Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-30
|eneral Garfield and Popular Educa.

In our great political parties there are
Aousards of public-spirited citizens who
Yfe most deeply interested in promoting
bmmon education in this country. The
titude of General Garfield, the Republi-
4 n an caud date for the Presidency, toward
Hhis important measure, deserves their
NJ most favorable consideration. He has
been conspicuous and influential in illus
ratng, by his remarkable career, All the
main educational questions, and in sup
porting them 10y his public efforts. In
be House of Representatives and before
popular assemblies, he has not advocated
ri;h greater brllllsncy and more eftec.
veness the leading political, financial
nd economic topics of our day. No
;her prominent official in Congress or
lsewhere has contributed more to i'm
)rove the sentiments and operations OF
he people in maintaining our public
)chool system. His labors in this direc.
ion have failed, thus tar, to attract as
Greatly the notice OF our citizens as have
his eminent services in the army, and in
eivil positions. Yet they entl,le him, as
huch as any other efforts OF his life, to
he cordial support OF our beople-espec
ally our teachers and other educators
~ the Presidential election this fall.
IN Let Us examine with candc. the points
Under this subject. General Garfield
heartily endorses the principle in the
present platform of the Repu olIcan party,
Get forth as follows: The work of pop
MAR education is lett to the care OF the
several States, but it is the duty of the
National Government to aid that work 10
the extent OF its constitutional ability"
HE platform further states, 1--WE +, com
u mend that the Constitution be 80 amend.
ed as to lay the same prohibition upon
Sthe legislature of each State, ana to for
bid the appropriation OF public funds TO
A5the support or sectarisn schools" This
xfis q recognition from one OF the highest
#sources, OF the most precious interests Of
Eeighteen millions OF children and youth,
for whom 1t Is sought TO provide the best
INSTRUCTION in the schools of all the States
and Territories. 1t is a pledge that this
party, if continued in power, will use the
authority OF the general government to
strengthen in al legitimate ways, the
educational movements OF the different
States, and to prevent the missppropria.
/ ton of th e school funds, which have usually
| been derived from the sale of lands donat-
ed by the United States. The worth OF such
national aid can be best measured by con
sldering its utility in encouraging the
supporters OF public schools, where they
have been longest established, in securing
needed Improvements in the systems un.
. derlylng these schools. Its necessity can
/ be under stood by noting the present ed
ucational condition OF both the white and
negro population Of the Southern States,
where at least seventy-tive per cent. of the
children at END no schools, and one halt
| of these Will soon use the ballot. There
the school operations are crippled and in
efficient the school funds have been
largely misapplied or squandered, and the
intense hostility to public and tree edu.
cation, which has so long prevailed in
many sections, has not been sllayed. The
Republican party and its chosen leader
comprehend that no more imperative duty
now rests upon the country than the
maintenance of efficient school systems
throughout The South.
In his letter Of acceptance, General
Garfield writes on this subject as follows
Next IN importance to freedom ana JUS.
tlce Is popular education, without which
neither justice nor freedom can be per.
marently maintained. Its interests are
Entrusted to the States, and to the volun
tary action Of the people. Whatever help
the Nation can justly afford, should be
generously given to aid the States in sup
porting common schools; but it would
oe unjust to our people, and dangerous to
our institutions, to apply any portion of
the revenues of the Nation or of the
States TO the support Of sectarian
schools" The forclble meaning or these
earnest words can be judged from the
active and consistent endeavors of Gen
eral Garfield in his public life, tor twenty
years, TO advance general education in
this country. Their practical Import can
be best weighed by placing them by the
side OF the recent utterance of promi.
nent citizen of Virginia, viz: When
millions of citizens are growing up in
. the grossest ignorance, ii is obvious that
neither Individual charity nor the re-
sources of impoverished States will be
sufficient to meet the emergency. Moth
Ing short OF the wealth ana power of the
Federal Government will suffice to over
come the evil"
Before Gen. CARTE DIS entrance upon
official lite, he was essentially school,
master. His preparation in the public
school, academy, and college WAS with
the immediate view of engaging in teach.
ing. He gave Instruction IN schools of
all these grades, and here acquired his
first distinction. He had rare opportunl
ties to test the worth of the knowledge
gained from our school books, anu the ne.
cesslty OF strict discipline enforced IN our
schools IN fitting men to be law abiding
citizens He has studied with true phio.
sophical insight the principles and meth.
DDS which form the basis OF our system OF
education. He has repe atedly shown
himself TO be in full sympathy with the
atT, nd q hat nla 81