Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-01-22
Dimes the native ferocity of men. The
m AKIN nf the ,aet IL trne.

Emollt mores, nee sinet esse fefos."
Laws wilbc oheyed, because thev arc
understood and rightly estimated. Men
will submit cheerlully to good govern
aeni, and consult the peace of society
N proportion as they learn to respect
themselves, and value their own charar-
ter. These things are the fruit Of know
ledge. But ignorance is soil, which
gives c,snberant growth to tliscords, de-
lusions, and the dark treachcrics oefac-
ton. ignorance in the people, in fact,
takes all security from the government
While ignorant, they are pc,pctuaEy
subject to false alarms and violent prcjn-
dices, ready to give loose rein 10 the
wild storms of their passions, and pre-
pared to yield themselves willing victims
10 the seductons Of every ambitious,
turbulent, treacherous ant fai;hless spirit,
, who may choose TO enlist them in his
cause. knowledge will work upon this
charm with potent efficacy, lay tie hi
deous spectres, which It calls up, and
preserve the soundness and growing
strength of the social and political Ia
brio.
1t should, furthermore, be considered
The glory, and the duty o. our national
Legislature to aid in establishing morals
ard religion, as a means of safety to the
government, and happiness to the
people The first step in accomplishing
this. purpose i, to fix The principles of rir-
tue add impress the importance ofreli-
E" practice, by enlarging the sphere
p Elcntal light, touching the springs OF
curiosity, opening the channels OF inqai-
~, and pouring into the mind new mate
rails OF thought and reflection. All
branches of intellectual improvement
will lead TO moral goodness. The mind,
which is taught TO expatiate throughout
the works of God, to ascend to the hea-
yenly worlds and find him there, to go
into the deep secrets of nature and find
him there, to examine the wonders OF It's
own structure and look abroad into the
moral constitution OF things, and pcrc.ise
3 the hand Of an Invisible Almighty Being
giving laws totae whole, will be Impress
ed with sense OF its own dependence,
and feel something Of the kinalins flame
of devotion. Ii IS net in human nature
to resist it. And SO the man, who begins
to study the organization of society, tie
mutual relations and dependencies Of its
parts, its objects, and The duties it irnPo
ses on those, who would enjoy It's benefits,
viii soon be made to respect its institu-
,ions, value its privileges, and practice
the coral virtues i'll which its very exls-
V'ha q vtl
these Inquiries are encouraged, and these
pr.nriples inculcated, in tho clements of
education, the greater will be the certain
ty of moral elevation ofcharacter, and the
brighter The prospects of a yirtuous and
happy community. In regard to religion,
ignorance is its deadl:est bane. 1t gathers
the clouds ofprejadice from all the dark
corners of the mind, anal causes them y
brood over the understanding, an1to3 Of
ten the heart, with dismal, chilling in9n-
ence. 1t gives pcrpc,uiiy 10 error, deties
+ the weapons cfa-gument and reason, and
iinpassive even to the keen sword Of
eternal truth. Religion requires the aid
acknowledge to be,rcoeived in its purity,
and felt in its power. To bring into salu-
tary action these two grea, instruments
of human happiness, morals and reli-
gion, nothing is of so much importance,
as 10 multipIy the facilities OF education
and quicken the spirit of enlightened in
quiry
Through the medium Of education the
government may give strong impulse to
! the sr,s, and help to build up the empire
of the sciences. Before men can invent,
or make profound discoveries, they must
be taught to think. Savages never ad-
vance step farther in discoveries, and
inventions, than they are compelled by
their wants. The external comforts Of
civilized life depend on the useful arts,
which an improved state of the intellect
has brought to light. In the sciences, and
in literature, we have vast uncultivated
field before US. We will not enlarge on
so trj,c subject, as the value of these
noble branches of human improvement,
nor on so obvious a one, as the immense
advantages that must flow to us as a ma
ton, from having them thoroughly cul-
tivated among us. They ought to be
brought under consideration in connex-
ion with this subject; and on every
mind, whose conceptions are not narrow
cd within the most ordinary bounds, they
will have solemn and impressive in
fluence. In the arts of traffic, and the
mysteries of gain, we may perhaps be
con,ented with the skill we possess
But TO be contented with our progress in
4 IL