The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-21
EDUCATION NOT A FAILURE.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New 10TH ATiUuHc.
The question, may be asked in all seri-
BUSINESS. provoked by more than one cur
rent or recent incident. Is our education
a failure? A great issue OF national poll
cy IL brought to the fore. 1t demands
consideration OF political economy ms
tions in all parts of the world and what
not 1t is an issue. one would say, to
the determination Of which the most thor-
ough knowledge of such topics should be
summoned. But a man, college-bred
man, declares that the most ill!terate and
Ignorant IS as competent to deal with II
as the most highly educated, Again. in
dustrial evils. widespread, affiict the land.
business is pIostrate. Men are idle, PEN
niless. Vast discomfort prevails. And a
college-bred man says II Is because the
masses of the people are too highly edu-
Gated. They are educated above their
station, and thus made dscontented
They remain ignorant, as 1t Is fitting that
hewers of wood and drawers Of water
should be. Are these men right? II so.
the question first asked may readily be
answered. Education IL q failure. Schools
and colleges are ghastly mockeries II
the one be right. "the dream, the fancy
Of the poet are real. The sHualid savage u|e
condition is not only more Joy but more
profit than IN this march Of mind" Or
II the other be right. and education be
republic itself a failure. and a tyranncal
oligarchy Is the best form Of government.
But they are not right. Humanity re-
volts at the very thought. KNOWLEDGE
used to tell and /, Is a power Of univer-
sal beneticence. II only 1t be properly em-
ployed. The practicsd hustings liar''
competent as IS wisdom to deal with
great question Of science and OF state
his heart: 80. that he lies. There is no
,-al D. IT, x.,..~ 49,.
seek the superior knowledge Of 2 physl-
can when he Is III. or even when his
horse or cow is III. What wrstched twad-
die. then. 70 say no expert knowledge is
polite! Those Who have done this latter
have invariably been men Of knowledge.
The founders Of the republ.c-Washins
ton: Hamilton, Jefferson. Madison and
Of them. kiven to much reading and to
diligent study. So were the men who
saved the nation from disruption q gem
genius ashes upon the world and i. iilum!.
mates 1t with meteoric lustre. But the
constant radiance that makes life bright
and progress possible comes from men! Of
true learning. who are men Of action. but
also men of thought.
Nor IL the other theory more tenablc
that learning should be denied the many
ana granted only to the few. The truth
expressed: Not only the well-beirg OF
the man. but the chances of exceptional
genius, moral or intellectual. In the gifted
average interest. curiosity, capacity are
all highest" Nothing could be more apt
or more significant. The whole great
world-scheme Of evolution requires It's
truth. There is no general who would not
prefer an army Of intelligent men to an
army Of blockheads. What 10 essential Is.
Of course that they be educated in the
right way. A soldier educated only az an
artist or as a chemist would be Of little
service. If collegiate and other educa.
tion fail Of henefcence It 70 not beca use
II Is education. but because u 10 not the
right kind of education. II the SCHOLAR
In politics" be failure. It Is because he
is merely scholar In politics and not
scholar Of politics. ;>because, that Is to say,
his education Is deficient In respect to the
one thing he Is trying to practice. SO
would the scholar be failure in law,
medicine, science and what not. II his