Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-16
Ex-GOv. DilIingham's Address.
The Influence of Education and some
of the Problems of Good GOvernme mt
Considered.

of the Problems of Good Government
Considered.
Ex-Gov. Dillingham; referred at the out
set to the report of Mr. Findlay, acting
under commission from the British gov
eminent on his investigation of the public
school system of America, especially the
secondary schools or those below the col
leges. Mr.. Findlay was surprised most
that the masses were educated at public
expense and that the school tax in the
United States was more willingly paid
than any other tax. Our system of
schools is not an inheritance, therefore it
is development. The speaker traced the
beginnings of what We call popular edu-
cation, and the great influence exerted by
| the Pilgrims.
he cited the destructive character of
democracy in the old world where the
/ people, ground down under the oppres-
| sion of the government and the church,
/ exercised their new-found liberties in riot
| and in blood. The French revolution
| was given as an illustration of this and
| called attention to the fact that those peo-
/ pie threw away all the liberties achieved
! in this revolution and became followers of
| the greatest imperialist the world has ever
/ produced Bonaparte.
]
/ educated democracy is shown in the gov
/ ernments il has established on this conti-
/ nent, increasing the number of independ-
/ ent states from 13 70 A, and in the man
ner in which the general government has
| been maintained under all circumstances
/ during the century that has passed
! The speakers argument went to show
I that the intelligence and love of order,
/ veneration for law and all the other ele-
ments Of good government which have OBJ
| tained in the United States are the result
| of the policy early adopted by the colonies
and carried out by the states to give every
citizen at least common school educa-
/ tion.
He referred to an article by Presid ent
/ Harper of the University of Chicago in
one Uf the recent magazines. in which he
calls attention to the extraordinary growth
OF the United States and the new prob
lens constantly being presented to the peo-
pie for solution, among which he mentions
socialism as an extravagant form of de-
mocracy which is liable TO bring reproach
and injury to US, the rapid growth of the
large cities, the character Of their popula-
tion. the rottenness of city politics. and
the task that democracy must undertake
in solving the problem of good municipal
government, the increase in population in
the last century. inquiring if We can sue
cessfully deal with these large numbers as
We have dealt with lesser numbers, the great
wealth Of a few, and the fact that in a
monarchy there is always place for great
wealth. but in a republic wealth seeks to
make places and positions for itself.
President Harper in his article, also
calls attention to what he calls deteriora-
tion of the law-making bodies, and asserts
that if they deteriorate in the next 25
years as rapidly as in the past democracy
will be in danger. How are these dangers
to be met? DR.. Harper suggests that the
university should, in a sense. be our
prophet and our philosopher. The speak
er said that other means must be employ
ed, and that the masses must be reached
He argued that the public schools are the
most promising agency, especially the High
schools, and be showed by statistics that
less than one-haf of those who enter the
High schools ever take the full course, and
that less than u per cent of those who
enter the high schools ever enter college,
He urged the importance of seeing that
inasmuch as the High schools are furnished
at public expense every young person
ought to receive the benefit of full
course and that an effort be made to en-
courage college courses. He also urged
the idea that the High schools be made
the nursery of the republic and that in
connection with it free use should be made
of fine modern text books, particularly
those used for supplementary readings
which are so valuable in the matter they
contain relating to the public schools.
He suggested the advantage of the old
fashioned lyceum and the young men S
club, such as has been maintained in Bel
lows Falls the past year; that the princi-
pal should have the right to call upon any
intelligent person for aid in outside work
that every professional man be willing tO
give his services in the form of lectures,
etc, and he mentioned a variety of sub
jects connected with the history of the
United States and Europe relating to the
growth and development of civilization
subjects which if properly discussed will
be of great advantage to the young in the
efforts TO master the problems of govern
ment which will be presented TO them fol
solution when they come upon the stage Of
action.
At the close of Mr.. Dillingham's addres:
J the High school quartet, composed o.
Messrs. Gilbert, Morse, Dugan and Ad
{ ans, sang Handel's Trust in the Lord.
In presenting the class to the schoo
board Principal Whitaker brought out th'
fact that the graduates were about to real
' ize the anticipations of four years and Il
receive the seal of their work. One of tn,
first questions which would confront them
1 he said, upon their entrance into real life
was "What can We do?n This could b,
5 answered in no better way than by thl
class motto doe ye nexte thynge." Mr.
Whitaker then cautioned the graduate