The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-04
THE SCHOOLS AND Tr,E RICH.
Education Has Caused the Poor 10
Realize Their Rights

Blshop WorthingtonS notion that the
uiscontent OF the farmers of the coun.
Try IS due TO the too great prevalence
Oh education among them is an emf
nentiy respectable notion, but wholly
un-American nevertheless. The BishoD
impractically advocating the closing of
our common schools and applying the
cniorotorm of ignorance for the relief
or the srfferings of the masses, is not
revolutionary innovator. says the New
York Journal. but n reactionist who be-
lleVes that the good old order of things.
from which the founders of the republic
thought they had freed their Dosterity
when they fought England successfully.
is better than the new Democratic order
King. lords, bishops and all who ap-
propriate what others work to produce,
pray with equal fervor in every mon
archy for the boon of u contented peas
antry-a peasantry that will piously ac-
commodate Itself to the station in which
it "has pleased Providence to place It,
touch its hat revcrently to It's betters.
eat In quiet the scant bread of humility,
and not have its mind reused to ques-
tioning by that knowledge OF the pesti-
lent arts OF reading and writing which,
according TO Bishop Worthington have
worked so much evil among our own
toilcrs.
Among US predatory rich men have
gradually taken the place that under
the old order is occupied by the king,
lords and bishops. who claim divine
license To live Off the fat of the land
which they do not till. 1t is unques-
tionably true that the common schools
nave so spread education and raised
Intelligence through the masses of the
United states, that they know II when
they are piundercd, and find IL quite
impossible to think with Bishop Worth
lngton that the enemy who despoils
them is God. Thanks to the common
schools, the average American has had
instilled into his mind knowledge which
1ustihes his refusal to believe that
Heaven has granted anybody on earth
u license TO grab what somebody else
mas labored to make. He knows that
the grabbing goes on, and he sees with
growing clearness who does it, and
how the grabbers get their opportunity
He knows that while the common
schools give him an education that is n
lamp to his brain and Ats him for the
career OF n freeman. the industrial con-
ditions under which we live tend to
doom him 10 life of virtual slavery
He cannot be made TO believe by
Bishop Worthineton, or all the bishops
Heavens designs. that conditions are
good which as their inevitable frui,
give us CarnegieS Rockcfellcrs. Pull
mans. Huntingtons, Morgans and Han
mas at one end, and at the other mill
ions of Woodworking men ana women
', ''S' 40 ~ nv ma Hol uSDlc u iioIt
than Il meagre livelihood.
If the American people in the mass
were not disseminated with these con-
ditions. this would not be an active
minded republic. but despotism. with
the people sunk in the apathy Of hope
lessness, or rising to armed rebellion in
the fury of despair. Since we have the
ballot box, we must continue To have
popular education. Notwithstanding all
its undoubted perils to the privileges of
an ever encroaching p!utucracy.
Bishop Worthington. it is needless to
say. prays for the election Of McI[in-
ley.