The Lafayette gazette., 1902-06-07


scrbed when we speak of man as not being
posted. We should be taught to remember
forever that we live in the vital present
that here, 'on this bank and shoal of time,
and now, is all we can call our own, and
that it is the most important of all epochs
to us, who live. believe we should teach
the younger generation that there is no
ignorance more Grass than ignorance of the
history of the vital present, just as be-
lieve that in this age of the reason, this age
of intellectual light, there should be a con-
slant strife to make knowledge of the
practical and the useful part of the train
ing of the brain. think we should teach
them to measure the calibre of public men
not by the shout of the rabble, but by the
good thoughts they think and vitalize, by
the measure of good deeds they do. by the
generous and humanzng and noble
achievements that stand to their credit.
believe they should be taught early that
they are all-important elements in every
public career, that their approval or disap-
proval makes and mars public men, that
they are the most important parts of any
machinery, that there is nothing grander or
more august that sovereign citizen who
stands in his boots and speaks his honest
thought; that they owe an apology to no one
for expressing it, and that he is an enemy to
the republic who by any means whatsoever
would bride public thought, and that he is
a scoundrel unutterable who would deliber-
ately try to mislead it. The common school
has more to do than teach from books, has
more to do than to instill the esthetic, has
more to do than to teach the conventional.
Like the home, it is another cornerstone in
this republic and just in proportion as it is
all inclusive in reaching all the people, just
IN proportion. as it keeps before all the
young our plan of government and of civili-
zation, our plan of general equity, just in
that proportion will our republic wax
mightier, conquer all the difficulties which
have arisen and which may arise and build
to grander heights
Mr.. Leveque is right. That
part of the child'S education
which refers to governmental af-
fairs is neglected in the schools
of this country, and it is also al
defect in our educational system
that while the boy is instructed
in the performance of his moral
duties, little is said of his civic
The disposition to
ignore the need of a civic educa-
ton, prevails not only in the |
schools but it is noticeable in a
greater degree in the homes. |
The result of this is seen every |
lay in the Indifference of pro-
fessiOnal and business men to
matters pertaining to the gov
arnment and in their diSinclina-
ion to vote and serve on juries.
The statement is not infre-
luently made by alleged good
citizens that they have no inter-
,st in politics and are smart
to shirk jury duty, but
hese Self-Same good citizens are
Invariably the loudest kickers
When the courts fail to convict
and officers are guilty
# a dereliction of duty. The
hild should be taught that the
[uty of the citizen does not con-
ist only in caring for his family
nd Obeying the laws. He should
'e taught that he owes some
hing to his government.
Instead Of being ashamed to
lake the confession, some other
Use estimable citizens proclaim
18th certain degree of pride
hat they are not sufficiently in
crested in the results of cleo
Ons to cast their votes and that ;
ley always succeed in having
1emSelveS excused when {
allied to do duty as jurors
The ignorance which prevails :.
mOng the people in matters L
the form of their gov
and the lamentable in (
ltference displayed particularly d
y the business element make
a possibility and
ave the State the easy prey of
'rrupt and self-seeking politi- a
ans. In a republic it is not y
lily necessary that the people .
lould be honest and educated,
1T they should be familiar with Z
le working of the government, "
r, without some knowledge of