The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-19
The Gospel Of Gloom.

We wonder what influences the
Wllkcs-Barrc Leader to misstate facts
as it does in the following assertion:
THE theory Of thc>compulsory educa-
tiOn scheme IS that we shall have no
more ignorant voting, no more ten
dency to anarchism in cities, when all
the boys are required ITO go to school,
CT sent to prison if they won't CO. ?
The Leader ia too well educated not to
know that perfection is not claimed for
any system dealing with fallible men
and women. Is the Leader ignorant of
the fact that the word prison" doesn't
once appear in either of the compulsory
education bills now before the legisla-
ture at Harrisburg; or is it using that
distasteful word deliberately and
demagogically, in order to incite un-
founded opposition to those bills?
We have noted, with some interest,
the semi-socialistlc trend of editorial
opinion lately assumed by our c0ntem-
porary, not only with reference to this
question, but in relation to most of the
political and social issues, of the hour.
We gather from it that society is great
ly menlced these days by the growing
dominance Of aggregated wealth, reach
ing hold of power through the ignor-
ance or the indifference of voters. We
trust that we do no violence to our
contemporary when we say that it's
attitude on this point is not far dis
similar to that Of General Edward S.
Bragg. the famous Wisconsin Dem
ocrat lately retired from public lire
who has just contributed the following
sentiments to a Milwaukee eXchany-:
Corruption Is an incident to a pure De-
mocracy that enters and permcatsg It's
every part more readily and thoroughly
than it does any other form of govern
ment. 1t has destroyed all the republics
that have preceded ours, and bids fair to
do its work here. Reforms may be made
in name, but they will prove the driving
off Of one swarm to make room for an
other. Bra2en corruption may be checked
like houses of shame but the canker sore
Is not cured and only scattered, and the
evil continues, being an incident to the
passions of the race.
Contrast that statement with the fol-
lowing from the Leader, and to our
mind the underlying thought is largely
identical in both
lliterate voting Is not necessarily ignor-
ant voting and Is certainly not all there
Is of ignorant voting. Compulsory educa-
tion might put an end to ilitcracy, but
would not put an end to or appreciably
| lessen either Ignorance. socialism or an
archy. The ignorant voting that Is most
| to be feared Is that which is blindly and
| bigotedly partisan, and that which puts
money unaccompanied by brains, or
money and brains unaccompaned by hon
| esty and Difference to popular rights, in
high places. To get rid of this, the sort
of education, compulsory or otherwise.
that is needed is the sort that will reach
those who have long since learned to read
and write, but have not yet learned TO do
so to good purpose.
If, therefore, education does no good,
and Republican government at heart is
merely an impossible dream-for such
seem to us to be the logical conclu-
slons of the aforesaid premises--what
does our Luzerne contemporary offer as
a substitute? Would It seriously ad-
wise the keeping of boys and girls out
of school, in order that they may es-
cape the dangers of education? or
would 1t not rather redouble those en-
ergles which have for their twofold
purpose improving the schools and In.
suring general attendance at them? We
l believe that the latter course is the one
~ pursue. We do not yet accept the
Conclusion that popular education is
\ot remedy for ignorance; and tina,