WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
364.
politicians and the wealthy. As at West Point Academy, they are drilled and taught-eyes right-eyes left; but if they haven't got the brains, it is impossible to make great men out of them. Unless Providence stamps the man of genius, depend upon it, education will not give it to him. Education may be useful to him, but you can't give him brains. I am for general education- for such a distribution of the common school fund as will aid the people in keeping up good schools. There need be no fear that the higher departments of knowledge will not be cared for. Young as our state is, it already boasts several institutions which are yearly graduating young men who will compare in point of intellect and capacity for usefulness with those from Universities supported by state patronage. We have not yet reached a point when we can afford to pay a tax to support an institution where a favored few may be educated. True, my child might perhaps be admitted. They might say when I am dead and gone-"it is the old man's son-let him in!" But I do not want any privi- leges for my children which are denied to the children of the poorest and least known of my fellow citizens. I am for opening wide the door of knowledge to let all in. I would build up the old field school-house system, from whence has gone the proudest names that have adorned American history. I would encourage your home colleges; and if in the future there should be such a surplus of money that no public interest would suffer from the outlay, it will be time then to talk about a great State institution. The experiment may be tried, if we have the money to spare,- but proper restraints to the power of those who control it should be provided. Measures should be provided against the concern being monopolized by the sons of politicians in the vicinity of the place where it is located. The scholarships should be apportioned among the counties upon a fair basis. The people's money will sustain it, and it should be fairly distributed. It should be for the education of the children of the many, not of the few. But start it when you may, you will still find that your common schools will furnish men upon whom the people will rely in emergencies. Perhaps you will see a gentleman's son going down, with his parchment diploma in his hand, to obscurity, while the poor ragged urchin who worked eight months in the year and went to school four, will become the Washington, who .will lead his countrymen to victory in the hour of danger,-the Jackson who will stand firm against any encroachment upon their Con- stitutional liberties, or the Maury who will utilitize science, and
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