National Republican., 1883-01-19
pnnnInr EIncntinn.

il is the duty of the state to educate her
citizens 1t is necessary that the youth in
our communities should be trained in the
best manner, by tho best instructors The
children should be fostcrcd and cared for by the
government, in order that they may be prop
erly fitted for the duties of citizenship. In
this republic there is n complexity of ale
glance, as there is of law. 1t may not DO said
that it is the duty of each state alone to pro-
vide means of education for the children.
Citizenship is not only of states, but of the
nation. 1t must be conceded, then, that it is
as much the duty of tho federal government
to look to the intelligence of the people as it
Is u necessity for each particular state to dS
so. In the sense that the welfare Of the gems
eral government is of moro Importance than
is that of any ono of the state5 it may be
said that tho matter Of education is of pro-
portionatcly more importance to the nation
than to the state or municipality. If it be
conceded, and it is, that the growth of
country in influence and powe- is in accord
ance with tho growth and standing Of
its citizens, there can be no eXaggera-
tion of the necessity of popular odu-
cation. The consus returns show that
illiteracy i'll the southern states is the
rule and that educated intelligence is the eX-
ception. In this fact there is cause for appre-
hension, if not for alarm. No country can
Creditably rank with the nations of this day
and age whose condition Is such as is shown
to exist in section of this republic. So long
as the masses are unable to read for them
selves they will be incapable of thinking for
themselves. The few who WELD the scepter
of intelligence will tyrannile overtheirunfo
tunate fellows, and be able to lead them into all
manner of crooked paths When the abiect
ignorance Of the people is considered it ceases
to be wonder that political virtue and honor
are things unknown in the south. 1t is not
surprising that that section teens with muir
der arson fraud, and crime. 1t is not aston
ishing that in the lairest parts of the republic
treason, slavery, rebellion, and war were
Matched. The only wonder is that pirates,
bandits and outlaws have not taken entire
possession of both land and sea.
TO prevent the repetition of the history of
the south the government must now complete
the work of reconstruction by means of lib.
eral education. The gloom of ignorance has
been lowering over the land too long, Unjust
be dispclled by the sunlight of education and
consequent intelligence. Complaint arises
from certain quarter that the cost of the
proposed measure is too great TO this there
is need of but n brief reply, The education
of the masses must receive the attention of the
government Nt the earliest practicable date,
regardless of all questions orcost, IlliteNcy is
constant menace of free institutions every
where. Ii must be removed ut all hazards.
When school houses are found dotting every
hill top in the south, and the youth of both
races are seen with books in their hands and
intelligence beaming upon their countcnances :;
when the majority of men can read and write,
and arc ablo to have, hold, and defend opin-
ions of their own; when women arc raised to
m equality with men in intelligence and So
cial regard-then, and not till then, can we
claim that this country is safe, and that the
republic founded by the fathers Is q success