The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-16

Is Not a Pessimist.
II do not want you to understand
that 1 take a pessimistic view Of this
situation. In the rapid advancement
we have made in the last twenty years
much OF this was to be expected. 1 do
not mean to say that the entire country
is debauched, or that even 90 per cent
of 1t is corrupted 1t is true that the
strong men of this country. regardless
of creed or party affiliations, denounce
it and are earnestly seeking correc-
ton of the abuses, and disagree only
as to the remedy. 1t is clear that the
courts of the country cannot deal ade-
quately with it. They can only deal
with specific instances. Legislatures
may pass laws to prohibit IL. but with
cut strong public sentiment they can
not enforce the laws. for the stream
can rise no higher than the source
THE real and final remedy must
come through the education of the
children. They will in a short time
have possession of all branches of the
government, and this instruction, this
conscience making. this love of right,
must in great measure depend upon
the teachers that have charge OF the
schools.
"In orlerto accomplish it there must
be a general propaganda to that end
| throughout the entire school systems.
Children must be reared 10 feel and I'M
derstand that q public office is public
| trust, and that TO violate that trust is
crime; that to violate a private trust
is equally criminal, and that to cheat,
wrong and defraud is equally culpable.
They must come into the life of the
country as citizens with conscience
and understanding and moral founda-
ton, that VIII abhor all such practices.
Will Take Years.
ut will take years to. accomplish the
final result, but the results viii pay q
thousandfold for the effort. 1t has
come to be national demand. 1t APP
peals to our patriotism, and has be-
come n governmental duty IL is this
thought and this part of the school
work to which. for myself, j desire to
| call your special attention.
ITO my mind this is the understand
ing that is, the conscience training
the training outside of the courses OF
! study prescribed for imparting. mere
/ knowledge-that is most required. and
/ what, as applied to our condition, is
| meant in the proverbs. by that further
! getting which is referred to as 'un-
/ derstandinS.' If you ask me how this
| is to be taught, / should be unable tC
! prescribe any particular. course, II may
| be taught by prec3pt, by example, but
| in all grades of school work everywhere
| the spirit of integrity, of absolute con
scionable dealing, of truthfulness
should be required from the pupil. The
pupil commencing with the first grade
should constantly be taught to abhol
all uncOnsciOnable and improper. things
and should be made to feel the disgrace
attending an uncOnsciOnable, immoral
/ or wrongful act.
DO not, ] beseach you, underesti-
mate your influence over your pupils
an their love, affection and reverence
for you. AS you unfold knowledge tc
them and lead them through the mys-
teries of technical learning. they come
to have the highest regard and revcr-
ence for you. Your every act, your
every move and your methods become g
part of theirs. The soul of the pupil
becomes knit to the soul of the teach
er, and your opportunities for con
! science building and intoxicating in the
| pupil the absolute necessity. enable
ment and divinity Of truthfulness, hon
esty and morality are boundless. You