The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-03-03
lFoR TIE CHARLOTTE JOURNAL /
ESSAY....NO. l..

" tn OWNING whether men have an uniform dc.
mute object IN ylew aud what is the aim or end OF
all their actions. Happiness and enjoy ment, the
snininum bonum Of human liie," NAV be con-
sidered as the ultimate destination Of all human
enterprise, whether they explore the hidden trea-
sure OF classical lore, agonlze at the bar in behsl
OF injured innocence, become verscd il political
Intrigue and ride into power OF toll day and night
TO anass hordes Of wealth. To ACCOMPLISH or OBJ
tain any object it is absolutely necessary that the
mind OF The operator should be 50 far enlightened
as would enable him TO adapt the means TO secure
The end or desgn. Then if Happiness cnmes within
The scope Of human acquisitions which, all will
agree, does TO a certain extent, why do so many
tall short Of rational cnjoymen and pass through
life restless and torlorn without once tasting this
golden apple Of earthly paradise The anss er is
al hand, ignorance IS the cause-I mean ignorance
IN lis WIDEST acceptaiiop, for many thro' the real
want Of mental illumination, and others, from a
misconceptlon OF the true nature OF the object oi
pursuit, Try means aud invent plans totally insult.
ed TO bring them one step nearer their hearts de.
sire; their hopes are blasted but pleasure, trim.
med IN q beautiful attire, dances before them in
the eye OF Imag inatIon, and the chase is renewed
With more alaerIy, but with less success, aud 50
on through life, tall the earth beneath them breaks
sud wraps them IN the grave. II may be sand
that many whose minds are cultivated IAN = far
short az The wandering arlaT or untutored Indian.
Yet this, tho tFbe does mol weaken the principle
laid down--ior agreeable to the old proyerb " bet.
ter untaughi than Iil.taught" and many protesting
To be wise, are be@ildefed 10 the mary labyrinth
OF error ia consequence Of defective development
OF mind. There Is bat one case, says a French
writer, where ignorance can be desirable; and
tat -, when all Is desperate ~ a state and when
through the present evils, others still greater ap
pear bchind. Then STUPIDITY is a blessing know.
bdge and foresight are evils. II is then ,Lat shut
ting on eyes against the light, we would hide
from ourselves The calauilies We Cannot prevent.
But II appears, even ia such an exigencv, that
kno~ledge Is highly desirable 10 aver the impend.
ing calamity or escape 10 safety The thrG4tning
Rfatn--lor eyLs forcseen may be avoided but those
unseen cannot. Ia all things and under all cir
cunlsiances, know ledge must be an nestimabl,
blessing to men Of every nation and OF every rank
The grandeur and prosperity Of a nation does not
20 much depend upon The organization Of ITS go
sefnmenl, as thc general diffusion of knowledge
among the great niass OF the people. and the moral
and intellectual character OF the Rulers for lie,
The genus OF the government be what IL may, j.
the Rulers are morally degraded, and ignorance
ho'as hrf Htc empire over the Minds OF tle CON.
mon people, II Is utterly Impossible that the nation
should flourish or ihe citizens live long Ia tie en-.
pigment OF The sweets oil ci,il liberty. The de.
sifnciIon OF the liberty Of nation Is effected, moi
No much by the political ,nirigues OF aspiring
demagogues. as ny the rcign oflgnorsnce followed
by woiai oeceension 10 religion and morals-ior
ihtif tree OF liberty falls no sooner than the be-
come rape for the usurpatlon-liAe all old decAyed
ano dtiapiddltc tower thai sinks beneath its own
unwieidy weight. We arc apt TO " mpa,hisc wilh
lie Eastern nations who are ruled by rod oil iron
and heartily Wish that the arm Of rebellion would
Do ralAei to ccihroEc their oppfesSors aud 10 yBc
cste their unallensble rights. bot no good could
Hos ifom sollng such revolving aud heart rend.
ing scene, As they are not prepared point OF
fs1ig 10 manage government granting equal
figbis and prsteges 10 all her citizens. A reyo.
luton "a such a nation would tx directed o. tie
les leafntd eem4gogues who would arouse The
',e rc>.i0ns q the Ignoblc, and it would rush
Ike II freael reSouilol,--a volcano. disgorgmg
IL a,ctiod lava. consuming every thing upon the
uatsin d lie course. II is ignorance that hangs
Ike pondefous mass upon ihe wings OF the gol.
ivn EaEe and prevents i, iiom soaring With out.
stretched wings over the nations. and perchlng
yeats recorded on the pages Of history will I
clearly suPoii ne IN asserting, that the happiness
Ind prosperity of nation, tie extent e lis com. /
nerec, the quantity Of lis wealth, aud the power
II It's armies, IN direct proportion 10 the stand.
,rd Of morals among the Rulers aud the general
illusion Of Education among the citizens, moderat
~ tbs mlld beams enthusiastically. lalaklng re- I
Irrespective view OF the state Of mankind the events T
~fitstfs a. hts.t.
ii intellectual darkness. Although m,n then pos.
'essed all the faculties that they do nov, or ey.
Il VIII cnjoy, yet they seem sor the mos, part to
lave remained dormant, or II aroused TO be EN-. /
,ioycd chiefly In destructive purposes. Amids, I
he darkness which hen oyersprcad the nations OF
he world, there appeared some rays Of inclleclu-
Il hight IN Palestine, IN Egypt, and Ia the Grecisn
md Rumau Empires, the most powerful nations
4 antiquity, which had bu, feeble influence on
I've surrounding nations aud served but itle /
more than taPcrs, 10 render The surrounding dark.
ness visible. The light OF science which then
'hone, was speedily doomed 10 be extinguished.-
Even after ihe ligh, Of christianity dawned upon
he earth, darkness covered the land and gross
darkness The people during several centuries
)sng 10 the lyrannical government which pre-
'aled aud tho ecclesiastical establishment connect
d with them, the mind of man was chained ia iC.
lUraucc-the people were debarrcd from the tenn
lie OF science and sunk into apaihy-ike sparks of
.enns we're smothered--science was neglected
md ignorance was honoured. So great was the
ignorance which then prevailed, that men of the
irst responsibility could neither read nor write,
nd even many Of the Priests did not understand {
he Broviary or eomnson prayer book, they daily I
eoi,ed, ltlgnorance is blessing then they were I
tightly blessed. | ask what was their political
'ondi,on' During the elapse OF ,ha, dark period, T
murders, theils, bloodshed. and the most heaven /
iaring wtckedness prevailed, Sufficient 10 shake
he batlements of high heaven or sci on fire the
egular course OF nature. The earth seemed little 4
Use than one grand field OF battle, il i, had been
'reaed merely TO serve as theatre for mischief,
md It's inhabitants for the purpose Of dealing dcs