Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-21
EX-GOVERNOR IRELAND.
The Sage OF Seguin Talks to the People
of Jones County at Arson.
The Advancement of Education the Progress of
Our Country-Dangers That Menace
Our Government
Arson Western.

Arson western.
By invitation of the Progressive COM
mittee, Governor ireland appeared before
our people at the courthouse Friday even
ing and delivered mastery address to q
large and appreciative audience. The
governor said:
Ladies and Gentlemen and, Fellow Citizens of
Jones County:
While take great pleasure in talking
about schools and the advancement of
our country am not in condition this
evening to do the subject Justice. All
persons who have arrived at the age of
maturity know something of the workings
of the school system.
Thirty eight years ago / located in the
town of Seguin. At that time, you
know, there was no such thing as free
school system. We voted small school
tax which went to the indigents, and was
considered an excellent system. In 1858
l came to Texas We had two large col
leges, which turned out good class of
scholars yearly. These schools complete
were furnished entirely by private enter
prise, and ali were credit to the town in
which they were located. The female
college caught fire and was burned down,
but subscription was taken by the light
of its burning walls sufficient to rebuild
it. To-day that female school is in the
hands Of negroes and the male college is
in the hands of the Jesuits. This state of
affairs is q sad commentary upon our
people, and should be a warning to your
people. These schools were flOurishing
under the care of a capable faculty until
LOCAL DISSENSIONS
arose through UNCONVENTIONAL jealousies.
As population came in and churches be-
came powerful they quarrelled as to who
should control those schools, and they
began to wane and finally persisted.
Please bear in mind that I attach no
blame to the different churches; for there
are none who witness the growth of re-
ligious influences with more pleasure than
your speaker. Let me beg your differ
ent denominations never to bring up that
subject in the school Don't do it,
When you do 1t, you strike death blow
to your educational interests, and under
the constitution you have no right to do
it. believe UNCONVENTIONAL schools are
good where churches are wealthy and
prosperous enough to sustain them. I'm
til then, never mention it. Don It do it.
In the matter of progress, all is not
progress that progresses. There is
progress in various degrees. Sometimes
they progress backward; progress by the
side of old Nick, and progress in the ruin
of our children.
ONE WORD TO LADIES.
Unless you take your boy to your knees
and there instill in him the trutha of
manhood and love of justice you had bet
ter never let that child enter the school
room. Their cit zenshlp depends on
this instruction, and if they receive it,
even If they cannot write their names,
they will make their mark in the world
while with vicious instruction their de-
struction is certain.
You are a progressive people out here,
but let me point you to the growth of the
city of Denver, which visited last sum-
mer. Not one pound of anything is
raised there, yet it is one of the prettiest
cities on the American continent.
Planted there in gorge of the
Rocky mountains, it has been bull
by the men who dig in the hills for min
erals, and has q population of 125 600;
while l was there they raised $50 200 in
men pay $40 to $1,000 year for seats.
The lonely tent found upon our border is
far advanced over their houses erected to
mammon in point of civilization.
You look up your residence here upon
the frontier with that vim so necessary
to development. When 1 first went to
Seguin 1 saw the best men of my country
in the jury box. Here l am pleased TO
see men of intelligence in your jury
boxes, and hope you will never have a
change.
What mistaken idea the world has of
a FRONTIER COUNTRY!
entertained such an idea myself until [
came to Texas, but now how different,
You want to erect a school building, this
is right Ny education was received in
an old log house, unhewn and with but
two openings. We had one plank put
up for writing desk and puncheons for
seats.
Diplomas are not always necessary, for
their receivers are too often ruined. The
college boy walks off from the univer-
sity boy with diploma, because the
university boy thinks the diploma will
carry him through. The time that he
has pored over dead languages is
lost to him forever. 1 am not OPP
posed to universities, but 1 have seen so
many that have been ruined by attending
them. Boys should be taught TO rely
upon their strong arm. Ladies soon for
get the piano when they assume the cares
of household, and so it is with the uni
yersity boy 1 received most of my edu-
cation after 1 arrived at the years of
manhood, by pine-knot fires and Dip
tallow candles. In the little advance
ment that have made in life, there is no
boy but whose chances are now better
than those enjoyed. Start out in life
with an object in view, or nothing can be
accomplished.
GO on AND BUILD
your schoelhouse. There never was a
more mistaken idea than TO depend upon
your government for everything yen