The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-02

TITS education forms the common mind;
Just AZ the twig Is bent the trees inclineu.
The sure foundation Of state Is laid
In knowledge. not in Ignorance, ana where
there IN universal suffrage there should
be universal education. for the more
general the diffusion OF knowledge, the
more general does public virtue prevail.
and I'm n republican government. where
the people govern the hand that casts
a ballot should have behind 1t q mind
power Of intelligence. Besides. this ~ a
land without kings, princes, potentates
or sOvereiens, without hereditary offices
OF honor, and where energy. virtue and
talent can rise from the lowest to tho
highest station. But how difficult 1t IS
when the hard hand OF poverty is bearing
down upon the struggling. aspiring climber.
unless he can receive the mental training
necessary TO strengthen him for the ardu-
Gus ascent. and how many noble and
promising spirits have fallen on the way
side for want Of support
| remember when To receive public aid
I'm educating his child. the father had
TO humiiate himself and pin on the lapel
Of his child's coat a paupers badge.
In the providence Of God that day has
PASSED. and now under our public Tree
sahcal system those faculties which dis
tinguish man from the brutes OF the held,
can be cultivated at public expense ana
every child, whether rich or poor, whose
heart beats under Nirginias rooi-tlee
can pass the threshold Of her school-room
with a full feeling Of heirshp IN her
henefaction. and without humiliation ne
enters the field rich in hope and abund-
ant in possibilities.
Public education creates security or
our liberties and a state ana nalonal
strength which all the laws an the
muniments of war, all the forts all The
armies and all the navies cannot give
che Railroads.
II Is proper for me 10 state that
shall encourage ana approve Wise ana
iudicious legislation respecting the resu-
lation Of the railroads of the State. /
believe this Is essential to the Interests
Of both the roads and the people mat
there may be no oppression or discrimi-
nation on the part Of the one, ana no un-
reasonable demands on the part OF the
other. / have no sympathy WIN mat
continent. prevailing TO some extent.
that apparently regards railroads as pub
lie enemies and oppressOrs. il is the
cry of the demagOgue and time-serVinS
politician. Neither do ] sympathze with
the arrogant spirit shown by some rail-
roads to disregard the wishes or con-
veniences Of the communities through
which they pass. simply because they
have a monopoly, and the people are
powerless.
Railroads ! recognize as the great eN-
ulOrers and mighty developers OF cotn-
try's resources. They lead in the march
OF progress. tunnelling mountains, brds-
Ing gulches, spanning streams, penetrat-
ing new and uninhabited regions. chang
ing the wilderness into smiling farms and
even the barren plain into verdant fields.
building homes, and giving employment
TO almost countless thousands. In their
track plenty abounds, where want stalk
ed abroad; the ploughshare turns up
the virgin soil so Ions trodden by the
native buffalo, the voices of the artisan
and mechanic are heard. where that Of
the wild beast so long sounded defiance
to the dsturber OF his lair or den the
smoke Of civilization ascends 70 the
clouds and meets the morning sun i'm his
rising glory and bcdims the moon I'm her
silver fight, where from the time the
stars sang together at the birth of
creation they shone by day and by night
unobscured by even the exhalatiOn from
burning bush.
Hush the clamor against these power
ful helpers I'm the work OF civilization.
development and progress Let them be
built, throw TO impeachment IN their
way; let them traverse the whole land;
they will bring blessings, not curses.
they will bring gladness, not sadness;
brightness, not gloom.
But while they are shedding general
benefits. let them not be converted into
engines Of oppression Of any section or
locality. Let their blessings fall alike
upon all as the dews Of heaven. Keep
them within the bounds Of the purposes
for which they were permitted 10y the
state i'm the exercise of her right Of
eminent domain 20 take private property
the public good and public welfare.
not sectional or local advantages. See
that they arc the servants, not the
masters Of the people. at the same time
recognizing the fact, that while they may
be called sOuless corporations. individ-
ual citizens compose them. and individ-
ual money constitutes the capital stock.
and these citizens are entitled 10 the
same Profession as if their money was
invested in agriculture. mechanical. in
dustrial. or commercial pursuits. With
blind eyes and steady hand hold the
scales.