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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 53

The Sovereignty of Wisdom

The Sovereignty of Wisdom.

Notwithstanding the homage almost universally paid to imperialism, royalty, aristocracy, hereditary honours, and wealth, and notwithstanding the fallacious saying, "It's good to he wise but better to be rich," reflection must convince us that the only human superiority in this world—with its vexed problem "Is life worth living," under the most favourable auspices—that we should own is wisdom [although Horace says even "Wisdom at proper times is well forgot"]; and that the only sound political platform is that expressed in the famous Declaration of Independence—which has always appeared to me the grandest pronunciamento on record of public liberty:—"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that cut men are created equal (the italics are mine); that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their first powers from the consent of the governed (the italics are mine); and that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness, &c."

And as it is on these principles—that is the exaltation of wisdom and equality—our New Zealand constitution is based, and our educational system is founded, it is necessary before we specifically discuss the subject of the present article that we clearly realise the general rights and duties of the people of this colony in respect thereof, and especially that the public education of our children is initiated, controlled, and conducted solely by us the people, for the sole benefit of us, the people; and that, therefore, we are directly and immediately responsible for, and benefit or suffer by its efficiency or inefficiency.