The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-26
The School commissioners Work


The address which Hon. James S. Hook,
the lately appointed State School Co minis
sioner, delivered before the Georgia Teach
er's Association, at Macon, on May 1, has
been published IN pamphlet form. 1t ought
to be generally distributed over the State,
because, wherever read, it is certain TO exert
an influence helpful to the cause of educa-
ton.
Commissioner Hook is in favor of giving
the schools liberal support. He believes
that they ought to be built up by every
possible means, and brought within the
reach of all. In his opinion the education
Of the people is a subject to which legisla-
tors cannot devote too much attention.
In the course of his address he says:
THAT statesman is lame, at least in one
Of his legs, who declares that ignorance
| contributes largely to poverty and crime,
and yet denies to government the power to
relieve from the fearful bondage of ignor-
ance. His logic involves him in the alb
surdity that it is wiser to build aims houses,
and jails, and penitentiaries, than, by liberal
and judicious governmental aid to intellect
ual and moral training, prevent their neces-
sity; that, while it is true that all just gov
eminent rests upon the consent of the
governed, and that intelligence and virtue
are the only safe foundations of free
government, as declared by the immortal
Washington, yet the government has so
written its constitution that it cannot
from its treasury give the means to foster
and encourage intelligence and virtue
among its people and keep the government
alive. The proud eagle has so constructed
his nest as to fetter his own wings, and can
not soar upward and bathe his plumage in
the upper sunlight of grand national prog
ress. The money may be taken to build
immense railroad lines, to open up the I'M
developed territory in the country, and
vast steamship lines, TO plow paths through
tho ocean, but Gods two grand territories
of the mind and heart, which He demands
shall be opened for all the nobler purposes
of their creation, and of human government
and human progress in all departments,
must wait on individual effort alone"
The appointment of Mr.. Hook has been
criticised because he is not practical edu-
Gator. He appears to have some pretty
good ideas, however, Of what is needed to
advance education, and if he proves to be
as competent and faithful an official as he
now promises to be, the fact that he is not
a trained teacher will soon be forgotten
Georgia needs better educational facili-
ties. Some of her cities have excellent
public schools, but in the rural districts
there should be more and better schools,
and they should be in session several months
longer each year. Commissioner Hook will
do work that will cause his name to be
remembered if he will create throughout
the State a sentiment in favor of public
schools so strong that the people will will
ingly pay heavier taxes for school purposes.
Massachusetts may not furnish the candi-
date for either place on the Democratic or
Republican ticket, but she seems likely to
come in for her share of honor by furnish
ing the chairman of each convention. 1t is
taken for granted that Congressman Patrick
Collins will preside over the st. Louis con-
vention, and the suggestion that Senator
Hoar preside over the Chicago convention
is received by the Republicans with much
favor Senator Hoar was chairman of the
Chicago convention of 1880.
The Republicans of tho House, it is said,
propose to work the Smalls- Ellio tt contest
for all it is worth; but it isn't worth much.
The bloody shirt is all-powerful in Ohio,
but what Democrat expects the party to
carry Ohio. Col. Elliott was fairly elected,
or he wouldn't be in his seat; and the House
ought TO sit down on Smalls with such force
that he won't hang around Washington
again with the expectation of paying his
bills out of the amount allowed him for
contest expenses.
Congress has not yet agreed toiappropri-
ate $50, 900 complete the Bartholdi Statue of
Liberty, on Bedloe's Island, and some re-
ports hint thai it will not If all the
claims presented to congress are favorably
acted upon, the surplus will dwindle con-
siderably and yet the statue ought not to
remain incomplete because Of the want of
means TO finish it. Why doesn't New York
provide the money to complete itl That
CITY eniovg ahout all tha glory attached to