The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-07
NEED OF EDUCATION,
HOW THE STRONGLEADTHE
WEAK.
Some Causes Of the Farmers
Present Condition---He Must
Think and Act for Himself---A
Higher Standard of Education
Will Enable Him to Do This.

" Ill EndDlo Him TO DO IhlS.
Correspondence Progressive Farmer.l
| did not begin this article expect
ing to explain these hard times, nor
TO offer any plan whereby the dis
tressed condition of the laboring peo-
pie could be relieved. l simply wish
to mention a few things which, in my
judgment, has a tendency to render
this country ridiculous. 1t has been
asserted that it was law as old as the
hills, that the stronger should control
the weaker. Whatever may be the
truth respecting the correctness Of this
statatement, in our opinion, it yet re-
mains matter of choice with the
great mass of laboring people whether
they will continue longer to follow the
teachings of political tricksters or not.
We know that it is natural for some
men to have influence over others.
The man who is by nature handsome,
will be an object OF admiration, and
when aattery and poilteness accompa
nies his department, he will have more
influence than his less beautiful broth
er; not that he is more honorable, but
because his manners are fascinating,
he has an influence that the weak can
not resist. And when it becomes ap-
parent to him that people are disposed
to believe what he says, regardless Of
investigation, his sense of superiority
becomes exhalted and he loses no time
nor spares no pains in qualifying him.
self All imposter. have no objection,
and can see no improperly in fact,
it is advisable for the unlearned to
consult the more informed for inform
alton, such as the means by which the
illiterate becomes enlightened, how
ever, the unlearned would do well
upon all occasions to investigate a
little for his own advantage. The
most unfortunate position that any
man ever occupied is a position Of
willful ignorance.
To be dependent upon what others
say in things pertaining to your own
individual interest, is humiliating in
the extreme, but to surrender your
own knowledge and experience at the
behest of an ostensible dictator is
abominable in the sight Of the devil.
In religion we have different ideas as
to the true mode of worship, such
ideas being a result of our liabilities
to correctly comprehend the imports
of holy writ, but in this life, wherein
men are daily realizing the baneful
results of false teaching, it does seem
to us that such experience ought to
create an anxiety for education that
could not be repelled until all men
were acquainted with the fundamental
principles of political economy. We
know, and are sorry to say, that many
of our people cannot read, and in all
things wherein they have no expert
ence, are dependent upon what others
say.
This is sad condition of any peo-
pie, but should not be accepted as a
sufficient cause for their being sub
jected to influences injurious to their
own advantages; they have common
sense and their experience in all things
should be made the criterion OF their
actions upon all occasions. A man
who would attempt to rub a bull S
nose in the dirt Just for fun and get
tossed over a ten rail fence, could
hardly be persuaded to try that again.
A man vino fails in his attempts to
accomplish an undertaking, and by
operation becomes victim OF mis-
fortune, will steer wide from such in
the future, indeed, men in all things
are inclined to heed the past, SO far
as their domestic affairs are concerned.
In politics the rule has been the re-
verse. Men, both learned and un-
learned, have been lead by the siren
influences of political demagogues.
Notwithstanding that, 1t was obvious
when once considered that the poltl-
clan could have no motive in wasting
time and money that something might
be done for the laborng man. Once
in two years he would come before
the people with single dose, and in
every four years the people have been
drenched with a double dose. They
took the medicine like little men, and
he'd themselves to all the political
gatherings, gave heed to the vocifera-
tons of the orator Of the occasion, and
on election day voted for something,
but didn't know what. This Condl-
ton Of the laboring people, in my
opinion, accounts to a great extent
for the present condition of things.
| The remembrance of man seems to be
inferior to that Of animals. Time and
again have they been captivated by
sophistry yes, l have known men to
respect things detrimental to their own
advantages but never in my life have
| | known a dog when once ostraClsed
for his own unsolicited familiarity, and
having to leave town with a canteen
tied to his tail, the victim Of public in
tolerance, with fire crackers being her
aided at him from every quarter, that
ever wanted to 60 to that town any
more. The great indifference that
now obtains among the laborlng peo'
pie, if persisted, must sooner or later
terminate in their subjugation. The
authenticity of holy writ cannot be
impeded it is law of an unrepeal-
able character, irrevocable in 1t:
mandate and unavailable in its jurisdic'
ton, that a house divided against
! itself cannot stand.
| If in the universe OF intellectual be
ings, there ever was a people thai
| n -