The Portland daily press., 1897-11-18

ments at the Congregational church at
Woodfords, last evening, Rev. DIR. Ly-
man Abbott pastor of the Henry Ward
Beecher church IN Brooklyn, lectured on
the Democracy of learning. In introduce
| ing DR.. Abbott Rev. e. P. Wilson said
that if he was not literally native of
Maine, he at least had served one of his
early pastorates in this state
Dr. Abbott, who was very cordially re-
ceiVed, began at once to speak of the in
situations of this country which are
| founded on the idea that the individual
can take better care of himself than his
neighbor can take of him. This idea is
carried out in all departments from the
town up to the nation. All OF our states
men do not realize the immense signifi-
canoe of this form of government.
Indeed, many Of our statesmen and
leading men, in striving for government
by the best are striving for an austocracy.
That is not our form of government.
Our government is the rule OF the many,
not Of the best l do not want that the
best shall rule the many, but that the
many shall learn to rule themselves, by
| their own blunders if need be. 1t requires
considerable courage for New Yorker to
say this, after the experience we have
just been through. CLaughter.) But after
all the disappointment that we have had
at the result there, / frankly say that
prefer the government that we shall
have, to better result brought about by
the interference of the state at large with
the municipal affairs of New York city.
! DIR. Abbott then went on to describe
the diverse elements that have entered in
to our citizenship, involving a strain up
on our institutions little thought of by
the statesmen of the early days. Our ex-
pertinent we must carry forward to the
end, whatever it may be. For our SUCCESS
the citizenship must be educated to rule !;
and we stand upon the platform that the
state must educate its citizens. Our great
public school system does not rest upon
the principle that the wealthy must
educate the poor; nor upon the Jeffer-
sonian idea that 1t is cheaper to educate
boy than to watch a criminal 1t is the
duty of a state to educate the reigning
family. And with u.s. when all the people
are the reigning family, it is the duty of
the state to educate the people.
Two principles must be kept in mind.
Our government is the government of the
all; and such being the case, the all must
| be educated to bear their responsibilities.
Then comes the question: What shall
| the schools teach? And the answer man
ifestly must be: Whatever is necessary
to make a good citizen in self governing
community.
| We must teach all men to be able to
communicate in the English Language.
1t is shame and disgrace in New York
that men cannot read the ballots they
cast, and that the law makers provide
that the ignorant man may take another
in to help him mark his ballot.
The first condition of free government
is that the citizens shall understand how
to communicate their wishes And if the
voter cannot do this he would do better
to be governed by others for awhile.
| (Applause J
The school also should teach something
of physiology and much of hygiene to the
future citizens who are to have the con-
shutting of boards of health and sanitary
regulations.
4 The schools must also teach something
of the great events of the years gone by,
that we may profit by the mistakes and
failures of the past. 1t isn't necessary
that the pupil should be a reservoir oil
facts, who, if stopped anywhere, will
yield date. But he needs to know the
general principles of history.
The schools should also teach something
of literature, which consists of the great
thoughts of ages past.
The pupils should also know enough OF
) industrial work to earn his own bread
J The lecturer said he did not know how il
was in Maine, but in New York, they
were turning out quite enough lawyers
doctors and ministers. 1t was easier tc
cure from doctor, or a good sermon
from minister. than to get good pipt
from plumber. (Laughter.)
But above all we needed public schoo
system that would give moral training
It was not enough to make men know
ing. Mr.. Croker knew enough to be boss
of New York. 1t was related that VIM
Travers, the famous stammering wit o.
Wall street, once uttered an exclamation
) of surprise as he saw q famous railroad
wrecker pass. ''What is it?" asked {
friend. "Why," replied Travers "thert
! is Jones with his hands in his owr
pockets.
What we need, said the lecturer. arr
schools that will teach our boys to keer
their hands out OF other peoples pockets.
(Applause.)
Our schools should teach that great
national questions should be settled or
the basis of right and duty, and should
give our people the moral Judgment tc
know what right and wrong are. TIL,
carrying on of government is the admin
istration of justice. And rs a state we ar,
now trying to substitute in our reforlna
tory institutions the spirit of redemption