Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-31

! ism, voluntary obedience to law, and public
spirited interest in public affairs?
In Germany, it became a fundamental
maxim of State policy century ago,
"What you would have come out in the life
of the nation, you must put into the schools
and the universities. The wonderful
yigor of the national life of Germany in
| these last decades, is directly traceable to
| her observance of this law of self-preserva-
on'applied by the State to Germany's edu-
cational system, in which patriotism is
steadily and Systematically inculcated, and
in the fitting of young men for the proper
discharge of public duties has an important
place.
In America we have been slow to make
room in the curriculum of our schools and
colleges for the studies that emphasize the
demands which popular self-government
makes upon the citizen, as well as the bless
ings it confers.
"A Sure Support.
Of our form of government, as of every
thing else that is precious in life, it is true
that eff we would preserve it we must love
it." And intelligent study of the under
lying principles Of government will stimu-
late Just pride in ou rown form of gov
ernment, and will furnish rational basis
and sure support for the loyal spirit of
true patriotism which is the strength of a
nation.
Here we see the value of the great tide of
consciousness of national life which swept
across the continent with the recent cele-
bration of the centennial of our Constitu-
tion. AS we recall the struggle for inde-
pendence, we are grateful to the heroic
founders of our National Government We
love our country more intelligently aud
more truly, as our thought is fixed upon
- nd fha IF
it augurs well for our country that the i'm
perative demand arises from the young In
SO many of our institutions of learning,
"Give us fuller instruction in the studies
that fit men for citizenship-in the prin-
ciples of government; in the ethics, the
motive powers and the economics of social
life-in the duties of American citizen
ship"
All colleges which deserve the name now
furnish full instruction in such themes
But important as is the influence of liber-
ally educated men upon the life Of America
it is but small percentage of our voters
who in their school studies reach the college
course, or even the high SC hool. 1t is most
important that all future citizens, girls and
boys alike, in all our schools, should have
elementary instruction in the principles of
good citizenship 1t Is the mothers of our
boys, and the early school life of our boys,
that largely determine the life-bias toward
good citizenship or bad citizenship for the
great mass of our voters.
Mother and Sons.
An intelligent, public spirited mother is
almost bv necessity the mother of patriotic
sons and daughters. Given good mothers,
in this respect and good sons follow. To
the ambitious mother who asked the witty
English divine ''how she could make sure
that her boy should one day become a
bishop" he replied, ''first, get him born
right" This goes to the root of the mat
ter. And the next step, that we may have
as many boys as possible early trained in
the principles and the spirit of good citizen
ship, is too see that mothers, sisters and
teachers of young children are intelligent1y
awake to the responsibility of residence
among a self-governing people. The girls
and the women of our country should all be
(as we believe many of them are) intelli-
gent patriots, with clear knowledge and
sound convictions upon matters Of public
interest in the State.
The State-society organized with refer
ence to rights and corresponding duties, OBJ
legations and corresponding privileges-is
founded upon relations of justice. Every
man is born into the State, and no man can
by any possibility get out of the State, for
he must always be in relations of right and
wrong with other men, The State is founded
on morality. In the moral convictions, in
the conscience" of its individual citizens,
lies the strength or weakness of every gov
The moral training of its young
citizens is thus seen to be vital to the State.
In the earliest school training principles of
social morality, of regard for the rights Of
others, of public spirited interest in the
Welfare of others will mark the school that
S training good citizens.
Beginning of Social Life.
In his school life the conditions are so es-