Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-27

IN V1duTcSS, ucttOcFfu Oc'DTc tHC hr-
Hubhcaa Debating Society Of Morgan
County, on the 9th day of March,
1924; by Joseph VI Fairfield, PreSi
dent Of that meeting, and Published
al their request.
MEMBEus OF THIS SOCIETY,
Agreeably to your resolution that as
many of us as saw proper, should deli
yer an address upon some useful subject,
at this time; | therefore now cone be-
fore you, to make a few remarks, appli
cable 10 our present situation, and will
endeavor to suggest few ideas for the
improvement and benefit OF ourselves
and the rising generation.
When | attempt TO perform this duty
as a citizen settled III my expectations
for lille, feel an incompetency to per-
form the arduous task: but perhaps my
time cannot be better employed than IN
endeavoring to stimulate our minds and
actions, 10 establish useful arts, science,
and good morals; and in striving TO pro-
pagate such measures as will ensure our
future happiness and prosperity.
We are citizens emigrated here from
different states, and prepossessed with
different manners and customs, accord
ing to the states from whence we came
yet this should be no reason why we
should not all unite in one general wish
to promote the public welfare. Many
things there are which require the CO.
operation OF neighborhoods and counties,
TO bring about public concerns to their
advantage.
In these instances we should never let
our own private interest strive to over
rule what is ssr the general good OF the
people, but always be possessed OF a
condescending disposition, whenever the
interest OF community is concerned. BY
this means we may riss and flourish like
those states from whence we cauc.
I ne cultivation Of the soil and the
providing of dwellings to reside in has
engrossed our attention., generally, up TO
this time; but now il becomes us 10 es-
tab'ish schools and other places for the
education of our youth and children; for
good education is the greatest legacy
parent can bestow upon them. 1t Is a
useful requirement to all persons, whe-
ther IN a low situation or when possess
ed of wealth, and at all times. No per-
son is qualified TO perform the business
REQUISITE for man, while passing through
this world, unless possessed of the three
branches OF literature called reading,
writing and arithmetic. And as child
hood and youth is the most proper lime
to acquire these branches of learning,
and indeed almos, the only time before
the mind is taken up with the concerns
OF life, how indispensably Necessary is 1t,
that It should be attended TO then.
1t is an old saying that "just as the
twig is bent the tree is incllned;" SO II
children be Infatuated from their child
hood to reading and other branches oil
literature, it becomes their delight and
satisfaction, whereby, instead OF spend
ing their time in some trlf1lng amuse
ment, they are reading some wise and
instructive writings, OF some great and
good man, by which means they improve
their understandings, whereby they are
fitted for usefulness in this world or
they are peruslng the travels OF those
who are SO conditioned as to spend their
time in making researches, in order to
become acquainted with the various pro-
ductions OF different places on this globe
or studying the writings of geograpners,
whereby they are informed of their stu
alton and extent; the variety OF manners
and customs, the different nations make
use of throughout the word, and other
useful information whereby their minds
are prepared to converse with men OF
science, and thereby enabled to draw in
struction from the various sources with.
in their reach.
The different benefits Of education, are
too numerous for me to describe them
all to you, in the limits Of this short adj
dress; | shall therefore leave them to
your own investigation, and proceed to
examine some of the evils on the other
hand.
Now if our youth be ruined for the
want of an education, the community sus-
tans loss that cannot be repaired; for
if the bud be blasted, the tree will yield
no fruit; if the spring corn be cut down,
there will be no harvest; so if the time
allotted to youth to improve their minds
by learning, and cultivate their under
standings by study, be neglected. we
shall have none qualified to Fl tn, more
responsible and useful stations in life.
Another important and useful institu-
ton, is that OF public library. This is
the cheapest and most beneficial mode