Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-27
HOWARD COLLEGE-EDUCATION.

We are gratifed to learn that such eff
forts are in progress, as induces the belief
that the day is not far distant when this
stupendous edifice will be in readiness for
the reception of students. 1t has been but
; few days since we saw subscription
book that contained liberal donations from
many of our citizens who have proper
appreciation of the advantages of such an
institution and we most sincerely hope
that the people of Howard will not with
hold their assent to an object, the benefits
of which are to be the property and inheri-
lance of their children. When the farmer
or townsman pays his tax, the application
of the fund is ordinarily unknown and
imperceptible but in this instance, the mo-
ney they subscribe is to be expended in
full view of their own mansions However
unwelcome guest the tax-gatherer may
generally be, we think the present call ire
sistible.-It is the draft of childhood and
= of innocence on the treasury of parents
heart.
Education is subject that lies at the
bottom of our institutions; and hence it
becomes the duty of all to study the genius
and the principles, and the interests of a
government. the control, the direction, and
the very destinies of which are lodged in
their own hands. The public mind is the
source of light and power. 1t can alone
give impulse and direction to our free in
situations, and without its influence, we
must sooner or later be wrecked and lost
in the commissions of party. The arts of
the demagogue, the love of power, the
schemes of daring and lawless ambition,
the corrupting influence and corrosive eff
fects of time itself, can alone be combatted
and successfully resisted by an enlightened
public sentiment. Ignorance, blind, stupid
ignorance, is the material in the hands of
the intestine foe, with which to undermine
the foundation or storm the citadel of our
liberties; and the only impregnable bull
tons and the hopes of an enlightened and
virtuous people. In other countries the
government protects itself with the bayo-
met and the sword but here the government
/. is only safe when guarded and protected
. by its citizens. We would say, therefore,
in the language of the Father of his coun-
+ try, let us promote as an object of pri-
mary importance, institutions for the gen.
eral diffusion of knowledge. In proper
ton as the structure of government gives
force to public sentiment, it should be en-
lightened."
AS we have before remarked, we con-
slider the subject under consideration, more
completely identified with the general inter-
est and prosperity of our county, than any
other measure on which we have been
called to act. And believing as much, we
hope. our best interests will be no longer
neglected; that we will not shrink from the
important proposition, but march forward
in one solid phalanx to aid in carrying out
the grand scheme. By doing so, we should
acquit ourselves of an important duty we
owe posterity, and the great and perma.
nent interest of our county and country
do much in implanting those principles OF
virtue and intelligence in the minds ofthose
who are to follow us, which are indspen.
sable to nations happiness and prosper,
i'y, as well as having prepared those who
n