The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-25

most delicate complications with for
eign nations2 To whom do we entrust
the leadership of our armies and ma
vies? Solution of these, and many
other matters of greater or less impor-
lance depend upon the scholar.
Do the people prefer quack to
skilled physician to perform an oper.
alton upon which depends the question
of life OF death2 Then how much
more for the body polite, whose organ
ism is far more delicate should there be
one competent to prescribe for nation
al ills?
Since it takes a scholar to understand
and meet these difficulties to the best
advantage, the scholar alone under
stands the appalling responsibility that
rests upon him.
Education must be our watch word.
1t is only by education that we may
hope to gain the great essentials for
perfect liberty and equality. 1t is true
that the great influence that has made
our people safe dopositaries of govern
mental power; that has furnished a
sure guarantee of the strength and per-
petuity of the republic; and under
which our scholars get their first train
ing, is in the American home. But the
school makes the influence of the home
patriotic, and the mothers of the future
are in school today. These mothers in
turn will teach the principles which
they received in their school days.
AS the scholar depends upon the
school for his preparation, there is need
that the fundamental principles of
American independence and the noble
ness of honorable citizenship should be
encouraged by education. The filling
of the offices of the government is an
inevitable fact, and there are always
great national questions that demand
the intelligent consideration of our
politicians. The schools of the land
must therefore, furnish the means by
which these dangers may be met and
conquered.
But there are institutions in our land
conducted by educated men, that are
undermining our hest political inter
ests. Educated men are not always
abstractly in the right. There is all
the more need to raise up our scholar
to combat the wrong perpetrated by
them. Popular political education
would make the people more careful
and more capable, and by the ballot
box they would choose only the scholar
who had the best interests of his coun-
try at heart: The average voter would
then take upon himself a share of
blame, when he found confronting him
those perils which threaten to retard
the advancement of public good, and
not lay the burden upon his party,
washing his hands like Pontius Plate
of responsibility. Understanding his
responsibility, he would take more lin
terest, attend the primaries, select only
the best men to represent his particular
section, and so on through the whole
system to the national convention.
Ambitious young men are advised to
let politics alone on the ground that
they are corrupt. Even the pompous
old politician, who has spent his life in
the good work says: "Young man keep
out, do not throw yourself away in the
filthy pool of politics." Yet he goes
right on padding around in that filthy
pool, and seems to enjoy his occupation
although he desires that the lives of
the young men be not so wasted. The
reason is clear, men love darkness be-
cause their deeds are evil. The filthy
condition of the Augean stables was no
reason why Hercules should not at
tempt to clean them. The presence of
corruption in the body polite furnish