The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-05

society of Free Masons. Silently, I'M
often imperceptibly to /
any but Its OVID, it has worked in sub I
DUNG passion, relieving suffering and /
leading men from the path of evil in |
TO the way of right. Its power has
been felt in every pulsation of the on
ward progress of this great state. 1t |
is eminently proper that the Free |
MasoDs of Texas, with their honored |
grand master at their head, should |
be here to-day. They have labored
foS the states welfare, t icy rejoice in
its prosperity, they are ready to de-
fend the Lone Star flag whenever and
wherever it may Re flung 10 the
breeze, and they will discharge all the
duties Of good citizens whenever and
wherever called on.
Education early received the atten-
ton of the legislators of Texas AMI
liberal provisions were made in its be-
half. For long time, owing to ex-
tent of territory and spdrseness of pop
ulation, these yielded no i'm.
mediate or practical benefits
Recently system of public education
has been put into operation in the
state which it is hoped will result in
the elementary instruction of the chill
dren of our people. Instruction by
the state is yet greatly a matter of
experiment and the question of
whether it is a duty of the state or the
parent is not yet fully decided. Pub
lie opinion, however, is so strongly
set in favor of its being public duty,
that the people will have the expert
ment fully and fairly tested. Every
good man must desire its success.
The state University, a part of the
system of public instruction, though
founded by the munificent provisions
of the Fathers of the Republic and
assisted by very liberal measures of
recent legislation is still struggling
infant. Let US give it every reason
able and fair encouragement,
So that our young men and women
may receive at home the higher and
more thorough instruction which now
they must go abroad to obtain. Let
us make it home institutional uni
versity, in fact, orthy of the past
history and future prospects of our
great state.
If we hope for progress in the next
half century commensurate with that
of the past, we shall be indebted fol
it to the same influences and agencies
which have wrought for US thus far
The spirit of enterprise, with all that
it involves and includes, together
with the three great agencies already
referred to, must be allowed free scope
and given every proper security and
encouragement. Religion and edu-
cation go hand in hand, anG
they pfecede legislation. This
is important to be re-
membered. Legislators are, anG
should be, made Of those only who
have been prepared by previous intel
lectual and moral training. And herr
1 venture to suggest, in the presence
of our lawmakers, that any system Of
public instruction which seeks tt
train the mind only, AMI ignores the
human heart, must necessarily bt
worse than failure. Intellectual in
struction and development are val
liable, but, if unaccompanied by mora
instruction they only strengthen the
mind for vice and render it powerful
for evil. Education, which under thu
specious plea of an enlarged liberty Of
conscience, fails to teach man hi:
moral duties and obligations
to enlighten him as to his res
possibility. both present and future
for his own conduct, is not dan
gerous simply, it is PERM
cious. It may meet the vitiated fan
cies of q sublime egotism, which car
see nothing beyond or greater thar
itself, but it will not do for statesmen
philosophers or legislators who really
have the welfare of the people a.
heart.
| 10 n l1t y.yi1
be good or bad according to the mora
and intellectual Development Of the
popular mind. Nothing, then, can BIZ
more important; no higher object can
enlist the thought and care of philan
thropists and public teachers than the
moral and intellectual training of oul
youth.
, In the path of the incoming hal
century may be seen some dangers @,
which prudence admoishes us to b,
rests upon the Intelligence, in
tegrity and monderation of tn,
, people. Demagogues are tn
conspicuous danger of sucl
governments. They have no motiv
of action but their own promotion
and they take delight in creating ant
: aggrayating differences and antagon
. isms among the constituent element
) of society, and arraying each agains
the other. Inequalities in fortune, il
: social tastes and intelligence, haV
r always existed-probably always vii
but they do not affect liberty o
thought or action, nor do they impai
: any just or legal right. The onl
antidOte to the poison which dema
4 gogues infuse into free institutions i
!, Just and equal laws for all. equal
3 and impartially administered; the en-
3 couragement and protection of hon
g esty, the Encouragement and punish
) ment of corruption. Above all, try
r keep the people pure. 1t is a maxiI
demonstrated to be true by experience
that when the people become corrup
free government dies.
There is just now a fearful clou
I lowering around the horigo
of free government in other states
:. How soon it may darken our sky W
: : know not. 1t is the conflict betwee
capital largely aggregated in singl
l hands, or associated capital In corpora
tons, and labor. 1t presents pro
blem for legislators and Professors i
moral and social science very Difficult
: of solution. 1t cannot be disposed O
4 in single sentence by a flippan
o tongue or trenchant pen. All tina
e can be suggested is prudence. forbeal
g ance and patience. There
: and should be no necessary antagoI
: ism between capital and labor. The
: are intended to be and should
4 mutual helps. Each has mission t
r fulfil and q it should b
e honestly done. Capital ough
g not to be overreaching, oppressive @
7 unreasonable. Labor should not b
t unjust. BY all means let us not fa
:, in with the disastrous notion that th
:, conflict can be wiped out by multiply
$ ing policemen or standing armies
They may wipe it out but they wi
S bring in its stead the far greater ours
J. of strong consolidated central despot
i ism which strangles, when it touche
3 republican freedom. Many thin
: Texas in special danger because W
5 have invested foreign capital and fol
t elgn corporations to build our rail
D ways and have given them much @
|. our public domain. 1t is even feare
7 that they may shape our Legislation
t and exact unjust tribute from our pee
pie. l think the danger over
l stated. Yet it may exist, an
Q therefore the greater the ne
cessity for vigilance and prudence. ]
+ is true we have IN various ways an
| for vari0l11. nprnAcac crOftoD rid of q