The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-03-18
THE FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY.

A recent writer upon politico-eco-
nomic questions says that our system
of public instruction is the outcome
of desire to improve general condi-
tions. That among the great nations
of the earth, the two special examples
are the United States and Germany.
Germany, or more properly Prussia,
found herself destined to meet the fate
of Poland unless something was done
to increase the economic and military
efficiency Of her people. There were
but two roads to take-serfdom or
universal education. Her statesmen
recognized that an educated man was
the most valuable as an economic fac
tor in the nation, and so established
her great industrial sytem. This was
not done for the particular benefit OF
the individual, but to secure the most
effective results to royalty.
A score of years before this, almost
at the commencement Of our republic,
our common school system was estab-
lished in Connecticut. But the rea-
sons for establishing this system were
far different than those which lead
Prussia to adopt it. 1t was based up
on liberty, but that stand for sthe
established equality of right and JUS
tice, which educated the American
to act in his highest capacity as cit
izen. With all the faults that may
cluster Garound our common school
system, it has been the foundation
stone of liberty, and has helped to
build up grand and noble nation.
1t may be said that this school sys-
tenn has bred restlesness, and very
likely it would be obliged to plead
guilty upon that score. But there is
a vast difference between the types OF
restlessness produced by it in Germa.
ny and this country, a difference as
great as the foundation upon which
the system in each country has been
built. In Germany the res lessness and
discomfort is because Of the restric-
tions which are placed around the in
dividual and prevents that exercise OF
liberty for which his growing intelli
gence Graves, and if the government
continues to sit upon the safety-valvt
Of reason, trouble of a serious nature
may be the result.
The restlessness which education
may promote in this country is Of
far different nature. Here the full
scope of liberty in every sense of thu
word is enjoyed. The full efficiency
of man in the economic world as al
intelligent being has been realized
Having accomplished nearly every
thing which he has undertaken, he j
ever restless to make still create
progress. Though our economic con
ditions, like man, are not perfect, i
is realized that only under such de
gree of liberty as here exists can the.
ever reach the highest point of per
lection.
The high degree of Intelligent,
reached by the masses in the Unite(
States, is the result of the great de
gree of individual liberty which ha
been exercised here, and it hal
had it's influence upon the ma
tions of the old world. Il
has tended to increase the rest
lessness there among the masses, an(
hence their demands for greater in
dividual liberty. 1t is because Of this
fact that royalty has no love for oul
republic, and hates us while it fears
our power These two public systems
have had a most beneficent influence
upon the welfare Of the world atlarge.
and while the American system has
been the most far reaching in its re-
suits, because it's ideal was the widest
degree Of human liberty to the many
instead Of the few, the German system
will prove most powerful adjunct in
the full Development of human liber-
tY throughout the world.