Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-11-27
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 81, is4f.

and its narrowing, a%stringent effects IN o So
cial view, they talk to them OF matters CON-
pretended only by the learned-of which they
themselves, oven, have often but imperfect
conceptions. And when the elections are
passed, and legislators meet in the capitol,
personal nttigues and party strategles absorb
the time and talent Of the states " assembled
wisdom +" Among the few elected whose
intelligence is above the impadenco ~oflgno-
rance, none are found to devote Themselves
singly to the Improvement Of the less enl}git-
ened, the les. fortunate.
Our country ard olf state abound with re-
ligiouy and moral societies. The preacher
goes his rounds, deelaiming weekly from eve
ry pulpit OF every hamlet in tho state. He
tells Of imaginary heavens and imaginary
woes-denonnces imaginary sins, condemns
imaginary %BiEners, and bles5es imaginary
saints ; tells of imaginary worlds Of light and
darkness, of the glory of the one, and the hide.
BUSINESS Of the other, while not one word es-
capes his lips relative to tho immediate, targi-
bic worlds Of glory and Of gloom, in the one or
ether Of which every mortal child Of Adam
must i" live, move and have its being Z" Oh,
TO if ignorance did not fetter the mind, man
would no longer be the slave Of his fellow
mans durJicity.
Tor the existence of these evils We censure
no one in particular. We denounce neither
priests nor politicians !. we blame those, de-
%noufce their apathy, and shudder at their cold
ness of heart who can witness these things
unmoved, Or turn away and forget that here
ia a god-like work to be performed. The pull
pit holds a mighty power, for good or III, over
this subject and were not our employment
what it is, we should embrace this as the lever
second in power over the absorbing topic un-
der discussion. We would call the beni9hted
around us-.ell them Of the weakness, the
woe, the dangers that attend the natural
ignorant man 3" cndeavor to excite their
emulation by appropriate comparisons, and III
LIlljitClf GCt6 w Bph' biSSl4 ~ w tho vi iEtt
above, through worlds Of light below: Nc
energy should be spared to make our converts
intelligent converts we should blush before
or Maker at leading an ignorant, soul-bound
flock to heaven; nor can we conceive that
the man may retain his identity, and partici.
pate in another world Of those enjoysents
which belong to the intellect, the soul alone,
who. during his %soiourn on earth knew none
but british delights. Ministers of the gospel
before you are broad felus Of honorable, glo.
rious labor, fields already white for harvest
Putsye in the sickle.
Let every minister preach one sermon
monthly from the pulpit on public education
and let him devote a few leisure hours during
the week to awakening the " thoughtless o
his parit honers to q sense Of the peerless i'm
p~ortance of the subject, and the church viii
increase in influence, grow in favor with thu
people, and the clergy find cause Of pride AM
qualification in the improved moral characte
of their hearers. Personal interest as well a
the true interests of religion and the country
prompt to this fat focks are those whicl
weld tho heaviest and finest fleece, and en-
lightened congregations always furnish thel
pastors the most independent and easy liv
ings.
But there is something for all to do. Fron
the governor of the state, down to the most oh
scure plodder in the way Of letters, an import
j. ant mission is open to eachand every patriot
member of society. The evils so ably depict
ed below, are just such as come within tn
, prog ince Ct wholesome legislation and philan
, tfropic social action to remedy and remedle
= they soon may be, if our rulers and lnHuentla
, members of society but unite in eAestions
/ that end. q
: "Pu8iIe EDUcaTIoN.-Here is Il sui
:. ;ect which calls loudly for the most seriou
I, lneditations Of those who yet interest then
selves in the welfare Of Louisiana. "
: had recently occasion to stop and sojour
in various parishes, and we have retdrne
o with a heart filed with sadness and afie
n ton for the people to whom we belong
G You seek in vain among them Tor ths
mighty 'wilIer and doer,' called Publ
OpiRjon j.; and the moral senslbllitles al
of but small import, where there are Z
intellectual qualities to control and dfc&
them. The mass Of the population ca
II barely read in a vast number Of fannie
the public journals penetrate rarely; a Hi
ior!ty of minds, though strong and eve
clear. are nevertheless uncultivated, an
d sad and rigorous consequence, bind fro
a the p~rejudlces of ignorance.
"Tllat we may be we'll understood u
:, must here make certain exceptions.
Firstly, our remarks apply only to tho
u parishes where the French language
'e generally spoken; wherever Americas
N from nciahioring states ale estabilshe
of the scene changes, and you feel that tt
as regions of intelligence are expIored-tl
If Press is not unknown. Secondly, we IA
ten to declare, that we speak of the gen
raj mass, without occupying ourselves vi
= a few handstul of men, disseminated he
- and there, as if to throw a darker sha'
III over the deplorable picture.
-, "This state of things-we will no.t {
10 nv it-causes our hearts to faint, H
IS exaIt a people unconscious of is desrae
ton How reveal them the doctrlr
n which are to form the compass of our
IN ture course? Where IS the utility of WI
be ing them your the4ghts if they will not
n cannot read? The only remedy is to
m tablish amnlg them, at the earliest posi-
w period, efficient public schools, that I
ts young may be led into better paths tn
~ th,se the nareDts have trodden.