The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-08

the work of our colleges and universities.
They have no cause to fear for the wei
fare of the j per cent of our pupils who
receive the highest education, but they
may well be solicitous concerning the edu-
cation which the public schools are Civ
ing the great masses of our pupils who
can never hope to enjoy college or uni
versity training. Their deepest anxiety
is for the ninety and nine who are with
us, rather than for the one who goes
higher to enjoy greater advantages, and
who is eminently capable of bringing
himself to the fold
philosophers and statesmen have
ever recognized the truth that universal
education is the basis of true national
prosperity and real greatness. The fair
fabric of justice raised by Numa' says
Plptarch, passed rapidly away because
it was not founded upon education No
trtfer reason can be given for the decay
df everything good in state. No nation
will ever realize its full possibilities
which does not build upon the education
of the whole people, upon the enlighten-
ment of the masses. Every consideration
of public safety points to the wisdom of
emancipating the people from the slavery
of ignorance. Might alone has made the
struggle for greatness and has failed.
War with all its horrors has also
proved powerless to make nations
great. Rome, great as she was, and
leader of the world, fell, not because she
lacked brave generals and great rulers,
but because her plan of education did not
reach to the foundation of her national
life and character She rated conquest
and luxury above learning.
in republic like ours, our plan of
education must not be like that of Rome,
but our system of education, TO realize
its highest aim, must reach the common
people, the plain people," as Lincoln
loved to call them. 1t must be our first
concern to consider the truest interests
of the great masses. Their equipment
for life must be received in our common
schools We must remember that 81
per cent of our children can never re-
ceive more than nm elementary educa-
ton and that it is the highest province
of the state to determine the character
and the quality of the education which
will best prepare them for their life work
as individuals and as citizens of the re-
public.
"Whethcr agreeable or not. we must
recognize the fact that it is the children
of the plain people. in city and country.
who are crowding our school rooms to-
day, and these will always be in the ma
jority. The children of the masses and
not of the classes will rule us. They
They will elect our presidents and gov
ernors. Above all. they will make our
homes The masses are represented in
our schools by 100000 of school chill
dren-a population which in itself is
greater than the entire population of the
country when independence was cstnb-
lished. They cry out for an education
which will fit them for life. and their
country. as it calls upon the masses for
loyalty and service, must hear and need
this cry.
"If we do not properly educate the
masses, we will more and more be d0mi-
mated by a government of the ignorant.
If we would be ruled by intelligence.
wisdom. reason and justice, our first con-
Germ is to educate. If we would live
under good laws, we must have good
men to make our laws. If we would
have society pure. we must overcome the
tendency toward vice, by the uplifting
influence of education. What the men
and women of the future will be depends
upon the kind of education we give our
children now. AS the children are, so
will our sovereigns soon be- was the
maxim of Horace Mem which might well
be written in letters of gold in every
school room. We never lose sight of the
fact that in this republic it is possible
for the humblest citizen to become a
representative or senator i'll congrcss--a
governor of statc-an ambassador TO II
foreign court-or president OF the rcpuh-
lie itself. But higher consideration is
the fact that the stability of our govern
mcnt rests upon the intelligence. sanctty.
and integrity of the home life of the
masses. 1t is public duty to provide
an education which will prepare the
humblcst citizen to discharge well the
duties of any position which may fall to
him.
"The dangers which threaten us today
spring not only from the classes being
uncducatcd, but also from the character
of the education which we are giving
these classes. We sometimes consider
that this danger comes alone from the
Importation of ignorant foreigners. But
we may well ask ourselves if the danger
does not come as well from the careless
ly educated masses of our own people as
a result of badly adapted courses of
study. of superficial instruction, and OF
failure on the part of the teacher To
grasp the vital influence which these
masses of plain people exert upon our
social and national life.
What is the best education for the
masses. as we find them represented in
'OhiIIou S'IVoiS " h'hHt w
the broadcast and best which our school
systems are able to furnish-brOad
enough and strong enough to equip man
and woman with power TO get and to do
the best things in lifc-to act well
their part in society and in government.
Education must begin with the young
est. 1t must he enjoyed by the poorest.
1t must be shared by the richest. 1t must
be secured TO the remOtcst settler in dis
tant states and territories, and freely
given to the humblest dweller in our great
cities. 1t must reach and touch alike the
proud avenue and the degraded Stun. In
brief. every child must be given and re-
Quired TO use an opportunity to develop
the gifts with which God has endowed
him. that he may grow to perfect man
hood, to genuine cultural culture which
in hOvel or mansion stands for character.
"The hest education for the masses is
an education which will teach boys and
girls their capabilities, and which will give
them power TO grasp opportunities. to nc
cOmplish results, to realize worthy ambi-
tiODs-tO know themselves-tO appreciate
their limitations as well as their capaci-
ties-which will give them courage to en-
dure adverse fortune should it come, and
wisdom to enjoy prOsperity-an educa-
ton which will help people to help them
selves-which will diminish suffering and
discomfort. and increase happiness; which
will encourage thrift and discourage shift