The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-09-16

utility, the productive arts and the aD-
stract sciences.
Such change would be, in every
respect, most beneficial. The rough
ness and ignorance of the mere labor
er would be removed, the pedantry ond
pretention Of the mere scholar rubbed
off. The one would not be oppressed
by toll, nor the other rendered dispep-
tic by continued sedentary employ
mcnt. The mind would not be culti-
waited at the expense Of the body; nor
the body worn down, TO the injury aud
neglect ofthe mind. There would he
but one class-that Of human beings;
occupied, NJ human beings ought TO be,
alternately in physical labor and in
mental culture.
Let VS. not say that such an amalga-
nation is impossible. That would he
tp declare that practical repubicnnism
is impossible. In Europe it was sthought
impossible for the chief magistrate of
nation (therc called king) TO MAIN
tain his authority, or make il respect
able in the eyes OF other nations, except
by entrenching himself behind ridicu-
lous court forms, and still, fendal cti-
Viette. But Jefferson broke the spell.
He rode unattended to the hotels Of the
foreign ambassadors, fastened his horse
at the door, transacted the business Of
the nation as any private individual
would the affairs of his family, and Ief'
the astonished prcscntatiycs of royal
ity in equal admiration OF the dignity ~
courtesy Of the man, and wonder ot the
republican simplicity Of the citizen.
Every man and woman ought to be
able, when necessity requires, to sup
port himself or herself bv the labor %.
their hands. II does not follow tha,
all must, at al! times, so support them
selves; but all should he able to do it,.
The mos; highllying aristocrat, if he
have but prudence and foresight, will
desire for his children this safeguard
against want; for who is secure against
u reverse Of fortune?
Such safeguard is afforded, if all
children are taught agriculture or gar
dcning, and in addition some one use
fil trade or occupation. And, by so
useful and republican an adc,jIon to
the useful branches of education, the
expense might be essentially diminish
ed. The labor of the pupils would 20
towards their support; and thus, even
while qualifying themselves To be use
iul to their country hereafter, they
would tighten the public tax for cduca-
ton in the meantime.
4 This is moi an untried scheme. 1t
has been tried in Europe: ut Mr.. Fel-
lenberg's institution, for instance, at
Hofwyl i'm Switzerland, an establish
mcnt which is spoken ofin the highest
terms of approbation by those who
have visited 1t; four fellow citizen Pro-
fcssor Griscom is ofthc number.) And
several other seininarics have been COM
mcuced in this country on similar
principle; one at Whitesborough, N. Y;
one at Princctown. Ky; one at Ando-
yer, Mass; one at Mayyillc, Tenn; one
! at Germantown, Pa; and more recent
ly, one has been formed or is forming
at Shrewsbury, N. j., the plan Of which.
as we highly approve many of its de-
tails, we shall publish, at IN early OPP
portumi,y.
We conceive, then. that an education
is but n half education, and scarcely
that, unless il malSos its pupils produc-
tive members of society as we'll taught
school boys; useful, independent ci,i-
zens, as well as accomplished scholars.
And we conceive that the fact that an
education, thus complete, is much less
expensive to the state than mere
fractional, inefficient one, is IA Strong
additional reason why it should be pre-
ferred and adopted.