Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-24
Education the Motive Power of Develop
ment.
Illellt.

New England has always been the
center of American growth, the nu-
cleus of all development. Standing
as she does in violent contrast with
other parts of the Union in respect
to natural advantages, her barren
fields contrastcd with the fertile
plains of the West, and easy produc-
tive powers of the South her bleak
and chilly winds, with the mild tenn
perature of the far West, or the Gulf
states, yet in spite Of every disadvan-
tage she has, from the first, taken a
prominent place in every improve.
ment and every advancement. The
record Of her people has always been
a record OF success. Her farms
have been successful, her business of
all kinds has been successful, as
center of intellect She owns no rival,
and nowhere is there found more
strict moral integrity. The influence
of New England training reveals il
self wherever her people are found.
In all Western settlements the emf
grants from New England seem to
have taken with them the element of
success, and with this aid to have
reached the height OF advancement
physically, mentally and morally be
fore the surrounding settlements. To
the casual observer, looking as he
does upon the natural advantages an
comparing them with other sections
the reason why all these things
should be is very obscure. But the
main difference between New Eng
land people and those of other colon
les Is to be found i'll the fact that
from the very first moment of the
colony's existence universal cduca-
ton was the watch-word. The edu-
Gated man, in the same position as
the nneducatcd man, even though
the position requires only physical
labor, has all the odds in his favor
his chances are better in every re-
spect he can even turn failures to
his advantage, and SO amid the trials
of pioneer life in bleak New England
the educated man conquered all diff
fculticS and stamped his power and
capabilities upon the national char
acter. Nothing is a success without
education. The great demand of
to-day. the qualification of which
will solve all perpleXing moral and
political problems, is that this funda-
mental principle of New England de-
velopment be applied throughout the
entire land that there shall be no
caste of education, because all are cd
ucatod; no caste OF occupation, be
cause all occupations shall be control
cd and governed by a trained and ed
ucated intellect.
Heretofore the education which
has given its possesSor trained men
tai power has been almost entirely
out OF reach of the multitude of PEG
pie in the middle walks of life. The
tuition IN schools for higher educa-
ton has been beyond the reach of
moderate purses, or else the teach
inc has been sectarian, thus shutting
out those whose belief leads them in
other directions. The demand is for
schools in every State which shall
bring within the reach of all cduca-
ton in all branches which shall
train and discipline and strengthen
the mental capacity and inspire and
intensity the moral capacity of its
students which shall have for its
objective point the advancement of
all peaceful interests, the unfolding
OF Republican form OF govern
ment and the common and moral
good Of humanity; which shall
teach, not moral principles narrowed
to sectarian basis, but those firm
and immovable eternal principles
which for all ages have constituted
right. May the day be fastened
when all may have access to such
schools, for in them is the IDEAL of
higher education for the masses real
lied. Normal Instructor.