The Brookhaven leader., 1891-01-01

we find that public schools have been
nurseries of patriotism and, as such
they will ever continue, if properly
maintained. The State has double
claim upon the youth she cducates,
the right to expect that the talent
which she enables him to develop,
should never hc arraycd against her
interest. Let it bc understood that
patriotism is net alone the affection
we bear for the hills that gave us
birth: but this sentiment must he
sustained and invigoratcd by Il knowl-
edge of the great men our country
has produced, of their heroic ana
hcnefcent actions, of an understand
ing of its institutions and admiration
for its fame in arms and arts.
That public schools are best adapted
t. accomplish this result is evident
from the fact that every state IN the
Il Mon and almost every country on
the civilized globe maintains and sup
ports them. The universally Ot the
plan ought to bc ample proof of its
merit and, if it falls in disrcputc or
becomes inefficient, the fault is not i'll
the plan but should be charged to the
/
/ its execution. So imperative is an IN
| trlligcnt citizenship that it becomes
the sacred duty of the government to
take the educational interests into its
own strong arm and provide by prop
or legislation for the careful lnstruc-
/ ton of the young. 1t cannot resign
/ this duty to any other agency-no
other single power can safely be en-
/ trusted with such delicate task.
The peculiar fitness of the State to
provide for the education of the young
7 lives in her first and highest duty to
protect her citizens. That govern
ment which assumes the power to
protect its subjects without providing
for their education, must soon crum-
bic and decay from its inherent weak
ness. Absolute force cannot hold
society together submission to Its
demands, unless it emanates from il
respect OF the rights of others, Is no
guarantee of our safety; obedience to
it, laws which rises from fear of pun
ishment. oifOrds no stable security.
| Upon intelligence must the entire fab
lic rest. The aphorism that knOwl-
/ edge is power is universally accepted
Us true, but no more true than the
fact that in all this world there is no
power SO terrible as an active igno-
rance. The casual observer is una
ware of its potency because state and
society are constantly engaged in its
subsection and suppression. But
sometimes, through infidclity or care
lcssnesS, it is permitted to cOnccn-
trate its forces and escape its bonds;
and, before it is recOnqucrcd, 1t leaves
its frcry, oft bloody tracks to mark
the course of its cruel rule. Igno-
rance is the twin brother of anarchy,
the eternal enemy of peace and order,
the parent of all illibcral thought and
petty prciudices which poison the
human breast and dwarf an inn" Ortal
soul. The State does not ask you to
pay your school tax from any charit
able or philantrophic motive; you do
not patronize the tax gatherer from
wholly patriotic desires; every cent
which YOU SO contribute is for Your
self defence. The officers of this
State or city are no surer guardians of
your rights than your school teachers;
the court house is no sureI citadel OF
safety than the school house. But for
the instruction the boys are to receive
within these walls, they may become
the dcstroyerS of your civilization in
stead of its Uplit'tcrS, the violatoTs OF
y0ur law Instead of its upholdcrs.
DO You desire to stop the great shame
OF your age. to discontinue the carry
ing of deadly weapons which have
Il f,,l Il
ing this Christmas season? Educate
the young. Teach the boys that it is
wrong, low and unmanly, stab to our
civilization, Il return to harharouS
practice; teach the girls that the boy
who carries pistol is a criminal tho
he may be arrayed in the height of
fashion and enter the best society.
Another reason for the peculiar fit
ness of the State to provide for and
control the instruction Of the young,
is that there can be taught the perfect
equality which is taught later by the
constitution and the laws. In pub
lie school reigns a true democracy,
every distinction being abolished save
such as character and mind make for
their poSscSsOr. This is to he Il com
mon school: not common because IN
ieliOr, but common like the sun of
heaven is common, where every one
who wishes may enjoy its blessings.
1t is to be school for the masses
and were it ten times as costly and its
walls ten times rs high. it would not
repay the debt society owes to the
members of that class for whose spec
ial benefit this building is erected.
Whatever of liberty we today enjoy,
whatever of freedom is our inherit
ance, whatever of progress is the
proud boast of this civilization, they
are all due to members of that class
whom, cOnventiOnally speaking, we
denominate the middle or lower class.
Crowned royalty or titled nobility has
never loosened the shackles of en-
shaved humanity, never recognized
the equality of man or adopted the
badge of universal brotherhood.
Aristocracy has never furnished a
leader of great permanent reform
movement; inventive genius does
not often open and mature beneath
the sun of atfiuence or upon the hight
of eminent position. Christopher
Columbus, poor Genoese sailor, dis
covered America, the prosecuted sub
.jects Of Europe settled it and the
common ycomanary of the land freed
it. Call it plebeian if YOU will, there