Year: 1868

Robert NJ. Lusher, State Superintendent of Educa-
tion in address to the Louisiana Legislature,
the following language the beauty of which is only
equaled by its TRUTH t


Upon the General Assembly of the State now rests
the responsibility of meeting the question with the
prescence Of an intelligent and patriotic statesman
ship. No sadder comment upon legislation exist
than bghted national intellect. 1t parayses every
interest connected with the glory and prosperity Of
commonwealth 1t saps alike the foundations of pub,
lie spirit and of private virtue. 1t cngs like shrt
of Nessus to the body polite of free people, and its
poison testers until the strong frame grows mpoteut
and groves in the dust.


Modern civsation is based on the education of the
masses Prussia, Austria and all the German States
France Switzerland, Great Britain and most of the
minor kingdoms Of Europe have long since recognised
this important rah by their liberal provisions for tho
free education of their people, and even Russia, in the
far East struggles with her Cossack hordes and
for the first time in her history as an empire spells out
the primer of popular education. In the sympathetic
march-step of ciyilisation now resounding through
Canada and of the American States, of Louisi
ana should not fall back to the rear line. We are
Americans, and must therefore progressve we are
of the South, and therefore eminenty conservative.
Though the late conflict has left broken and mpov-
erished surely that docs not divest warscarrcd
peonle aad INDECENT children of their sacred claims,
our statesmen of their eoiear. responsibility, tue oo-
monweath ofits potential authority in all matters afs
fecting the public welfare.


The war increased the number ofneglected children;
the State must possible double her love and tender
ness towards them. 1t has left them in the tolls OF
poverty the State alone free them from the still
more fatal bonds of ignorance 1t has left them poor
in lands and revenues to the State must they look to
be made rich in such instruction will strengthen the
mind and purify the heart-as will mako true patriots
of her sous and intelligent noble women OF her daugh-
ters.


If there be one deduction, more strongly marked
than any other to be drawn from our changed poitl
cal condition. it is that hereafter Louisiana must be
peopled by educated citizens. The children OF these
days will find themselves compelled +" struggle WIN


to and moro guptIe difficulties than have ever fall
lon unon u.s. By the system OF public education alone
can the great majority of them be prepared for the
conflict If that system pass through the ordeal to
which it is now subjected, we may hope that its use
fulness will be permanent. But if, through any luke
warnness the part of its protectors, it be allowed
to fall its framewoIk-now trembling in the balance
will be shattered and the hopes of struggling genera
ton indefinitely postponed If the protecting shield
of the Commonwealth be withdrawn from it, and Il
great public institution be thus sacrificed to specous
plea Of expediency, we shall turn back the shadow OH
the dial Of Ahaz and lay ourselves open to the success
Of our adversaries shall read the problem OF CIV
ilisation in reverse


@ Spelling it backward like Hebrew book"
and rive over to ignorance and its attendant evils those
tender children of the State, upon whom will depend,
in coming years. the unsuiied dignity OF her record
and the untarnshed glory Of her fame


While Great Britain has been collecting claims made


y hnr ehieets who were at the South during the war