The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-07-31
For the Southern Sentinel.
Education.

Progress is the spirit of the times. We
live in progressive age. All over this
broad land the cry is forward; and he
that responds not to the call is left be-
hind, while the tide Of prosperity sweeps
high over him. This, together with the
great natural advantages Of our country,
has made it the great republic it now is,
aud given it the proud eminence 1t holds
among the nations of the earth. And its
great resources rightly developed by this
spirit Of progress will In the near future
place the United States far i'm the lead of
other countries in civilization, wealth and
influence.
Bnt while this may be said Of the Uni
ted States rs whole, it does not apply SO
directly to the Southern States, and espe-
cially to Louisiana. Now why this? Is
it because we have not equal natural adj
vantages with other States? Certainly
not, our resources are far superior to
those Of the North aud East. Do our
people lack energy, or industry? The
majority possess this IS characteristic.
What then, is the great wants 1t is ed
ucation, the chief moving element Of
progress, and the foundation stone of all
prosperity. This is tine great requirement; ;
u thorough dissemination Of knowledge
among the classes, the poor As we'll as the
rich, the black rs well as the white, the
farmers and mechanics as well as the
merchants aud lawyers; aud this is the
only thing that will place us in degree
OF prosperity equal to that Of our breth-
rem in other States, where they pay more
attention to education.
Our farmers toll year after year with a
perseverance that, were it accompanied
by suitsble education, it would soon make
them independent; but. by far the ma
jority do not understand the first princi-
Piles Of agriculture, and work altogether
By gness, consequently are no better than
blind folded. Our mechanics and other la
borers, had they preliminary edu-
cation and the proper knowledge Of their
trades, would acquire wealth by their
untiring energy in their respective occu-
pstions,
Nor Is this want coafined to the laho-
ring classes, our professional men are de-
ficient in quantity and quality, and though
the quantity is made up from the more
educated States, it is by those who have
been crowded out By their sHpeFiers, aad
yet, we give them the privilege Of taking
the lead in our own most important af-
fairs. True, we have some good lawyer.
aud Legislators, but we have \ larger
number whose qualifications would moi
fit them for baliff IN 4 rural district, mol
would their oratory grace 4 commonplace
fourth Of July picnic. And while we
have few n. DIS worthy Of their titles
there are numbers OF our country doctor.
CO who do not know the difference be-
tween chill and fever, nor the physiolo-
gical disorders cansstivc of the toothache
Now this il a deplorable, but true state
of things as they exist in our fair Louisi-
ana, and 1t requires an efficient aud i'm
mediate remedy which can and must be
rsmedied by the people. This, the only
remedy is education, education Of the
COMING people blythe present people. This
education VIC must have, and to have Il
We must have moro SCHOOLS, better school,
better schools Of all grades. We mus,
have three schools where there's but on.
now, and that must continue for ten
months Of the year, whsrs they hold bul
for thrse It the present.; this requires !
united and determined effort Of the peo-
pie, aud now lot rs make this effort I'M
ms'liately, while our State Superintsnd-
snt q Public Education y interesting
hinself In the work. and urging n to dc
our duty while he does his Shall we moi
respond heartily to his appeals, and be-
SIN with donbae energy the great worl