The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-11

with mental and physical training
must go moral culture. Thou shalt
not lie," thou shalt not steal" thou
shalt not KILL" and all the other thou
shalt-nots" must be inculcated SO
effectively, that proper regard for the
rights Of others shall become fixed
principle in the life of every man,
woman and child.
The lawless rich and the lawless
poor must be placed upon the same
plane in the administration Of JUS
tice. To that end. preparation for
citizenship should begin in infancy and
continue through life.
Place For Training.
This training should begin In the
home, for nowhere else can the les
sons of love, truth. obedience, honesty
ana fidelity be so effectively inculcat-
ed. There should be implanted that
nobility of character. that love OF
right for the rights sake, that stall
wart patriotism. and that unfaltering
courage, SO necessary. in governments
where the people rule. But, sad to
say, the home is falling In this I'm
portant duty. The obligations OF
fatherhood and motherhood are
neglected in the race for wealth and
pleasure. The undisciplined child
grows into the lawless citizen; and
the lawless citizen Is the liar, the
swindIer the thief, the CRATER. the
robber, the lyncher. the murderer.
Can this training be given by the
church? Is the church giving II?
While I have an abiding faith in the
efficiency of the work of the church,
there seems to be little hope for
speedy and adequate relief from
that source.
What about the press? While the
press is a great educator and IL power
full in advocacy OF the supreme i'm
portance of civic Righteousness, It does
not reach adequately the citizen at
the most impressionable age.
Hone In Public school.
II is clear that, for a development
OF ethical standards which will lead
to a proper appreciation OF the rela-
lions and obligations of civic life, we
must look to something other than the
agencies mentioned. To what source
shall we look?
It Is to the school. especially the
pubic school. we must look. Upon
the teacher in the school must We
to erect high ideals and build up to
their full stature. to apply correct
thinking and noble acting to the solu-
ton of life's problems, to direct and
preserve the republic. knowledge Ia
power, and an educated conscience II
its only safe guide.
To the end that the teachers work
NAV be most effective. every child
should be required by law to attend
school an adequate length OF time in
every year. If IT 10 the duty of the
state to provide schools. equally is IL
the states duty to require its children
TO attend them. Shall the State sacri-
flee the citizen and endanger Its own
stability and efficiency by permitting
children, through the neglect or cupidi-
ty of unnatural parents. or through
the avarice and inhumanity Of grasp
ing corporations, to grow into man
hood and womanhooj dwarfted In
body, mind and soul? Such a policy is
nothing less than social and govern
mental suicide.
While each OF the States recognizes
the necessity for universal education
at public expense. while each is striv-
ing to meet Its obligations in that
respect, and while each is making COM
mendable progress under existing con-
ditions, the task is only begun. Indeed,
students OF education and economics
are coming to realize that the task of
providing adequate educational facil-
tiles for all OF the people is beyond
the power OF some Of the States; es-