THE BATTALION
7
he swears allegiance. If any one gives his suffrage in putting
a man or party into power, he ought to know something of the
ideas of that man or party, and why he prefers one to the
other. The ballot is the highest function of citizenship, it is
the crown and sceptor of a Republican Sovereigns upon the
wisdom and intelligence of the on6 who holds it does the safe
ty of the state depend.
Ignorance can undo in a year what ages of knowledge
and patriotism have built with toil and sacrifice.
George Elliot says “It is a common sentence that knowl
edge is power, yet, who has dulj^ considered or set forth the
power of ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds up what Ig
norance in an hour pulls down. Knowledge, through patient
and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of
it. Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the
records, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the souls of
many generations.”
Let the attainment of a man’s right as a citizen be made
an object, let it cost something, and in this way our country
will not only be protected from the vile, cunning and shrewd
politicians, who seek to serve their country for the only pur
pose of serving their own interests, but we will, at the same
time, annihilate our greatest foe, Indifference.
To the end that the poorest of her citizens may enjoy the
fruits of an education, the State should not only provide the
means of instruction, but make these means up to a certain
limit compulsiory.
Realizing the fa.ct that the stability of our republic de
pends upon the capabilities of its citizens to govern, laws
ought to be enacted prohibiting child labor, and compelling
their attendance at school, up to a time when the duties and
allegiance it owes to its country are inculcated upon its mind.
I do not mean to say that education will accomplish
everything, it will not, and to guard against the encroach
ment of any malignant power upon our institutions, we must
continually and assiduously watch for every symptom that
threatens our national vigor: but education, if properly di
rected, enables a man to realize to the fullest extent, his abili-