The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-12

Va July UulItl4lS OL4 u Iduly OdJ.
If you agree with me that the Sit
uation. politically. socially and econ
omically. is a mess at the present
time 1t would appear to be the re-
suit Of something done or left UNI
done In years gone by. That should
be q safe deduction and the intelli-
gent way to set about rectifying 1t Is
to discover. If possible. what the
done" or "undone' was.
In the search for the cause OF the
most amazing dilemma that this
country has ever experienced I pro-
pose to include one thing done"
It Is the creation Of q new form Of
government on the North American
continent. Other than that I believe
that our present troubles are directly
traceable to something left undone.
In the beginning we find the
fathers holly arguing the type Of
government that should be set up
after the famous Declaration Of In
dependence. It was early decided
that we wanted no king. Out Of the
heat Of the debate-and the weather
there emerged q republican (repre-
sentative) form Of government.
Long land loud. I presumed JET
ferson and Hamilton argued on the
provisions that were to be inserted in
that famous document that was to
guarantee life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness" to the citizenry.
It is not necessary here to 60 into
detail about the stand that each
took in the matter but let it SUI
flee to say that we arc told JEFF
ferson won out. Apparently 1T was
In the cards" that he should and we
are glad that he did. However. is it
not just possible that the shade Of
Hamilton. coming down the years as
q sort Of psychical influence. could
be held responsible for the state Of
affairs in this country at this time?
Standing. as he did, for a vested
aristocracy, believe we can so con-
tend.
Otherwise there would have been
incorporated in the organic law Of
the new nation provision for the
training of its citizens to the point
where they would become intelligent
and understanding partners in the
greatest business organization the
world has ever known, the United
States Of America.
Free and unrestricted education
was contemplated, Of course, and the
nation eventually set aside lands as
grants and endowments for schools
but it was not laid down that the
child should emerge from that school,
ing competent to act intelligently at
any or all times in the exercise Of
his or her right Of franchise.
Above the grammar or grade ana
high schools were established COL
leges and universities wherein men
were to be trained In the law. en-.
cheering. medicine. surgery, yes, and
to become potential admirals and
generals. But in the field Of govern
ment its history. theory and practice.
what? Just about nothing.
Is it too much to believe that, II
all through the child's school years
the study of government in all its
phases was stressed during the hun
bred odd years Of our national ex-
istence, an electorate competent to
cope with any emergency would have
been developed? I believe not.
We bewail the ineptitude in those
we place In official position. How
about the ineptitude Of we who put
them there? Ho many men can we
pick who can claim to be especi-
ally trained or fitted to be mayor
Of our town, governor Of our state or
president Of the United States? How
ever, II we have an engineering Job
to be done there are any number who
can qualify for the executive posi-
ton. It is so in every other line but
government, that which we live
under and by.
Education Is the answer. Educa-
ton and only that will do for US
what we need to have done. Ma
tions are not made In day: neither
are they destroyed In q day. To
train an electorate to be as intellt-
gent as need be in our form Of
government is a long process but It
will turn the trick. Lack OF 1t has
brought us about to our knees as .
nation and only blindness will pre-
vent our turning to the right sort OF
education in order to make secure
life, liberty and the pursuit OF hap
piness" in this country.