The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-02-22

upward. To attain truth, we must
adopt, without reservation or eva
sion, not years hence, but now, the
kind, quality and quantity of educa-
ton advocated bv Horace Mann.
Had that been done a half century
ago, we would not now be in a will
derness of chaotic conflicts and con-
fusing controversies. There would
have developed less of illness and
none of illiteracy. The religious
wrangling that again threatens our
security and the peace of the world
would not exist. Instead Of an al
ready menacing growth of divided al
legiance, there would be national
solidarity. The separation of church
and state would be accomplished
Our patriotism would be operative,
rather than so generally inept and
purposeless. Had education been
foundationally established; had it
been extended, and kept free of every
perversion; had there been "free pub
lie schools, open to all, good enough
for all, and attended by al" perfor-
truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth" excluding each and
every element having selfish inter
est either in ignorance or any distor-
tion of truth, we would not today be
in life and death battle with prop
uganda.
I submit to you that all through
the ages, whenever and wherever
Gods purposes have been manifest in
the affairs of men, resulting in what
we call an advance of civilization,
that achievement has had as it's We
hicle temporary wholesome nation
al life. Through some national en-
tity has come every bit of ground
gained by and for civilization. The
elements contributing to every ad-
vancement have always been law and
order, enlightenment, unity, free
dom and justice. Interpreted in
terms Of today, the antithesis Of
these fundamentals may be stated as
lawlessness, illiteracy, Unbeatable
tendencies toward mental and physi.
cal degeneracy, disrupting strife and
controversy, propaganda instead of
truth, and the economic inequities
that increasingly threaten the very
stability Of society.
/ now advocate the adequate edu-
cation of our future citizenship
through a free public school system,
as / have pleaded for a rigidly en-
forced immigration, adapted to our
ideals and needs. The two remedies
go together. Neither alone can re-
Americanize and safeguard our sa-
cred institutions. If this country
continues to be flooded by inferior
peoples whose assimilation is impos-
sible, the task Of enlightened adj
vancement will be hopeless. Our in
differences of the last three decades
in this connection has already made
it extremely difficult; but if we now
place an embargo upon every alien
element not in harmony with our re-
quirements, it is not yet too late for
the redemption Of. the republic by
means of the public school for chill
dren and it's auxiliaries for adults
Let immigration of every undesira-
BILE type be stopped, completely
stoned, until !opr own illiteracy and
Internal strife cam be superseded by
I 4 .literacy based upon unselfish, un-
shackled truth. and. patriotism
built Upon. eager, unqualified, unco-
creed. .arceptance OF the principles
that are the very foundation of oul
government. In the meantime, with
the further overburdening of oul
composite people through unmerge-
able immigration at an end, we can
with some assurance Of success, give
constructive attention to the emanci
patton of America from ignorance
and prejudice. We can free our be.
| tru do al
and danger.
Our Children the Chief Asset of the
State
You cannot dissociate citizenship
from civilization. We have q govern.
ment, of, by, and for the people. The
great problem, then, concerns two vi
tai things: the character and the abil
ity Of our composite people. Their
development, hitherto neglected, Is {