The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-10-03

fortune, and throws them upon the world sx .
posed To all the temptations Of vice, hundieos
of whom become gamblers and swin6le's,
and waste those lives which might be uscIul
and ornamental to society, in misery aud
shame the habit has been to believe that an
attemu vt manufacture would degrade n'.n
below the rank in society he has been aeens-
toned 10 walk in--wherc is the man who
from fortuitnous circumstances has rais
himself 10 the rank Of merchant, who ircr'
prcjudiccs would not shrink at the idea of
pursuing . mechanical employment, aud
much less think of seeing his son brought UP
TO one. No, he looks forward 10 see hiui "A
physician or lawyer, tho perhaps, not wit.
standing he has passed as many years at Cox
lege a. will cntitle him to receive diplort
and dubbed b, A. he would bcmuGh hitter fer
a nail maker, lock-smith, carpen:e', ~
brick-maker, did his education enable him 10
comprehend the mechanical contraction Ut
any useful thing.
In noticing prejudiccs, permit Ine to notice
thc>prejudice and neglect OF education, II 10
by many thoughtto to be in high regard in
this state, and still greater to the Sou,hwald
and Eastward Of us. Yet with all the boas-
tings Of the East, where is their morals or
llberality Even federation is not completes
among them, and even the education rccoiv-
ed ut our Colleges is very superhcial--,har
perhaps the most useful branches Of educa-
tion are highly neglected, mathematical
knowledge, which is the master key Of enact
knowledge, is neglected or insufhcienty at
tended to in all the Universities aud Colleges,
and it is reasonable to suppose It must be
more SO in inferiour Schools and the consc.
quence will be, that it will not be considered
as useful though absolutely necessary for the
mcchanick, and without which he cannot DC
expected ever to be able to comprehend the
force or power Of tho machine he may be
employed 10 make, and without which he
never will be able to improve ON Il by incrca-
sing i, powers or simplifying its operations.
The Schools In general throughout the coun-
try are established rather as the means of
subsistence TO teachers, or the means OF ph-
ronage in trustees, hence Il is surprising 10
find an ingenious youth by the force Of his
own mind surmount the difficulties which the
barbarous methods OF education throws 10
his way.-By improving education We expand
the mind, VIC teach the individual to think,
to reflect, till which he knows not truly whist
| Independence is--it is that whichwil epabe
nim ~ rpprruiat. IL. il will destroy prcildicc
that bane TO our prosperity and happiness.
With go6d education he will feel that by
proper application and exer,on, he can ren-
der himself in his line equal to any man in
the same line in any country, and his efforts
will be to rise superiour. He will know
Justly to appreciate the talents Of men OF
other countries, end see the absurdity OF sup
posing those Of one TO be all eminent while
he from ignorance despises those OF othcrs,he
will also duly appreciate those of his own, and
which is necessary for him to do Sefore be
can hold that rank in the general society OF
the world he is entitled to. II is, believe,
the duty of society to encourage education,
and to destroy prejudice, especially that Kind
of prejudice which leads as into dependence
on other countries for the supply OF articles
for our daily and habtual uses, when We have
within ourselves the raw oaterials ior
producing them the doing Of this will tc
found the cheapest and most cHectual mode
Of warfare we can adopt against that naticn
whose greatest exertions are on this dgy
made to deprive us Of all communication
with the rest of the world and reduce Us 10
sate Of dependence on her his is warcfs Q
which is honourable and will cost us no live,
and in which none of the blood Of our citi-
zens will be split.