The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-31 00:00:00

the excellent address of the Marquis of HARTING

ToN to a meeting i❑ Lancashire, in which he made
some very noticeable remarks on what he
had seen in America. His speech has since
aroused the wrath of Mr. BRIGHT, who
is virtuously indignant that his chosen race
should be thus satirised, and spoke in no
measured terms of the mistakes made by Lord
HARTINGTON. It would not appear, however,
to an attentive observer that there is any exagge

ration at all in the forcible language of his lord-
ship, but Mr. BRIGHT may subscribe to the
adage that the greater the truth the greater the

libel. The chief faults of the American character
may be traced to their origin in the accounts given
by Lord HARTINGTON of the process of education
to which the young are subjected. They are taught
to admire what is large more than what is good, and
especially to think most of all that is American.
These feelings developed more fully have been
exhibited to the world since the outbreak of the
great war now raging, and the sad spectacle of want
of faith, and lamentable omission of all chivalrous
feelings that have been conspicuous on one side of
the belligerents, at all events may bear strong evi-
dence of the faulty nature of the instruction im-
parted in early years, and the lack of high principle
as the foundation of all conduct in peace or war.
Sir JOIIN PAKINGTON likewise discoursed on the vast
advantages possessed by our press over that of Ame-
rica. The newspapers of that country exercise a
most deleterious influence on the public mind, and
it is to be deeply regretted that so clever and ener-
getic a people are so led astray, and carried away
by the food so unwisely afforded to their intellects.
Our own press, however mistaken in some points, is
conducted in a very different spirit, and is influ-
enced by a much higher tone, as constrasted with
the mode established in America. Sir JOIIN
PAKINGTON alluded in very favourable terms to
these institutions for the benefit of the working
classes after they have left school. It stands to reason
that with the claims upon them the poor children
cannot he kept long from taking their share in the
burdens of the family, and thus they are removed
from a place where they would acquire the genial
influences of instruction, and be subjected to the

elevating and exciting effects of knowledge. It is
after this deprivation that all these societies are so
useful; they come in as land marks for the igno-
rant, as beacons for the cultivated, and as a good
meeting-ground for all to unite the various ideas
and several schemes that may float vaguely through
the mind, but will come to nought if left totally
neglected and passed by. It is a very gratifying
thing to reflect upon, that many by these intellectual
enjoyments and intelligent pursuits are prevented
from falling into temptation, and also are enabled
to acquire a keener relish for the best and wisest
subjects of contemplation, instead of gradually
sinking down into the standard of mere sensual
amusements and grovelling pursuits. The mind
that does not go forward must deteriorate, and in
a few years the few acquirements that were gained
at school will be almost forgotten, and the possessor
be deprived of the valued store, inasmuch as they
can serve to guard and guide him in the labyrinth
of life. There seems some force in Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON'S observations regarding the
superiority of classes over lectures, the former ; be
said, would be found the best means of repairing
the deficiencies that those who had been neglected
in earlier years might have to complain of, and
should therefore be well attended to and sedulously
cared;for. The right hon. baronet's closing remark
has been fully verified of late years, that_it was in
times of trouble that they all learned to appreciate
the benefits of these Institutions. They then
exhibited the vast amount of good that in more
equable states of society had lain dormant. The
events in Lancashire have been striking proofs to
attest the veracity of this statement, and such an
example stimulate other places to go and do like-
wise, to prepare themselves in the quiet days for the
dark time that may one day overtake them, and
whose fierce ordeal can only be successfully passed
through by those who have strengthened their
mind to endure disappointment by the lessons of
wisdom and the teachings of reflection, which in
the evil days will not fail them, but remain their
firm and constant supporters and their allies.