The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-24
TALKS ABOVE THE HEADS
OF THE PEOPLE.

Jim liill. he famous western
railruadcr who talks on more sub
jects than roadbeds and running
trains. said the other day that his
only fear Of the new Democratic pres
ident was that he was too learned IN
books and talked above the heads
OF the people" We have heard this
sort Of alleged common sense" be-
fore with reference to other men and
have never been able to see its force.
|. implies distrust OF and a con-
tempt for education and it is to be
heard most frequently from the
mouth of the backwoods demagogue
who gets down to the lowest level OF
the lowest intelligence in his audi
ence merely to court favor with ig-
nOrance
The man who holds the exalted Of
lice OF president Of the United States
il not to be disparaged because ne
has learning and culture, nor is 1t
his business to stoOp to ignorance to
make himself understood. TO admit
the validity of such a course would
be to rob education of one of its best
values and invest ignorance with a
privilege and consideration that
would almost make ii superior
state TO live in and .ake from the
i.norant man his strongest motive TO
get education. The truest wisdom,
the best common sense, the sOundest
and most Illuminating views of men
and things and life and duty go with
education and culture. They lift
their possessOr above the arbitrary
and empire stage of thought, the
mere gursswork OF mind moving in
harrow grooves, into the clear light
of the science of life where the unity
and correlation of all things are
seen. true perspective furnished and
conclusions reached with an acrur-
acy not known by those who pick up
unrelated knowledge in spots here
and there and call il education.
1t is a dangerous theory to preach
OF even to imply that sound practical
Judgment and executive ability are
Incompatible with learning and cul-
ture and il is as untrue as it is dan
gerous. for throughout the world to-
day the best and most successful gov
eminent in nations. states. cities and
corporations is found where there is
the best education in the governing
power The people should be stimu-
lated to rise up to the level Of the
learning and culture which talks to
them through those in authority
rather than encouraged to remain
stationary in intelligence and com
pei their presidents and governors to
come down to their understandings
Otherwise there would be a lack of
intellectual progress among the
masses and the honors and premiums
OF political distinction would so to
those who taught in the kinderSar
ten of craftsmanship.
Thomas jefferson, deeply learned
and cultured, was one of the greatest
OF the presidents and his administra
ton was an immense practical sue
cess Every great English prime min
lister for the last century has been
a man of marked learning and cul-
ture i'm books. and he was all the
wiser and better administrators for
what the hooks had told him. Cover
nor Wilson himself. whom Mr.. Hill
holds cheaply because of his scholar
ship and learning. first caught the
attention OF the country because of
his remarkable success as practical
at the head Of great
III 'ersity; and as governor of New
icy he won the presidency by vir-
- of the very qualities which Mr..
Hin seems TO think are incompatible
With learning and culture
Our new president will be wiser
~ stronger at the head of the ma
ion because of the clearer mental H. |
given him by his learn
Lg and culture. and his speeches so
ar as we have read them have only
'een above the heads of those people
Who are negligible as factors in the
clution OF the problems OF govern
rent except in a mere numerical
.pse.