nature
Of our institutions and acquaint our.
selves with the needs of our country.
During the past campaign much was
said about DeGolyer Garfield, the Cred
il Mobilier, the Chinese question, the
tariff, etc, and il was astonishing how
many you could fnd who knew moth.
ing about it, and when you tried to ex
plain to them that a Committee of
Congress had declared Garfi,ll o rob
ber OF the Government, that he took
5000 brlbe, that be perjured himself,
or that he voted for Chinese immigra
tion, it was only by them stoutly de.
med and declared an "electioneering
scheme" If you wished to show the
Congressional Globe, they had never
heard of such a paper, and that paper
was only in the interest of Democrats.
When you told them that GarfeId's
tariff record was free trade il was pro.
nouncod by them as falsehood, and
nothing and nobody could persuade
them 10 cast aside their prejndices and
be convinced. Is there any doubt In
the mind of any reasonable person,
that bad these men the necessary edu.
cation which they have neglected, and
studied the character of the man pre-
sented for the highest Office in the gift
of City millions of people, that they
would have elected a candidate charged
with corruption.
Ignorance is only mislead by the
cunning who have some mercenary
object in view, such as offices, eto,, but
knowledge will spurn deception, in
timidation and fraud, and go hand in
hand with that party whose cause is
only for the welfare of the country and
all mankind.
Education is necessary in politics as
well as in business, and we would par.
tcularly urge it upon all alike, Demo
Gratis and Republicans Inform your
selves upon the questions Of the day,
and, when you have full knowledge ofI
the candidates and principles of the
parties, go unawed to the ballot box
and cast yonr votes for the principles
you think will be conducive to the
countrVis goo1 fnr Tins onlv can thfs