The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-07-20
Needed Reforms.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: In
educational and social systems there are
Two prominent tendencies-one to fash
ION all individuals according to one pat
tern, and the other to encourage native
faculties as the farmer encourages plant
growth, by providing favorable condi
tons Schools sometimes teach science
in a very unscientific manner, and in
stead of fostering natural growth they
treat the student as receptacle to be
illed. Much church effort has been eX
pended in trying to convince the world
that human perfection is to be attained
by the direct intervention of creative
power rather than by natural growth.
The present Eropean war is an attempt
70 force ideals upon the world in true
-Mohammedan fashion.
If we carefully note tendencies we
shall find a tone of influence among US
which may lead to as serious results as
Bernhardi's teachings in Germany. 1t is
becoming the practice in America to
place on exhibition the most perfect
samples of movable guns and subma-
rines possible, just as they exhibit the
highest possible perfection in agri-
cultural products and manufactured
goods Yet they should show to the
world that they never expect to have &C.
= aston to use such horrible instruments
Of torture, by reducing the size of army
and navy Civilization and peace may
be more powerfully taught to the world
by example than by precept.
If Europeans do not see fit to treat US
them, let us confine our efforts to the
American continent and our insular pos
sessions. The commerce of the world is
not worth the blood and money it would
cost, There is sufficient space for de-
veiopment of American genius on this
continent. Leave it for European ma
tons to guarantee our safety when we
go among them. If they cannot do that
let US stay at home. To go abroad and
dare the world to modest US or make US
afraid, is to continue the present scenes
of carnage to all eternity. So much for
our national policy.
Coming down to the humber, vet
equally important task of individual
work, we will begin with child culture.
When the child is to be taught the es-
sentials of an apple or a pea or bean,
he is encouraged to see how its material
mediums of the sprouting seed and grow
ing plant till the apple, pea or bean is
produced. The analogy is carried to the
reproduction of animal life. But in the
study of mind and such forces as electri-
city this method is usually dropped and
it is thought sufficient to observe the
conduct of these forces as we find them.
AS suggested at the beginning of this
article there are two classes of schools;
there are also two classes of students.
One class accepts, like bottle, what
ever is poured in; the other class ques-
lions everything. The first class of
schools prefer the cores ponding class
4of students.
lOnce it was considered to be folly to
attempt to recognize the elements of
earth from which vegetable and animal
rs formed and trace it through the vari-
rous stages of Transformation. Today it
is thought by some to be folly to attempt
to recognize such forces as electricity
and mind in their original native haunts
and trace the successive steps of their
development.
There are as truly hidden rocks and
reefs in social and intellectual life as
there are these dangerous points in our
rivers and harbors. All realize the i'm
portance of the chart to the pilot, but
who realizes that every citizen is sailing
the sea of life amid just as great dangers
and without chart.
A well meaning philanthropist recent
ly visited a prison to advise fallen
friend to lead better life when re-
leased. What was his surprise to be ac-
cused of being the cause of his friends
downfall. They had spent many pleas
ant hour together at the card tables
One had been led into gambling which
aed to his ruin; the other had called
halt at the danger point. One could
walk close to the brink of the precipice
without slipping; the other could not.
Who has not heard even those protesting
to be working in the interests of chill
dren, whispering in their ears, "You did
not order your existence in this world
and you are under no obligation to repay
1.-THE cost of your rearing" Many a per-
szson reared under such influences feels
that the world owes him living. whether
ii e works or not. We should steer clear
of such dangerous reefs, or remove them,
if possible. Our moral and intellectual
life are SO intimately connected that it is
necessary to build them along together
&c ontinually. The electric current sends
a thought around the earth almost in
unanimously and yet if any molecule