The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-23

her also the Injunction parents, pro-
yoke not your children TO wrath. An
obligation rests upon the parent as we'll
as upon the child, and when the parent,
forgetful OF the interests Of tho child,
undertakes to trespass uron the child's
rights, tho government necessarily steps
in and protects the child The Register
continues: ID
1--WE have also been concerned and this
concern has been intensified by the SEEM
ing Indifference Of many white people
here In the South. This. more than any
thing else, has driven us almost TO the
verge of abandoning the deeply rooted
convictions on this subject. However, we
do not like to answer the questions OF
The Times Dispatch just as they are lot
INFLATED. 1t seems to expect us TO ac-
cept the idea that the state IS some
thing separate and distinct from the peo-
nIe who really constitute the state Such
n situation as 1t supposes and concern
ing which 1t asks us to express an opin.
ION is hardly conceivable. Where all
the pcople take a notion that education is
not desirable. there Is not likely 70 ,pe
any educational system, nor any provision
for anything OF the sort. Every State
is what the people mako 1t and IS no pet
ter and no worse than the people WHO WHO
constitute It. a vast majority OF the
people of this country believe IN e ,a,,sa,
ton and the question Is as to whether
this majority shall force 1t upon the lew
who are indifferent. This is not an easy
question. A very solemn responsibility
rests upon parents in this connection ana
}we hnye not been able to reach any posi-
tiye conclusion us to whether the state
ought to assume this responsibility. IN
short. we do not mind confessing tnat
there are some things we 40 mot K'l s
and this is one of them
We do not mean to separate the state
from, the people except so far as that
separation has been made by tho Peopie
themselves. We have a form OF govern
ment which the people have made. 1t is
supported and upheld by the great major
~ and no man may set himself up III
defiance of the governments autho rity'
If all the people should decide that edu-
cation was not desirable it goes with
out saying that the public school system
would be abolished. But when on over
whelming majority Of the people are IN
favor Of education, it Is perfectly COM
petent for the state to make law ana
enforce it requiring every child to at
tend some school for given period, Or
as we prefer it. restraining parents from ron
donvinr to their children the right Of an
education.
There is this serious phase. to Which
we invite the attention of our DanV'iie
contemporary, and to all who are IN do U
on this point. 1t is an accepted fact that fi
education increases the earning capacity
of the people and also that an Ignorant
people cannot In this day Of push ana
progress keep pace with an educated peo-
pie. If the state Of Virginia is to COM
pete in a purely material way with other
states Of the Union, 1t must educate ITS
children From every point OF view
moral, intellectual. social, political, ma
terial education is necessity OF modern
civilization and progress, and, therefore
the state If it would keep pace must
make education compulsory.