San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-05-30

ernmcnt by and for the people, is in
disrcnsGble to its success and per
mancncy. Tho obvious fact was ulsc
recognized, that this universal edu
cation is the basis Of that morality OF
virtue which is indispensable TO the
srccoss of free governments. Both
these positions are endorsed by Wash
ton in his Farewell Address. He
says:
1t is substantially true, that virtue
and morality is necessary spring oil
popular government. Tho rule in
deed extends with more or less force
to every species Of FREQ government.
WHO that is sincere friend to it,
can look with indifference upon ut
tempts to shake the foundation Of
the fabric
We inyite especial attention to lis
next sentence, which is of a most
wcighty character:
Promote then, as m object Of pr,
mary Importance, institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge. In
proportion as the structure of gov
eminent gives force to pubic opinion
it is essential that public opinion
should be enlightened.
II will be seen from the above that
Washington regarded the ''GlNERAL
DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE us not only
the very foundation Of our govern
ment and the indispensable concom-
liant of universal suffrage, but also
the safeguard of public virtue. He
recognized the Importance of reli-
gious influence in it's proper sphere,
but it never entered his mind that
there could ever arise an idea of any
possible conflict between general ed
ucation and religion, or that the sec
ular education of the people would
ever be stigmatized as Goddess. >
That was ''new wrinkle reserved
for the Jesuits and few so-called
Professionals but little, if any better.
The statistics of jails and peniten-
tiaries the country over, including
Texas, all corroborate the sentiment
of Washington, and demonstrate
that ignorance no general rule is
the nursing mother of crime, litter
acy being overwhelmingly predomi-
nant in the criminal institutions
above named. Hear what Rev. Dr.
Talmage has to say on this subject.
In recent sermon he said:
A community can no more afford
to have ignorant men, than it can af-
ford to have uncaged hyenas. Ig-
norance is the mother of hydrn-head-
ed crime. Thirty-one per cent of
all criminals of New York can Meth
err read or write.
1t is generally the case that the
classes are Ignorant as they
are wicked For proof of what l say
60 into the prisons and penitentiar-
les and look upon the mon and wo-
men incarcerated. The dishonesty
of the eye, the low passion of the lip
nre not more conspicuous than the
ignorance of the low forehead. The
ignorant classes are always the dan
gorous classes Demagogues mar
shall them. They are helmless and
driven before the gale.
1t is pretty clear that DIR. Talmndge
does not regard our public schools,
which are the grand corrective of ig-
norance, rs Goddess institutions.
1t irresistibly follows from these
'acts that universal education would
be grand economical rs well as
elevating measure, If ig-
torrance is the great source OF crime,
md it, as is undeniable, the punish
nont Of crime through the parapher-
lalia of courthouses, jails, criminal
,ourt proceedings, is burdensome
% the people, it follows that general
public education as the means Of pre-
ienting crime must also be q great
blessing in the way Of lessening tax
.tion. and that there can be no other
financial policy which can compare
with that which fayors liberal expen-
ltures for coed public schools,
.cbocl buildings etc 1t Is unques-
ionatly the best public economy, 70
,ay nothing Of public virtue. And
low we confidently appeal to our
-cadors to say II il = not a monstrous
1oryersi0n OF language 60 style IN
.tiiutious thus productive Of bless
ncs 10 society. Coolies.
This j. not all We have heard a
net deal and know too nUch Of
BE- eruption q or politics tie
ra1losaie 'uyin- o. vo;es aid fraud
Lat elvs;icrs We AZ knOU hat