The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-11-04
Over Education of the Masses.
Ed, The INDEPENDENT

than annexation, let us have a talk
about instruction.
1t has often struck us, that we
never read in the papers any growl
about the large sums spent on educa-
tion in this country. We suppose the
reason to be, that to fud fault with
anything touching instruction is
considered as tantamount to crime
against progress and civilization.
Sober minded citizens, however,
ought to ponder over their and the
country's interests before blindly
joining in the chorus singing "per-
fas ct netas" the praise Of education.
Let us reason. Education has to
be efficient or inefficient If ineffi-
cient there is no earthly reason for
squandering thousands OF precious
money on it. Schools in the coun-
try, where reading and writing and
the four rules OF arithmetic are
taught, and few first. class iustitn-
tions in Honolulu, and one on each
island, are all that is needed.
If efficient, it has to produce en-
lighteued and refined men and wo-
men, longing for intellectual food,
as books, music, fine arts, lectures,
etc, etc,
But now comes the question,
Granted that education be efficient,
and we shall in few years have an
army OF refined electors. Do you
suppose that these gentlemen will
be willing to run after bullocks or
plough, or strip cane for SIS or 500
a. month? And what other prospect
is there for them2 Don't Chinese,
Japanese and newcomers" receive
at present the preference for the
few situations as carpenters, store
keepers, clerks, teachers, engineers,
or book keepers that fall open2
Some people say, let them procure
homesteads, and be independent
farmers, but where is the market
for their products, where are the
roads2 How can a man buy land,
fence it in, break it up, build a
house and clstern, purchase live
stock and implements, and live on
$l5 or $50 month"; Men of educa-
ton have not been taught to solve
that problem yet. What will be the
conse quence7 Many will become
loafers--a danger to society-othsrs
compelled by dire necessity will
yield to the newt able, and drag out
their miserable existence in the
fields on level with a coolie. Is
that the end Of education? Is that
the object in spending so much pre-
cious money!
But the question has another as
pect All these young voters will
be able to read and being disap-
pointed, will ,devour the socialistic
hooks and papers, (already two
populistic productions fell in to our
hands here), assimilating their prin-
ciples; and being the largest number
will capture our Legislature, and vote
the most subversive laws. We might
add that the political bosses, the
swindlers, and generally all the
malefactors are recruited from
amongst the ranks OF the "declasses'
poor discounted educated classes.
Does this mean that we have tC
let people grope in ignorance? II
nothing can be done to give oul
working class chance to lift itself
il owing especially to Asiatic and
foreign competition, the laborer hat
to remain on the level Of coQlie
decidedly, yesl as ignorance is bliss
But il our Solons succeeded in the
Herculean task Of making our isl
ands not planters but a peoples
Paradise, the more we educate the
better so long as we educate in i,
common sense aud practical mannel
to teach how the battle OF life SHOULD
be fought, In the meantime, however