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Show The last meeting over which M. Gambetta presided was a ?[glowing] sitting of the Ligue de l'Enseguement, an organization founded by M. Mace for the diffusion of unsectarion and non political education, but regarded by the reactionaries as an anti Catholic propaganda. In eulogizing the society, M. Gambetta made a remarkable speech. He said the despotism which then weighed down France did not allow it at the ?[outact] to display its fall programme. It is obliged as a condition of being tolerated to ?[disclaim] political leanings and to lay stress on its diffusion of enlightenment. It was, however, the best and most practical politics to go among the ignorant and dispel darkness, it was national and democratic politics which could only take their full development under the banner of the republic. The work could now be carried on without obstruction,, [unreadable] France and the republic were now in?? [unreadable section of the line] France would no longer be ruled by brute force but by conviction, and the republic had restored to her her ?[rank] and greatness. The founders of the society had a just faith in universal suffrage, which might have temporary failings and delusions, but at the touch-tions of experience was sure to regain self control. To ?[enlighten] universal suffrage by schools, lectures, book and newspapers was a truly democratic work, and the society, instead of erecting a central power had wisely given its branches a kind of autonomy. After the never to be forgotten disasters of the last year, in which ignorance vied with incapacity, the cry of France was for more schools. This ?[edge, edue,] then must be entirely secular, subject to the influence of no dogma, for, as M. Mace had said, science was the society's religion, it had no symbols or ?[dogmas]to offer to the rising govern?or, but simply instruction. Just as after the year [unreadable year] France became dotted with churches so after the war she be?[came] dotted with schools. Pure science, however must be supplemented by moral teaching, which could best be given by women, and whatever the repugnance of ?[suffrage] women would not hold aloof. Many ?? moreover, to be ?[intodacol, inducted] into legislation would give women the influence and competency to ?[refrain] and civilize ?[citizens]. He was not speaking as an elector, still ?[less] as a candidate, but as a man who had watched his country both in good and ill fortune, and who knew that education was essential to the solution of social problems, otherwise minds were not ripe for interests enlightened. Education alone could secure social peace, an orderly progress in a government and true liberty-not the false liberty which was a mere sophism for extinguishing all enlightenment. The motto of a really national republic was the development of order with progress. M. Gambetta was loudly cheered. |
