Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-15
ADVANCE OF ED3GsTIOE.
SPEECH OF HON. LELAND STANFORD
IN THE 0. S. SENATE.
The Blair Bill Proceeds Upon the Right
Principle-Advantage of Educa-
tion-The Race DificuIty.

common schools" Mr.. Stanford said;
M. President: The bill under consider
alton has for its object the lessening Of ig-
norance in all parts of the country in pro-
portion to the illiteracy Of all parts.
It seems to me to proceed upon the
right principle and in recognition Of the
importance Of education TO insure the
prosperity of the country and the happi-
ness OF its citizens.
| assume the constitutionality of the
bill. That question has been thoroughly
argued here, and it is not necessary that
should DISCUSS it; besides, l desire to speak
in general terms Of the importance of edu-
cation. and of this bill as ameans to secure
that end. The constitutionality Of the bill
being accepted, the important fact 10 be
considered Is, Is national legislation neces-
sary? The ilGteracy is also conceded, as
also the fact that some of the States have
not been able to meet thequestion. There
fore Federal aid becomes necessary.
THE ADVANTAGE OF EDUCATION.
The great difference between the man
and the beast lies in intelligence, and
intelligence is the boundary between bar
barism and high civilization.
In my opinion our Government can have
no higher object than to secure to the peo-
pie high degree of intelligence, thereby
assisting them to the attainment OF the
possibilities of humanity. These possibili-
ties and the benefcence of the Creator to
man on earth are one and the same, for it
it is obvious that there could be no beneti-
csnce in the unattainabe. Had we been
given reasonable wants without the means OF
Il, =,
would be failure.
But, when we look around at the sources
of supplies for or wants, whether physi-
cal or intellectual, we find them inexhaust-
IDLY supplied in the soil, waters, forests,
mines and quarries. The raw material S
everywhere within our reach, requiring
only the intelligent application Of labor
and the control of the forces of nature.
How this labor is to be applied and this
control obtained is what education will
teach.
There is a benefcence displayed in the
very fact that it requires an effort, physi-
cal and intellectual, to supply our wants.
Without the necessity of such continual
efforts humanity would soon sink into i'm
becility. How to add to the scope of
these intellectual efforts and to the power
of these physical ones, will be taught by
education.
When we contemplate the progress tha:
has been made in the arts and sciences, the
Improvement in machinery and the ad-
vance in the application of labor, and the
control of unforeseen forces within the last
century, We have no reason TO despair Of
the ultimate realization of the Creators
intentions for man. Indeed, this realiza-
ton may be great deal closer at hand
than the most sanguine among US now an
ticipate.
In our country to-day physical wants of
the provident and industrious can barring
the unforeseen accidents of life be satisfied.
These wants are sufficient food, raiment
and shelter. In these respects the poor
man is nearly on a par with the most
wealthy. The great and increasing de-
mand for labor is not for supply Of actual
physical wants but for those which may
be called intellectual, and these are as
boundless as mans capacity to conceive.
Therefore, whatever may be our progress
in arts, sciences, ETC., there being no limit
to our intellectual wants, neither can there
be limit to the demand for labor. Edu-
cation should teach all to understand that
the benefcence of God is such that the
wealth of one man in no manner implies
the poverty of another, and that as the
sources Of wealth are inexhaustible none
should want for the necessaries Of life, and
but few for its comfort and elegancies.
To illustrates In my own State the CEN
sus Of 1880 shows little less than $4,000
men, women and children engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits that means about To-
600 adult males This number raised food
enough for nearly 100000 of people in
California. They planted trees, vines,
raised crops and made valuable improve
ments in property for the future, and after
all this was done in one favorable year
had a surplus Of about 100000 tons Of
wheat for expectation, or, N other words
bread enough for 100000 Of people.
By the aid of the genius Of McCormieB
they can cut. thrash and put into a sack
100 pounds of wheat at the cost Of one cent
When education is universal, the ques'
ton of race distinction will be obliterated
Justice will prevail, and people Of different
color will live beside one another in all
parts of our country with mutual respect
according to their merits.
THE RACE DIFFICULTY.
l consider that this bill is in the direc.
ton that viii ultimately lead to a settle
ment of the question OF race difficulty
which Is so pregnant and pressing in GER
tain sections Of our country. Educate all
white, black, red-and when all are ed
ucated the race difficulty will need nc
settlement; it viii no longer exist.
The education of the masses viii have
an enormous influence towards demon
strating the beneficial effects of the power
of production, and the result viii be an in
crease in the respect for labor and higher
and more general conception of Its dignity
From this viii spring more general de
sire to engage in some calling that viii
tend not only to the advantage of the in
dividual but also of the community.
Through education this idea can be SC
broadly disseminated that the time vii
come when every man viii understand
that it is his duty in some manner to con
tribute to his own support, and that the
non-producing man lives at the expense o
some other. This preeludes any right il
the idle and improvident to demand from
the savings of the provident and industri
Gus What the latter may give IN charity
must always be matter for the individual
to determine, as his humanitarianism anC
conscience may dictate; as also whether
he shall furnish employment to another
Were it otherwise, the idle and improvi
nent would have lien upon the industri
Gus and provident
The discipline which education instill
into the mind is of assistance in al
branches of labor, whether mental o
purely manual.
t-Dr-f, rroNS T-Srrr-T tn AIT
I cannot, in my experience, recall
single instance in which education wa
otherwise than useful to the individual, n,
matter how advanced the education o
how humble the work to be performed b,
the individual.
Perhans one Of the most importan