The Lafayette gazette., 1903-05-16
Communicated.
PLETTE, La. Ma

| MIR Ed:tor:--It is time for our parish to
wake up and fall into line with the district:
| Of the land that are pushing the noble cause
of education in every manner. We now
feel the little hands that are beating at the
door of enlightenment. The great seni
ment has stimulated their little hearts.
How unfortunate is our parish to have mer
who not their ''way clear''-how un-
fortunate il is to have some who ''fear the
blame and remain mum.
Who will say he does not know that the
future destiny of our parish lies in The hands
of the growing little one? Who will say he
! does lot know tha, equal distrbu-
tion of development of intelligence to So
ciety? Who Will say he does not know that
the bettcrment of man lies in what we do
with the children? Who will say he does
not know that the refusal of enlightenment
to the little ones is an intellectual crime
against society? Who will not admit that
the public duties of educated citizens are to
respond to the call at which they best
be useful.
Senator Beveridge, an American political
philosopher, quoted Dan,on in Congress in
which he was pleading the admission Of ter
ritories into babyhood of States: 9 TO
again audacity, and always audacity. and
France is saved.'' Therefore, men whom
the lust of Office does not kill; men whom
the spoil of office cannot buy; men who pos
sess opinions and willard the audaCity
of Danton, then the legitimate right of the
children is saved
Gladstone, the great English statesman,
at the time the urgent reforms were at stake
IN the Irish cause, was the most bitter enemy
of the English people. His father has said
of him: ''rhere stands my son, helping to
ruin his country The sublime thoughts Of
Young Gladstone on governmental affairs
were repulscd. The British bitterly antag-
onized his ideas as being detrimental to the
British kingdom, thereby making him the
most hated man in the hearts of his country
men. But his sincerity. his great moral
courage, and his fearless utterances for
mans right trumphcd to the surprise of
the world. We note that his famous saying
was, ''iou cannot fight against the future.
Tine is; our sidc.' This leads US to be
licve we cannot hght the great tendency of
the time. That tendency is the evolution
Of progress. The spirit is great that
those who keep biind-piay blind-wiil some
time in tbs future remain behind as lost
sheep. Why should the extreme conscrva-
tives beat against the invircible wave.
Burke, another great English statesman
of his time. represented n Catholic popula-
ton of Bristol, England, in Parliament. In
Producing his great bill, he desired that his
constituents be given their legitimate rights
in the particip ipatiun of The government which
had been denied them Thus Burke said:
The charges against me are all of one kind
that l have pushed the principles of gen
eral lustic. and hcnevulencc too far-further
further than the opinions of many would go
along with mc-ln every accident which
may happen through life-paiu in sorrow,
in depression and distress, | will call to
mind this accusation and be comforted.'
Again, he said: II did not obey your in
structions. No, | confo1med to the nstruc-
tions of truth and nature, and maintained
your interests against vosr opinions with 4
cOnStanCy that became me. -
Should we not have as much right 10 be
come proud of oar parish as other parishes
are proud of their liberal contributions to
the cause Of education-frOm the fact that
their leaders confor med to the dictate and
Instructions of truth? VIII the Police Jury
refuse to pledge certain amount Of money
for training the innocent little ones? Will
that body of law ma kerS refuse to pledge a
certain amount of money that help breaking
the deplorable shackle of ignorance OF our
wealthy parish-a parish we feel SO proud
Of? VIII that honorable body let its name
70 record hindrance to the intellect
ual progress of man? Will thot distinguished
body of representative law makers wait until |
we go mcndicants with our hats under
arm for the much needed which |
appeals and beats in the tender
hearts of thc conscientious leaders, VIII
that trusted body of men refuse to do what
should be pledged the very first of all
other purposes?
'.t'pR CHILDREN.