The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-15
THE REPUBLIC OF MEXIC0.|

rlous question with the educated and
governing element. There are many
who, while sincerely desiring the spread
Of intelligence and learning to every
part of the republic and among all
classes, seriously doubted the wisdom
Of providing for compulsory educa-
ton. They argued that TO educate
these poems would be to fill their minds
with discomfort, to make them restless,
and to open the door TO a condition Of
anarchy. Now, say these theorists,
they are contented and happy; and
why, assuming that they must ulu-
mately give way to q superior race, to
which the country must look for her
proper position among the nations Of
the world, should they not be permit
ted to finish lfe's journey in peace?
Possibly the case is so radically eXcep-
tonal as to defy the application of all
! those general principles which are held
| by the world at large. Certainly II
merits special and most earnest consid-
| Grafton. Back of these simple people,
| through centuries of time, there exist
ed, according to the generally accepted
| theories of historians, a civilization
| which has sadly degenerateu; and If
| this be true, the natural sequence
| would certainly seem to justify these
views. But is it true? There have been
! many reasons, natural and artificial,
for such degeneration. Nor have they
related only to the mental faculties.
! The physical have also suffered. When
| the Spaniards came they substituted
! the blndet possible religious fanatic
ism and the most revolving cruelty for
the worship of idols and ,ne hardly less
revolving horrors of human sacrifice.
| They found a simple and superstitioss
| race, Injured to warfare of the rub st
charcter, confiding, brave, eXcellil.E in
loyalty, and not without the higher
accomplishments Of art, music, and
the like, however imperfect these may
! have been, Betrayal of every trust
superior arms, and a barblrity which
! has seldom been eXcellcd in the worlds
history, prevailed over a people who
could not be bought with gold; oven
numbers that were as thousands tC
one. Deceived, robbed new religion
and new language forced upon them
and every sentiment Of centuries dis
! PEELED in a day, what wonder that
there was mental and physical degen'
Grafton, and a resulting condition lit.
|
people become at once fully Informed
as to their rights under the laws OF
their country, and be brought to real
ize their numerical strength and rea
inherent power, it is possible, say thes,
same theorists, that the stability of the
government would, for a time, be en-
dangered. They hold that in theil
case, if in no other, ignorance is, in
deed, a synonym for bliss. But thi,
theory is without foundation in reason
or in fact. 1t does not follow that be
cause they are the personificatiOn o
contentment, because they know no
ambition, do not aspire to wealth, cost
ly raiment, cOmmodious homes, o
beautiful surroundings. they canno
safety be entrusted with practical ed
ucation. 1t does not follow that If
now and then, discomfort, a longing
for the unattainable, may steal int
the mind along with a little learning
the entire race should be kept in ig
norancc. All through Mexican hstor.
there have been striking illustration
of the possibilities of the Indian mind
Statesmen, soldiers, poets, artists
have sprung from this humble origi
and In every state of the republic tn
common school and the college or sem
J mary are annually sending out int
the world of letters and of bushes
large numbers of young men and wo
: men, whose attainments are an homo
to their race and a credit to thei
country.
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