The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-05-31

ION, 'lnhI ono Oh thv Most important matters
in which a State could be engaged, was the
education Of those born in it, That, says he,
which makes good Constitution, mnst keep
it, viz men Of virtue; and this can only be
done by virtuous education OF the youth"
SUNDAY.-Thc change which has Ia
ken place in the moral aspect Of this city,
within ten years, must, To any one who has
been absent from it that length Of time, be
source OF greater surprise and pleasure,
than even It's immense increase in com
merce, arts and literature. The extern
sve, and truly noble charities which have
been established among us, our system OF
public schools, and, perhaps, more partlcu-
lary than the others, the Sunday School
institutions, have each and'all had a most
powerful operation in producing the result
OF which we speak. Not many years ago
the Sabbath seemed to be day rather for
jubilee and diversion, than one set apart
for the observance Of religious duties, both
by divine and human laws. Throngs Of
untutored and nngoyernnble boys were
seen inalmost every street. and even in the
very pnrlicus Of the churches, pursuing,
without interruption, their unlawful games,
and filling the dir with their clamor and
ribGldry. The case is materially changed.
Still, TO be sure, many evils remain unre-
dressed; but the reformation effected has
been more rapid, and extensive, than any
one would have thought possible before its
accomplishment.
Ncw-York is the commercial metropolis
Of the United States. It's population is
made up Of emigrants and adventurers, not
only from all sections of our own country,
but from every part OF the globe. Yet,
Notwithstanding the dIscordance Of such
notwithstanding the vast varle-
ties Of habits, manners, customs and opin-
ions, whch are thus necessarily brought
together, wc doubt if there be city of G.
quail size, and any thing like equal com
mercal advantages, where so mach gene.
raj good order and morality prevails a.
mong the younger and poorer classes of
onr society. There is one vice--the vice
Of intcmperance, TO which we have seve
raj times before adyertcd, that exists n
mong us 10 an alarming extent. But that,
too, begins 10 decline; and we trust tire
day ~ not far distant when the rcproach
viii be, in great measure, wiped away
from Our character.
The manifest reform that has taken
place in the lapse of 50 short time, must
be ascrlbed principally to the sanitary IN
HuCncG of the public and Sunday school
system adopted among us. The still small
voice Of the press hns had, no doubt
Il large share IN the gratifying ro.
suit. Tho mere iteration of the truth
which ii ~ continually enforcing, that cd
ucation alone affords permanent basis for
our political rights, has produced \ health
tul operation on many minds; and, bevonu
doubt, the instances are numerous, OF poor
persons who have consented TO the deera-
dahon, IA il vas for long time consider
I'd, of scrding their chidreu to public
school, from conviction Of ts Importance
derived t,um the arguments and cxDosl-
tons Of our daily and political journals.
AT this time there arc rot loss than 700"
pupils ct the different sunday schools IN
ibis city Without this system, II is bu,
reasonable 10 suppose that one half, at
least, Of those very chld,en, would have
been vandcrmr at largo, mixing with evll
associates, imbibiug and impartlng coIrup-
ton, till, having become tt instruments for
any kind OF enormlty, their career would
terminate IN prison, or at The gnlows.
On the contrary, now, IN majority oi lea
Ses, they grow up IN regular aud moral
habits, possessed of the means Of procur
ing an honorable support, and live IN such
a manner as is a credit To- themselves, and
an advantage TO the community. Indp-
pendent of these weekly opportunities ot
education, there are in the state, more than
eight thousand common schools, in which
rising four hWndred thousand children re
ceive instruction. Ii is to these admirable
institutions tina, the change i'll the morals
and department OF our population is mainly
to be ascribed; and we hope that the eN
ample which New. York has set, may be
inflated by every State of the Union.
--..fnes.,-
ARcADEs. This plan of building, but
recently introduced into this country, com
bmcs, decidedly, more elegance and con
vcnence as adapted TO Fancy and Dry
Goods business, than any other that has
hitherto been in use for those purposes. 1t