The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-05-04
promote the interests of a com.

prOmOCe the lntereSCS OF a com
mon cause. We are proud
enough to demand the best. and
yet humble enough to be spent
in service. We are hopeful
enough to stake our lives on the
future, and yet cautious enough
to handle. as no others can for
us, the intricate and delicate
questions of our educational life.
We are aristOcratic enough to
believe in the supremacy of our
name and blood, and vet demo-
cratic enough to stand for equal
privileges, and liberal enough to
grant equality of opportunity.
THAT we are vastly rich in
undevelOped natural resources.
the world well knows, but the
important part of the life of a
State, as of men, that part which
controls. directs, and makes
great, is not matter but spirit.
The state that accepts this truth,
that follows the Man of Galilee
in uplifting the minds of it's peO.
pie and sacrificing itself, if need
be, to give equality of OppOrtu-
nifty, grows permanently rich and
great. Witness the difference
between Spain the slave, and
Scotland the free; between India
the feeble, and England the
strong; between Africa the night,
and America the day, and tell
me, if you will, what gives this
supremacy unless it be the spirit
of democracy made effective and
permanent by the growing
spirit of universal education.
MUCH TO BE DONE
This spirit has taken hold of
our people. I would not have
you think that in Louisiana we
have just begun our educational
life. Many years ago much was
begun by Easton, Sheib, Boyd
and others. while much has been
accomplished by such
men as Heard, Alderman, Boyd,
Keeny, Taylor, billiard,
and scores of high
school men and women and
superintendents, who have res.
pended to every call made upon
them for the advancement of
education in the State.
But we are conscious to-day, as
never before, of a mighty poten-
tial energy ready for expression.
The hearts of our people have
been stirred and their minds 50
luickened and illumined that
hey will not rest until good
have been done for the
of their children. And
still, the people are not
begging for help, they are ready
10 do their full duty whenever
hat duty is made plain to them.
One of the newest and might
est forces in our educational
is the Federation of
WOmen's Clubs. The last meet
ng in November was a notable
,ne. Several scholarships were
created for girls in the higher
Institutions of the State, and the
pledged itself unre-
servedly to the cause of public
and I believe that the
voice of the women in Louisiana
soon to be heard in no uncer-
ain terms for better schools and
schOOl-hOuses for the children.
with these forces moving the
majority of OR people, and with
Blanchard pledg-
I'd to the cause of liberal educa-
a man who has it in his
to give the children of
the best educational
conditions that money and en-
and talent. can create, can
you wonder that the Department
# Education enters upon it's
work hopeful. confident of a
measure of success:
TEACHERS INSTITUTES.
You have. no doubt, already
Oreseen some of the things we
lOpe to do. The department,
through the Institute Board, is
Irranging to hold a One-week
institute in every parish
# the State between April / and
Mt. I The instifufos will no