The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-22

wOrthiest ambition of education is not
finished scholarship for the favored few,
but the elevation OF the high STANDARD
of citizenship among the many L
have had peculiar satisfaction in the
fact that Washington in those early
days when engTOssed with mighty gov
ernmental problems did not forget his
contributions for the education of the
poor and left in his will a bequest to be
dedicated to the public instruction.
Nothing better tells the value he placed
upon knowledge as an essential to the
highest and best citizenship. How
priceless is a liberal education In
itself what a rich endowment. It is
not impaired by age, but its value in
but its rightful owner. He alone can
Illustrate its worth and enjoy its re-
wards. 1t cannot be inherited or pur-
chased. 1t must be acquired by indi-
Vidual effort. 1t can be secured only
by perseverance and self denial. But
is free as the air we breathe. Neither
race, nor nationality, nor sex can debar
the earnest seeker from its possession.
It is not exclusive but inclusive in the
broadcast and best sense. It is within
the reach of all who really want it and
are brave enough to struggle for it.
The earnest rich and the worthy poor
are equal and friendly rivals in it's pur-
suit and neither is exempt from any of
the sacrifices necessary for its acduisi-
ton The key to it's title is not the
bright allurements of rank and station
but the simple watchword Of work and
study.
a liberal education is the prize of in
dividual industry. 1t is the greatest
blessing that a man or woman can en-
JOY when supported by virtue, morality
and noble aims.
But the requirement of learning in our
schools and colleges seems so easy that
we are apt to underestimate its value and
let the opportunity to win 1t slip by until
regretfully we find that the chance is
gone. The rudiments must be ingrafted
IN youth or with rare exceptions they are
forever lost.
Life to most is a struggle and there is
little time for the cOntenDla ton of the
theoretical when the practical is pressing
at every hand. Stern duty mOnOpOlizeS
our time. The command Of others con-
trolls our preferences and often defeats
a firm Diirnose amid fhe acffxitias Of life
may keep in touch with literature of
the day, but to go back to the classics or
grapple with the foundations of the sci
ences is beyond the power of most men
when they have entered upon their chosen
business or profession.
Ones mental fighting. often a hand to
hand conflict with obstacles and tempta-
lions. is a battle of his own. a campaign
than circumstances of luck. Work in the
mental world is as real as that in the
physical world Nor has any prescription
yet been found to take the place of appli-
cation and Self-denial and personal Strug-
greatest leaders and noblest achieve
ments-
both, of reflection and instruction is con-
tanned in this simple admOnition of the
father of his country.
The United States emerged from the
bitter and prolonged struggle of the rev.
OlutiOrary war exhausted financially and
with a hundred existing perplexities and
difficulties which remained to be solved
before the financial credit of the new ma
ton could be established at home and
demonstrated abroad
But Washington knew how to gather
around him and place in positions Of the
greatest trust the ablest financiers and
economists whose names the country still
venerate and whose great work it still
enjoys. Hamilton and Morris and Gal
latin and others were successful in es-
tabhshing the trea sury and inaugurating
the financial operations of this govern
ment upon principles which recognized
that the most enduring basis of national
credit was ma tional honor and that what
ever other assets we might have or ac-
quire, that II was Indispensable. first. last
and all the time, that we cherish the pub
lie credit. We have been fully rewarded
all along our history by adhering TO the
principles of Washington in keeping the