The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-07-15
OUR MAY CAMPAIGN
SHALL IT COUNT FOR NAUCHT
An Interesting Letter On the Subject.
To The Free Lance:

TO The Free Lance:
Just little more than n month has
elapsed since we concluded the most
thorough and enthusiastic educational
campaign ever Waged in the confines oi
uur State. in fact. no educational move
mcnt haseycr hon So successfully planned
and executed i'm our State before. Edu-
cutors of rare ability spent their time
and money in presenting to our citizens
the demands for better schools. the
farmer neglected his field. the tradrsman
hi~ shop and the professional man his oil
flee, and with unprecedented enthusiasm
they gns'tcd our leaders and assured
them oi their approval and support
Surely We have all enjoyed this rduca-
tional rally. We thank our worthy lead
rr- for their words ui advicr aud rncour-
ag-mcnt. and more highly than We can
express. do We Appreciate their un~'liisli
efforts but to ~ comes the momentous
question. What is To be- the ultimate rr-
suit of this campaign will these plans
iur Wcli-"quippod teachers and better
~chool buildings ever reach irltion. or
an. thci bun the drams of enthusiasts.
With no probability of cunsummatlon'
ln 20 campaign speech tor the Pn'sl-
lcucy. Mr. Garfield once said: II have
-.r.n the ~ra dashed into fury and tossed
into spray. and itS grandeur moved the
soul oi the dulcst man: but remember
10 is not the pillows but the calm level OF
the ~ca from which all heights and depths
nrc measured When the storm has pass
rd and the hour ol calm settles on the
ocean. when the sunlight baths its
smooth -uriacrthrn the astronomer and
surveyor take the level from which hr
measures ull terrestrial heights aud
depths
And thus 10 H.. De- continued i'm the
political world II i~ in the holmes
Ly the quiet iip.>idr- OF our hand. that "a
candidates and % cuuntry'~ destiny arr
determined
Md thus it is may add. in the social.
moral. educational and every other
phase of This many sided world. Poets
may charm. and orators may lead ell
thralld their listeners. but amidst 7ceneS
of pomp and glory. great questions can
not Boz wisely considered. the zeal oiman
cannot Doe accurately measured. Ideas
may hr thus disseminated. stirring the
feelings and ar0using man To nobler r'--
outiou. but too often the enthusiasm r.
only -pa-modic. and lives no longer than
the applause which follows the speaker.
Don't misunderstood me. for ! know
leaders arr indeed, very essential, but
they muai have our united support
before they can hope 10 accomplish
much. Sun.ly they have done their part
well. and now. iellow-citizrus. we are 10
decide upon the isSur The storm of on
tiusasm has passed, the war of words
il over. the idcs Oi fate arp here and ar
those measures doomed for which our
MAY campaign stood? As "a teacher in
the public schools of the State have for
"a long time recognized how urgent our
needs are. and now that the ISSUE * a
live one. may We not waver in the cry
for better schools until We got them.
Let uS cheeriully contribute 10 an in
creased school tax and see that our
school funds are judiciously expended.
Let u~ keep these ISSUES before the public
cy" and promote every measure that
promises 10 insure Success and some day
in the not far distant future We shall So
the educational banner Of old Virginia
waited where We have long wished To
S,.e il and where her dignity and renOwn
demand that it shall wave, in the lore
most ranks in the great sisterhood OF
States.
D.