The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-31
Education For the Masses.

Case and Comment. a law periodical
in New York, makes the following re-
ply to Professor Peck's recent article in
the Cosmopolitan, in which he opposes
the policy of educating the masses:
The theory that education for the COM
mon people is 'pernicious" is not new
one. 1t has been from the beginning the
hypocritical argument of every one who
wished to keep the people ignorant in or
der that he might more easily drive them
sin harness." 1t comes naturally to the
lips of tyrants, slave drivers, extortion-
crs and the whole unrighteous brood of
those who flourish on the ignorance of
others. But in halls of learning and on
the lips OF scholar such a doctrine is
ike blasphemy in sanctuary. A truly
liberal education develops sympathy as
well as intellect. 1t should cultivate hui
mainly and 1.-THE humanities" together
True scholarship is, above all things,
democratic. 1t loves to communicate
knowledge to all the world, not to hold
7 IL as selfish possession. The narrow
illiberal and retrograde policy of exclu-
siveness in scholarship, making a. small
and highly trained patriciate" has no
place in an age of increasing enlighten-
ment. Inspiration drawn from the clas-
sic past points forward, not backward.
1t does not say that because the bulk
of the Greeks were helots, the masses
in America must not aspire to any higher
lot. Yet Prof. Peck thinks that any
share of education for them would breed
discomfort and make them ripe for the
work of the agitator. His idea of RENE
dy for discomfort seems to be, not to re-
move its causes and thus promote civil
ization, but to keep the people in such
sodden ignorance that they will not know
enough to be disconnected.
If it be true that there should be "a
VOL J.t frlsI Arzl H.
caste, an aristocracy," why then a gov
eminent "of the people. by the people and
for the people" must be a failure of me-
cessity. To admit that only few should
be educated, that there should be an ex-
elusive arfstocracy, outside of which all
others should be kept in ignorance, then
1t follows that men are incapable of self
government In that event monarchy
is preferable to an aristocracy. The his
tory of all the past proves that in this
country, aristocracy Is a most uncertain
quantity. 1t is not hereditary by any
means. for in hundreds of instances the
children OF those who were reckoned as
aristocrats in the last generation, are
the improvidents of the present. 1t is a
case where blood has failed to count.
The declaration that "every rally
great thing in the history of man has
been accomplished by an aristocracy" is
wide of the truth and betrays a density
of ignorance that Is astonishing when
found in college professor. Thomas
Alva Edison n$ver attended college a
day in his life. and 1t will not be denied
that he accomplished something 'really
great" Robert Fulton was not a col
legeJbred man, but all agree that in the
invention of the STEAMBOAT he accom-
plished that which was really great.
Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest of
American statesmen, was not educated
in college and saw very little of schools
of any kind. This list might be length
ened to an extent almost without limit,
but It Is not necessary.
Prof. Peck evidently aims at reform,
but he Is In a fog and does not know