The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-02-07

l poSSloly oc VI I1oW
could he be expected to place a
higher estimate on the pearls
than on the bag, when he was
to which Il pearl owes it's value as
IA gem. He knew the use of the
leather bag, however, and made
sure of that; and, so it is with the
voter in his estimate of the cleo
torate. He is informed as to the
value of a dollar and keeps it. but
his intellect never having reached
that stage of development which
would ena BILE him to comprehend,
enjoy and exercise the supreme
! privilege secured to him by the
ballot box, like the soldier in the
army of Galerius, he throws
away ghignorance, the thing
of greatest value to him.
The picture just drawn depicts
a most deplorable condition, and
it is false pride that would cause
us to deny or disguise it's truth
fulness, and no good could result
from such a course. 1t is better
and more manly to recognize the
evil in all its hideousness and pro-
ceed to eradicate the disease,
branch and root, by destroying
the cause. An education, solid
education, broadminded educa-
ton, is the remedy and great
panacea for all our social and
economic ills. The kind of edu-
cation that converts knowledge
into power and elevates men and
women far above the plane of
sOrdidneSS and rank CONNER
cialism. The manner of educa-
ton which causes men and wO-
men to realize that they are in
tended to be more than mere au-
donations, something of greater
usefulness than mechanical ap-
pliances for the exploitation of
fashion and the display of MILL
merry. That quality of education
and training of the mind and
heart which incites men and wO-
men to deeds of herOism and no.
bleness, and enables them to drink
deeply Of the joys and beauties Of
this life. because conscious of it's
higher duties and graver respon-
sibi:itieS eternal in their work
ings.
There aremany earnest men and
women among our own people Ia
boring for the Improvement and
extension of our educational IA
cilities. Let these join hands in
the grand work of obliterating
the ignorance and illiteracy that
is blotch on one fair Southland.
Let them wage an unceaSing cru
SADIE against incompetency in
officers and school teach
ers. Only the best talent and
the highest ability must be al
loved to govern the public school
system and direct the moral and
training of our children.
And in all worthy and practical
efforts to foster the blessings of
among the unlettered
we should feel great
and encouragement
in knowing that we can at all
times depend upon the active
sympathy and support of our
chief magistrate, Gov. Heard,
whose utteranceS and actions af- =
ford convincing proof of the great :
he attaches to the
subject Of public education in (
And the Press. who can esti-
mate the usefulness and influence
4 forwarding the new century {
campaign for a universal educa- 4
ion OF the people? And it is
to be hoped that The !
St. Martin Review and all other c
newspapers engaged in the up
building OF a country now deeply | !
telling the burden and diSadvan- a
ages of ignorance and illiteracy, t
will fully realize the grave res E
resting on them as =
and moulders of O
bought, and lend their powerful c
influence to the cause by agita- F
ing and advocating unremittingly :,
vi reasonable and necessary h
measures for the rapid and effect c
We dissemination of knowledge
through education, to the end Z
hat our people may attain to the {
proud and influential position to
which they are riShtfully entitled .
~ birth and tradition. And as !
'ur school work is being so Sc
iously hampered by a lack of s
school funds, and as money in
ested in education brings the
cry largest returns, a liberal To-
al SchooI tax is the foremost one
# the public measures to be car
led into effect in the higher in L
crest of the people; and such a a
AK will afford the most reliable o
nd tho most nffncf,yn mans -