The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-09-30


scending Goths and Vandals
Grand old England-our mother coun.
try-was treading in the same path until
'he Reformation, when the attention of a
few men was attracted toward the iynor-
ance of the masses, and Raikes began his
Sunday-schools, and Lancaster followed
with more extended plan, until at last
A. one of the most important results oi
this great reform, universal education is
not only the motto of this grand empire
but the actual experience, while the com
ing generation Of the British people will
be- thinking, reasoning people. evolving
one OF the best Systens of government
/ known to the monArchial world; while
to-day All the principal governments of
Europe except, perhaps, the Russian d-s
potlsm, are moving grahdiy on in the
great work of popular education.
In our own countrv there Is inaugura-
ted noble emulation between the States
as TO winch shall he superior in strength,
wealth, intellect and social standing, CON
trbuting most to the glory and success
/ OF our common cuurtrl. Among The va
riouS means and Observation-Disclosures hrnnrht
int" use i'll this grand competition, so To-
speak, Is the common school system in
the education of the masses So positive
l. this state OF thugs tpasu no one STATE or
community can OF cHnice ignore the great
work. Imagine, it you can. Florida,
with her generous climate, soil and waters.
declaring she would have no schonl4. .N-
"ept here au1 there one that wealth mI..nl
provide for the chil iren Of th,. wealthy
and weI-r"-lo citlzVi Der jn,0nH chill
dren who were III attendance nppn her
pubiIC schools for the school wear ut | e1.}-
II turned out upon the streets anI higa-
WAYS III lndolcncc and vagabondAgc, and
tell me if vnu ito not conure ltp a state
oi society horrible To contemplate. But
more, she would become the great basin
oI IN france and VICE, INTO which rh. VI
ci"us, ignorant and criminal ut al. h,r
=" nmuniitc, wnuI i.pnr a> toes the eyer
on-rpiiinG RIVER mi" jnr grcat OCEAN BASIN
fo, rs does proud flesh slough Of from 4
ealing sore. 50 Wou!d thi. ignorance and
Wee rtcrde h-tnrr tn Advancing march o
ln'riilgcnc" an Virl ,lr IN AL other STATS.
and W"uI,i a. certainly seek anl find ont
4 place IN accord Win their own terrii l.,
condition As that water 81, ks and uner-
1inglv finds its own level, anl Qua own
beautiful FlorlIA ia The condition above
conceived would be their paradise. May
the bcntticcnt Father of lis all lnt-rp">e
aEains, such a tate for any State making
uI, our great | nlrn.
In view of these considerations, 1 ue4 ii
not behoove every com munitv or State
from motives Of The highest aS wcIl As
&
ignorance without its domain. TO guard
against the offspring OF so grra a curse,
which are superstition instead ot a true
religion mischief, wee, crime, filth and
hia~ousuesS of both person and character,
instead of usefulness, "tritv, virtue, clean
iiu,.ss aud beauty q tile ami feature
Should We not seek t. educate and ele
vate our humanity for the glory of Him
who made us, Tor the pride and glory we
should take in it, and for the peace, JOY
and happiness of our own being:
Now, 10 educate to this end is not only
TO teach tie usual stulies pursued in The
common schools of the land, or IN other
schools, brt bv precept upon precept and
line upon line, patiently applied; impress
the mind of the pupil with the presence
and authority OF the Creator, hi, duty as
a citizen To this country, his possibility
10 hi, Maker and his tcllnwmrn his duty
t" regard Alright .hc rights OF his fellow
man. and inspire in the mini OF the pupil
AN absolute love OF honor. School knuwi-
clgr supplemented thus will produce the
order of citizen We should most desire.
Leaving these higher reason. for our
.l,,t,- the uti E,.rSaI ed itlt ION # h,.
people. let rs tor few moments dwell
upon 1ht more sor1id ana selfish motives
which actuate men. The (iod given eli
mate alluded to before, tine scue: otI> sol,
the Abundant and beautiful streams aud
lAk,-, with which our grand state
abound, aud the wundrnuS development
and advancement We are making, all are
attracting tn. attention at the people OF
all parts of our country and many parts ol
the world. These are coming and prospect
in". and to use Il Biblical phrase, "spviug
out the land" They will find it abound
ing in golden fruit and paying truckeries
or garden farms, the silken fibre, the fruit
of the vine These Will suffice in one di-
ection but, then, true tn noble Amer
icani,n, they inquire abont the schools and
the church privileges, aud mark me ~ |
SAY it, those communities which present the
best schools and the best church privileges
VIII secure the best and most-to- be-de>lr.a
immigrant, aud will enjoy the very best
c,n,ilion OF society. 1t has been said by
an English writer That the American
bases his Judgment upon the desrablllty
of place or community upon three
things or facts, viz: the church, the
school, the newspaper. The first meet-
his cravings for the old church at his
former home, with all its sacred remrm
| hrances and holy associations, aud keeps
! alive not "uIy his religious sentiment but
his PATRIOTISM The school affords him
relief from anxiety in regard to the cul-
ture of h,> children at his former home
| these have ;:lwavs been supplied aud he
cannot contemplate their absence, even
with the sh liow Of liberation. The live,
pushing newspaper is his index OF the
thrift and business character of the place.
II these three be to snit him ne is anchored
and ready for his share of tn" upbuildirg
of his adopted home. and result IT, any
such State or community, HE = very joys
and pleasures, as well as all material val
ues. will be enhanced, and the best type
of human society developed am re-
;oiced to know from actual Intercourse
with the people of our widespread State
that they are resolved upon the education
of The children, and while | would with
all nv heart eliminate politics and party
from tho school work. it is impossible.