Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-04
oUR DUTY TO EDUCATION

In spite of the war and all the
losses. both economical and human.
which it has caused, and in spite OF
. the confusion which has come to our
trade and industries, we appear to
be living in the most prosperous age
in the history of our country. Prices
are, exceedingly high, but wages IL
most ee the arts and industries have
kept pace with this increase. There
seems to be a veritable flood of mon
ey in the country. There has been
q keen demand for most of our prod
ucts. Large profits seem to nave
been made by all classes of our citi-
zens. We are riding on the crest OF
great wave of prosperity. Just
now there is grave danger that we
may forget or overlook many things
pf a fundamental nature. We have
yet to face the period of reconstruc-
ton with all of its grave dangers and
pitfalls. In this hour of national
triumph we must not forget that the
things which have enabled us to
achieve success have rested in the
past. on the quiet, orderly, God-fear-
ture Of our people. We must not
forget that the triumphs we have
achieved rest primarily on the edu-
cation which we have extended to
the mass of our people; that, but for
our ability to use machinery success
fully and to understand how to dea!
with nature so as to increase the
Yields of our crops and multiply the
fruitfulness of our animals, we
would not have been able to make an
adequate response to the needs OF
our own nation and the world Tor
supplies of meat and bread.
Now that the struggle is over, IN
the eyes of many we may lose Slght
of some of our ideals and some OF
our firmly-rooted beliefs unless we
take hold upon the situation with
fervor and determination. There is
danger that what we may have ac-
complished may look too easy and
appear so simple that we may lose
sight of our high regard for educa-
'tion. 1t is a time for US to take
fresh grip on ourselves, to cherish
and hold fast to all our national
ideals. to understand and grasp the
bigneSS of the duty and the privilege
and opportunity which is ours, to
throw out a sheet anchor to the wind
ward and hold the ship of destiny on
a true course, and to know and un-
derstand that economy, Self-Sacri1ce,
fortitude. industry and integrity
. We're never more essential to the well
: fare and success of our nation th2H
at present. Above all, we must I'M
derstand, appreciate and cling to the
knowledge that education has brought
us to our present forward position
and that it IS to be the beacon light
set on a hill to guide us onward
and upward to the rewards ana
achievements which lie ahead for
those who know and understand the
truth and will not be swerved there
from by any combination OF clrcum-
stances.
Our progress here in Georgia has,
therefore, not been accidental. Our
increa Sed yields and the diversified
ton of our crops have been brought
81 nv
effort on the part of all progressive
citizens aided by such service as in
situations such as this could offer
through it's trained leaders to the
people of the state. The boil Weevil
Invasion has done less damage in
Georgia than in any other state. Was
this an accident? No. The results
witnessed rested primarily on the
fact that the college through
twelve-year period has worked
through every agency at its com
mand to teach diversification in the
production of both plants and an
imals and to encourage the intro
duction and cultivation of new crops.
AS a result, in the section where
the weevil damage has been great
est there is as much real prosper
ty as in any other section of the
state. This has come about through
the multiplying of our herds of hogs
and the raising of these animals on
grazing crops, thereby enabling
Georgia to raise pork as cheaply as
any. state in the union. In addition,
we are cultivating great areas in
:. peanuts and velvet beans. The for
Rfper crop yields an oil the equal
Ii not the superior, of cotton seed
Loil and a concentrate of wonderful
value as a food for both man and
beast.
led the number of our hogs and as
a result packing plants have been
established and Georgia has become