Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-10
Education an important Requisite
IN Public Men. -L.-.. 7.


bred men take part in, politics. For a
long time they stood aloof because OF
their aversion to coming in contact
with the rough element of society who
are always in evidence in political
campaigns. They allow these -unscru.
pulous, -uncouth, ignorant men undue
privileges because they dare take them.
That class have invariably amongthem
desperate spirits who have no,regard
for law or order or any of the moral
Or sacred things of society and who
do not hesitate to come forward as
leaders.
Indulgence in beer, wine or whiskey
at the expense OF candidates soliciting
their votes generally inspires the mas
ses to do the most vicious and dis
gushing. They violate all laws of de-
cency and propriety, make it hazard.
Gus for respectable, law-abiding citi-
zens to appear in their ward or dis
trict meetings. At signal from their
leaders they have insulted and NAL
treated many who dared come among
them who were not OF their kind.
It is the duty of educated men to at
tend ward meetings and to show by
their moral courage that they are there
in the interest of good citizenship; that
they do not intend to be driven away
or to be insulted by hoodlums. Pro-
vide ample protection, and then by ap-
pealing 10 the better nature of the low
est, try to get them to listen to argu-
ment; tell them the consequences of
their course; put their speakers to
shame by exposing their ignorance
and evil intent. Persistency in such
methods will, nine times out of ten,
win.
It is admitted that an educated man
is better fitted for the various profess
sions and business of life; then, why
is he not better equipped for the field
of politics than the illiterate? a
man may have genius for anything
and be so lacking in knowledge as to
be unable to profit by his God-given
gift.
1t is not true that the illiterate, bas-
or elements of society are in the ma
jority in the United States. That class
must have leaders, and why should
not the men who are intelligent and
we'll prepared become the leaders?
To become leader of men one must
study men, mingle with the masses,
take an intere-t in their personal well
fare, ingratiate one s self into the con-
fidence of mankind, and it will be
found that superior education and
knowledge attract the weaker and un-
informed as surely as the magnet at
tracts the needle to the pole. 1t is
perfectly natural for the thirsty to
turn to the fountain, and it is equally
natural for the ignorant to turn to the
fountain of knowledge. If politics are
left in the hands of the vicious and de-
generate it is the fault of the educated
because they could prevent the usurpa-
ton of political power by the ignorant
and vicious.
W hen the nation is threatened by
any foe, the educated citizen rushes to
its defense as his patriotic duty. It is
far more his duty to stand guard over
the sacred principles that underlie the
political interests of the nation. We
are shocked every day by the overt
acts of citizens right in our midst.
Men refuse to honor the flag because
it has not been unfurled to protect
them in carrying out some of their rev.
pulmonary acts. We are told that lib
erty in this country is a farce because
some criminal has been prosecuted for
violating the law.
Organizations dare take into their
own hands the execution and construc-
ton of the law. They dictate what
others shall or shall not do, but defy
authority when they arraigned for vi
oiation of all law and are guilty OF
murder and mob violence in trying to
carry out their revolutionary theories
and purposes.
Intelligent and well-educated men are
sometimes criminals. They are, how
ever, the exceptions. BY far the larg-
or majority of the criminal class are
ignorant and untaught in every sense
of the word.
A man must be totally depraved
whose nature is not bettered by educa-
tion. The more a man Knows and the
more ambition he acquires he natural
ly seeks edifying occupation and as.
sociations and widens the gulf between
himself and the dissolute and depraved.
One is often reminded that some OF
the greatest men of this country have
been without education, fact which
makes their success all the more phe-
nomenal. Had they had educational
opportunities what might not they
have done for the world and them
selves? In addition, they lived in an
epoch when education was not univer-
sal and indispensab as it is now and
will be in the future.
1t rests With the college-bred men to
wrench frC m the hands of the anarch.
istic element in this country the sacred
principles of our great republic and to
.perpetuate the power of government
to protect its citizens in the enjoyment
of their lives and property.