The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-04-08

Al a oNAEiAhOuS Ddllit lDI UdIt existence.
when stout hearts and willing hands
were bending all their energies to turn
ing barren wastes and dense forests
into fertile farms, there was some ex-
cuse for men to whom the treasures of
science, art and philosophy recorded in
the literature of the ancientS and mod
erns was a closed and sealed book. But
now the schoOl-master is abroad and
the time is close at hand when an
I'm educated American citizen will be an
object of scOrn and derisiOn as he is
fast becoming the object of pity and
contempt. The benefits of education
are no longer the privilege of the favor
ed few; wise and benefcient govern
ment has brought the stream of know
ledge, through the public schools, to
the door of all, the poor as well as the
rich.
History shows that ignorance has
eyer been the victim of folly and weak
ness. knowledge is power and the
strongest safeguard of the liberties of
a nation is the intellectual development
of its people. Ignorance is a breeder
evil and the destroyer of moral and
social progress. A nation NAV stand
high on the intellectual thermometer of
the world through the achievements of
few brilliant men, but all real and
permanent progress must have its
foundation in the mental and moral
education of the masses. Ignorance of
the masses in any country Is always a
menace to pr gress and prosperity. 1t
is the prey of every political deluslon
and source OF weakness in a nation
hour of trial. 1t has eyer been found a
fertile field for the propaganda of dis
| content and revolution, and in every
revolution ignorance is the power to be
most feared and dreaded. History
presents no more striking lesson of this
| truth than the conditions which proceed
| ed and the events that led up to the
trenchiRevOlution and to the student of
history the French Revolution is study
in blood and carnage. 1t was the result
OF century Of oppression and enforced
| ignorance of the masses. The Court
was llcentlOus, frivolous and corrupt,
| the masses were impoverished, ignorant
| and oppressed. For years the people
| had been treated as beasts of bu den,
| begging the right to toll and lifting
| their knotted hands, bringing supplicants
| to arrogance and wealth Church and
| State, throne and altar, king and priest
| were in league against the people. 1t
| was the reign of the favorite, the SY-
| cOphant and the pander. The substance
| of the people was flched from them by
unjust laws and niquitous taxation
| the revenues of the country were
| squandered in shameful protiigacy by
| the voluptuarieS of the royal palace
! The church was filled with hypocrites
In the Senate corruption held the high
| est Dlace The Courts of iuSticp were
Vehal ana around the person OF the KING
| eVoiVed tne most abandoned courtlzahS
that eyer dlsgraced royal court.
AT Ihe 1uliieflerS ana at Nersaiiles
SurrouhGeu by the priceless treasures OF
| art' gathered tne pomp, splehdor ana
beauty OF that rated land. Ana there,
uhGer the very nose OF royalty,
| uhuef Lhe peacock hahglhgS OF the royal
closet, treason SediIioh ana intrigue plot
| ana cohsplre. In the gllueu banquet
nan, ehYeioped IN the golden gauze OF
! wealth., sire ana son, lnatroh ana mad
JON the MAG Whlri Ihat leadS TO des-
| IrucIloil ana aeaJh' hlgh cafhlVal ran
| hasque. ne ladles OF lhe Court
| SGuqled le"uhess as me ART the poe,
| Oh lhe iicehJious passions was Ihe ldoi
! -
ca c0urtlzahS listened Wlth eager ears TO
rlpald attacks on the molly institutions
OF rehgloh ana matrimohy' ana with
capIlVaIlng smiles from oenihd ihelf
JeWeied lahs theV encouraged the Ie"d
ana vulgar jest.
Such were the conditions, avocatlons
and life of the ruling classes in Paris
while France was in travail with spirit
of revolt. Given up to libidinous pas
slons and selfish pleasures they heard
not the people, cry for bread and
through the Fashioned walls of the pal
1 ace the groan and agony Of the toiler
could not penetrate. In those sad days
fear and famine sat at the tireslde Of
the poor. Many a father turn un-
easily IN his sleep and many mother
wept throughout the long and dreary
| nights as she thought OF the fate OF her
daughter, torn from her arms at the
order OF the lord OF the manor. But a
terrible day OF eckonfag is at hand,
and now the luli before the storm. The
teaching OF Mlrabeau, Camille, Desmou-
Lilia, maui u Uan|oiL any WARE are
I;ai u ~ D my tiie E1 % 6;y 70
Mo 'Isi.E ilie DeCiai a.ioll VI hignts VI
,n;th VI hInd i ~ o;I &c ISalililiS
Ill H.. H. ~ Co o iari ooii VI any re
Gon.',a eo ~ ttnt ,t.;I1 toiliiis VIC