The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-17 00:00:00

EDUCATION.

There is another point that must never be lost
sight of in estimating the resources of a country,
and that is the character and condition of the people,
and therefore I shall ask your attention for a short
time longer while I try to show you what is the con-
dition and character of the people of America at the
present time. First, let me say, they are an edu-
cated people. No nation has ever yet reached the
position they now occupy as to education, and the
elementary training of the masses. Other nations
may possess, as we do, halls of science and schools
of learning, enriched by the lore and labour of past
ages. These halls and schools have trained up
men who have enriched the world with their know-
ledge, men of whom any country might be proud.
But while, perhaps, as to individuals and the learn-
ing of the few, we can, no doubt, challedge the
world, yet, as to the education of the masses, I
stand here to assert that America stands very far in-
deed ahead of us. In the noble State of Massachu-
setts—a model State I admit on this point, but a
type, after all, of what the educational system of
America will yet do for the whole country—l say
in the State of Massachusetts the last educational
census shows that only one in every one thousand
could not read and write. In America, what we,
for the want of a better term, call the " working
classes," are a reading, thinking, intelligent people.
Almost every man there takes in his daily news-
paper. They all take an interest in politics. Ti
all discuss with earnestness and keen shrewdness
is
political
great
advantage, questions. td i o
tendsn the public questions of the day, and thus the whole
intelligence of the country is brought to bear upon
sTlahrisgeliy to pr
omote
the my
opinion,romote
the growth and greatness of a country.

INVENTIONS.
The American people are also an inventive peo-
ple. Nearly all the new machines connected with
agriculture, and other branches of industry, come
over from America. It is from thence we get our
reaping machines, mowing machines, milking ma-
chines, sewing machines, and the thousand and one
inventions that are designed by Providence to lessen
the drudgery of human labour, and wipe the sweat
off human brows. No doubt necessity and the lack
of labour have obliged the Americans to be more
inventive than most countries ; but whatever the
cause the fact remains clear and undoubted, that
the American people are the most inventive people
in the world ; and thus it is that every nation, as
well as every individual, helps to benefit and bless
all countries. The advantages of these inventions
are not confined to America ; they reflect upon
England, upon Europe, and upon the world. Let
a useful machine be invented by any country, and it
soon becomes the common property of every country;
and thus we see that the whole arrangements of
Providence are against monopoly and exclusion.
The good of all, and the happiness of all, is stamped
upon every feature of Divine Providence. The Ame-
ricans are also, as a whole, an industrious people.
There is no country where people are more energetic
and industrious than they are in America.