The Opelousas courier., 1882-03-11
A National Educational Bill.
IN. o. City Item.1

Establishment of a national system OF ecu
cation, or at least pecuniary aid IL
States which are least able to maintain
extensive and costly schools. The pre-
amble to the resolutions declares tina
the prosperity and happiness of the
people, the preservation of liberty and
of republican form of gevernDent de-
pend unon mental discipline and the
general diffusion of knowledge, which
in their turn depend upon the educa,
zion of the masses that the preserva
ton of the national government, re-
publican in form, is dependent upon
education, and declares that the means
for removal of ignorance should be
strongly directed where that evil is
most extensive. The resolution de-
clares it to be the duty of the govern
ment, in self defense, to provide the
necessary means whenever the people
of the State, as such are, unable, or
would be disproportionately burdened
by a taxation requisite, or for any rea-
son fail to give a child a good common
school education. The Committee on
Education are instructed to report a
suitable bill at an early day.
This is one of the most important
subjects of legislation which has yet
been proposed at this session of Con
gress, and will, no doubt. excite some
discussion. The principles laid down
by the Senator are undeniably correct,
aud for that very reason will arouse
the hostility of the enemies of popular
education everywhere. Aud, untortu
nately, these are very numerous. and
most shame faced in their sentiments.
"Why should my property be taxed to
educate the poor mans children !" asks
a rich and selfish miser, himself, per
haps, ehildless, and the statement Of
the question is generally deemed snti
Gent. There is SO much injustice i'm
piled in the bare thought of taxing
Burnside's property to educate Gen.
Hoods children that any argument
seems to the indignant Croesus as su
perfluous. And yet the position il
absurd, and stands as much in need OF
support as any heresy we know of
The protection of life, liberty and prop
erty, is the first duty of the govern
ment, whether State or National. And
it always seemed to Us proper that the
man who is liable to be called upon te
take up his musket to protect property
lie entitled to as potent a voice in the
councils of the State as the non-com;
Blatant who owns it. A nation owe il
to itself, to it's self-preservatiOn to up
hold the policy that underlies its super
structure. The government must res
upon the consent of the governed, ol
it will be a short lived concern. 1
may at times be called upon to expene
vast sums for armies and ornaments Il
preserve domestic peace by putting
down internal disorder. This is thu
curative policy. One tenth of the out
lay in the training and proper educa
ton of the children, would have beef
sufficient to avert the outbreak. This il
the preventive policy. Wise men fore
see danger, and take timely steps t.
avert it.
The influence of the early impress
sions of child hood has been recognized
by the sages of the world for many
centuries. The old Greek, who said h
did not care who made the laws of hi
country so long as he wro the songs
was perfectly aware of the vital impor
lance of education. England, Scot
land, and the United States are strik
ing examples of the benefits whicl
grow out of tile habit of Installing cor
rect principles into the minds of child
hood. And the felix lore of German,
and the poetical legends of rural Franc'
have built up in those favored countrie
a homogeneity of patriotic sentimen
which powerful armies have vainly
sought to destroy. In all of these grea
empires, as well as in the Unitet
States, there is q natural tendency Il
aggregate and nationalize the teaching
of the youth. And though there is bu
little system in the mannerof impartinl
a sentiment of intelligent patriotism t,
the children, the best effects are seel
in the popular practice imperfect as i
is. Every child is more or less gifte.
with reasoning powers, and thes'
should be cultivated. utilized and train
ed in the right direction by competen
teachers. If they are neglected, or re
PEELED in early youth, they : apt tt
take a turn for evil. The great force'
of the human intellect should be EN-
ployed in healthy thought, since it il
impossible to SO repress and cork then
up that they will not constantly breal
out. Conspiracies, i~ntrignes. and vic
lent revolutions are scarcely possibl,
10 a State where the people are fire.,
and reasonably intelligent. Undn,
confinement of the great mental forces
inevitably lead to startling explosions
and enven the most powerful king