The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-29
Education and Temperance.

VI Ihe ulost pIdcticdi. pnllanCnrOplc ana
useful men in the United States Senate.
His craftsmanship is of a high order, in that
his convictions as to political principles, are
conveyed in form that looks to the eleva-
ton OF his fellow-men morally and intel
lectually, thus educating the masses to a
proper appreciation of government and the
means to perpetuate our free inst buttons.
Recognizing that the people are the source
OF all power in our governmental system,
he believes it TO be the duty of government
toad in developing and expanding their
moral and intellectual natures, and fitting
them for the sacred duties which devolve
upon them. He goes to the bottom of our
whole political structure and maintai ms
that to preserve in their healthy and con-
servatiye power our institutions, the people
should be educated intellectually and NOR
ally as the only sure foundation upon which
to rest our form of government. At the
request of Senator Blair, the Census Office
and Bureauo of Education have prepared
considerable amount of special statistical
matter bearing upon the illiteracy preva-
lent in the country, to accompany his bill
to aid in the temporary support OF public
schOols. From this we learn that in 1880
there was raised from taxation for the sup
port of public schools in the whole United
States $70.37l 1856. OF this New York
raised for her schools, 1856 900; Pennsyl-
vania, 81, 100000; Illinois and Ohio raised
So, 100000 each and Massachusetts S4.372,-
600. Ofthe Southern States Alabama raised
$25O,00O; Arkansas, $lS9,00O; Florida,
100000; Georgia, s47l, 100; Mississippi,
1898, 900; North Carolina, $3l4,000 and
South Carolina, $4,000. OF the entire
population of the United States 9S2 per
cent or 4,923,000 of those of ten years
OF age and over cannot read. OF litter
ates in proportion to population South Car
DINA has the largest percentage-viz., 22.3
per cent. Louisiana follows close with 81 .63
per cent, and Alabama is 80 per cent
Iowa and Nebraska seemed to be the best
schooled of all the States, only l.73 per
cent. being unable to read in each. The
other Northwestern States have almost as
small ratio Of iliteracy; pennsy lvania
has 3 Al per cent and New York and New
Jersey about the same relative number
needing schooling. Of the proposed new
States New Mexico has a population of
4432 per cent, which cannot read. The
number who cannot read in Wash ingtor
Territory constitutes 4.25 per cent. of the
total population, and in Dakota 2.29 per
cent.
The Senator from New Hampshire does
not confine his duties to a mere discussion
of the financial and commercial policy of
his party and the government. Upon these
he is sound, but there are other questions
which go deeper down and exert far
wider and more searching influence upon
national character than these. In 1876,
when "a member of Congress, he proposed
all amendment TO the Constitution of the
United States-elsewher published look
ing to the abatement of the distillatiOn of
spirits IN 1900, and accompanied it with
speech of rare research and power upon the |
questions involved. We have recently read
this paper, and to our mind it is the most !
exhaustive and conclusive argument on the
subject of temperance, in its scientific, po-
ltical, social and economic relations, that |
has ever been presented to the American or
any other people. And it is with reference |
to such subjects-educatio of N ind and |
viii be found the broader field |
Of A american craftsmanship hereafter, and
from which will be sent out the influences thai
that will mould and determine our national |
character. We must go down below party |
platforms and party policies, if We would |
reach to the sources of higher civilization
and perfection of government oommensu-
rate with the mission and destiny OF the |
American Republic. We must shape individ-
ual character, evoke its higher forces, train |
is intellections and morals, so that the influ-
,nces thus put in motion may touch the
very fountain source of government-the
,allOt-box. 1t is here where genuine civ |
service reform may be found, and it is in
ibis way that the cause of christian civiza-
ion may be subseryed.