The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-20
NORTHERN ADDRESSES
STATE SUMNER SCHOOL
Discusses Need of Better State School System and
Offers Some Pertinent Suggestions

Athens. Ca, July 17.-(Special. 1.-THE
following is a summary of the address de-
lvered by Hon. W. ]. Northen before the
university summer school in Athens yes
terday morning upon the Future of the
State" Ex-Governor Northen said:
Since the organiza ton of this institu-
ton I have watched with increasing in
ferest its steady growth in usefulness to
all the people of the state. This new
feature, in which l now have the honor
to take part, gives me special pleasure as
It gives evidence Of further enlargement
of your helpful work l would be glad if
1t were possible to attend every session
IF your summer school that might catch
the inspiration of your attendance and
your work for the betterment of our
schools and thereby the advancement Of
the state.
1T has been announced that / am to
speak TO you on the future of
the state. Living as we do, I'M
den a republican form of govern
ment. It Is a matter OF wonder that
we have not yet, after all these years of
experimentation settled upon more fixed
policies for the growth and development
of our institutions. l have found great
interest recently in the study of the
national platforms adopted during the
last thirty years by the several political
parties. The statements therein contained
are supposed to be the expression of in
telligent statesmen as to the policies to
be adopted to secure and maintain an
ideal government for a free people. 1t Is
curious to see, not only how men of politi-
cal experience differ among themselves,
but how they actually disagree with their
1,-.,,
different political parties come into power
In confirmation OF what | am now saying
we have only to listen for the announce
ments to be made in the forthcoming
platforms adopted for the next national
campaign.
Whatever may be our differences on
party lines, along commercial, industrial
and financial relations, there are certain
fundamental elements of successful free
government upon which we are all agreed
that ought 10 have our pronounced adj
Vocacy and adherence.
whatever may be our personal views
and party policies we are all agreed If the
highest ideal of the nation is reached we
must attain, in each individual instance,
TO the highest ideal of citizenship.
The authority of our government is not
but in the individual sovereignty of the
Individual citizen. It's final character
must be illustrated in the aggregate vii!
of the majority. Public opinion makes
the law of the nation and the government
of the people. Public opinion is but the
aggregation of individual opinions, that
finally, either passively or in active CO
operation. accept the majority as law. If
public opinion is iEtelligently and honest
ly formed the standard of government
will be high If it is shaped by ignorant
men. without morals. it will be destruc-
ton.
n,,1
universally accepted, they are we go
further together and all agree that no
man can make an ideal citizen of a re-
publican government without sufficient
education to understand and apply the
fundamental principles that ought to con
troll free people.
1--WE go still further and all agree that
so essential to good government is the
educa ton just described that the state
should itself undertake to furnish it alb
souteIy free of cost to every man who is
10 become a citizen of the commonwealth
and exercise his rights as a sovereign in
control.
Schools Bulwark the State.
Having gone thus far In generalities,
! shall venture to say that the future of
the state does not depend primarily al
least. upon the products of the soil, the
abundance and variety of its mineral re-
sources the vastness of its commerce and
Its industrial development. but upon the
Intellectual and moral strength of its
people. The meaning of this statement is,
# eur government is made stable our
schools must be made efficient and all DIR
children must receive from them the best
possible instruction. This is the natural
and logical conclusion from the universal
acceptance of the fundamental principles
just announced. If the future of the state
depends upon the intellectual and moral
strength of its citizens, the future of the
state must depend, in the last analysis,
upon the character of our schools and the
efficiency of our teachers. I am here to
say that the people to whom | am now
addressing myself carry, more compile tely.
the burdens of society and of government
than do the Legislative. judicial and en-
ecutive departments of the state all COM
bined. No class OF our people are sup
posed 10 understand school matters bet
ter than those who teach the schools. If
the system is wrong, the machinery
clumsy there ought to be no one to dis