Napoleon said this was the meaning of the French Revolution.  He gave promotion in the army not for what a man’s ancestry had been, but for what the man himself could do.  Who else ever had such efficient subordinates?  Opportunities became open generally in France, according to each one’s personal ability.  The excesses of the revolutionary period were transitory.  The enlargement of the nation’s power, by removing the fetters of prescription, has been permanent.  The recuperative energy displayed by France in the last twenty years is a marvelous example of the strength imparted by liberty.

The educational work of the American Missionary Association in the South makes no revolutionary disturbance.  It quietly opens a path for talent whose existence had been before unnoticed or denied.  It has been already instrumental in bringing forward many men and women to positions of influence.  Beginning with the lowest branches of education, it trained the first colored teachers for the State school systems.  Its schools for higher education have as yet come far short of supplying the demand for advanced teachers and for educated ministers and other educated professional and business men.

We cannot make talent, but opening the door for talent to find development and activity adds rich gifts to the Nation’s life.

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IRRESPONSIBLE INSTITUTIONS.

The Independent, in its Symposium of December 11th upon Gen. Booth’s Plan, has an article from Charles D. Kellogg, Superintendent of the Charity Organization Society, in which, referring to a certain irresponsible piece of charity, he says: 

We do not believe that it is right for any one to ask for the support of such an individual enterprise, except from those who give it because of personal knowledge and confidence in the manager.  When the public is appealed to, such contributions take on the nature of trust funds, the receipts and disbursements of which should be audited and accounted for in the fullest and frankest manner.  To encourage such private, uncontrolled and unaccounted for undertakings, is simply to open the door for any number of conscienceless schemers who are quick to impose upon the benevolent public.

The same is true of irresponsible educational institutions.  All who receive funds for such charitable purposes, are virtually stewards of trust money and ought to give an account of the same.  All properties thus developed ought to be put into a shape to be held securely and perpetuated, and not left to become the personal possession of the solicitors.  Pious zeal and “faith” do not prevent the waste in such a case.  “Wisdom would not put cut and hammer-faced stone for the foundation of a mountain school house, and costly glass in the windows,” but “faith” has done this, and keeps on doing similar things.

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