The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-28
VOL. III.
Fon THE ILLINOIS FREE TRADER.

Messr.. Hse and Osn,aii-Permit me through
the columns of your paper, to call the attention o:
the public mind to a subject too little agitaed in
our commun,y-notwthstan this, it is not
the less important. refer to the cause of educa-
ton, particularly that of common school educa-
ton.
The necessity of general knowledge and good
morals is admitted by every rejecting mind; yet
the great majority do not consider that common
schools are the re,y sources Of nations Intelligence.
1t is Of them the youthful mind receives its drec-
ton; and we know, that
Gust as the twig is bent the trees inclined.
Their influence in giving character to the ma
ton, is more than tantamountto that of the press,
inasnuch as they form it; whereas, the press only
directs it in a proper channel, and suggests i'm
provements, after its actual formation. The cdu-
cation of this people, taken as a whole, must be
that, and that only, which the common schools are
prepared to give. In these primary schools there
fore, the nation receives its education, and IN con-
sequence, its character. And as our safety lies
only in the virtue and intelligence of the 5otole
people with common Schools our liberty must
stand or fall for they are, at once, the sources and
guardians Of freedom.
But, some may say our nations liberty will be
most enec,ualIy preserved by keeping up high,
moral tone OF sentiment with regard to our colleges
and high schools. That this is not only bcnei-
cal but highly necessary, is readily granted. But
our liberty, as well as civil institutions, are
dependent on our common schools. If children
L 1. -
desire for higher improvements in the Gle
inentary schools, they make their studies their de-
light, and the acquisition of truth their purest and
highest happiness--they will wish to go from the
common school to the acadcmy--hcnco to the
college. And if the mind has received a light in
cination in the primary schools, neither poverty
nor opposing friends can deter the youth from
climbing the rugged sleeps Of science, aud RECALLING
himself from the pure fountain that gurges from
the base of Fame's noble temple. On the con-
trary, if children in common schools arc made to
hate inslrucon-if they are instructed in such
manner as TO make them consider their studies
task rather than delight, they will require com
pulsory measures to make them attend even the
common school, while their hatred Of higher in
stiutions will overcome all the influence friends
are able to exert: SO that they will turn away from
all sources of improvement with that supreme alb
horrencc which never thrsts for knowledge The
old saying, take care Of the minutes, aud the
hours will take care Of themselves is equally APP
plicahle to our present subject for, if we take
care of the primary schools, they themselves will
take care of the higher institutions, So that it
becomes the friends of these larger, pobIcr rivers
ofn,elecua! improvement, to not be unmindfli
Of the springs and small streams from which they
cnanatc, and TO interest themselves in the pros
perty ofcommon schools, Professors also, would
be greatly assisted it frequently requires nearly
half the collegiate course to teach what the COM
mon schools ought to have taught or to correct
what they have laugh. amiss.
The private enjoyment, felicity, and good order
of a community, depend, in great measure upon
the advantages lis Inhabitants have enjoyed in
common schools. Man is constituted that he
will seek happiness somewhere. If he possesses
it not mentally or morally, he is sure to seek il
physically. Gratifying his animal nature at the
tippng-shop, among the low TRADE ofthe slam
dcrous circle, may give him n monantlTy, but
not permanent satisfaction; he soon resorts to
an excessive qualification of all his evil propcnsi-
ties, which soon diseases his entire physical ma
ture. And herein consists the banc of society
the chief cause of vice and misery to mankind a !
diseased physical nature, having the predomi-
hence over the mental aud moral faculties. Rca- |
son and conscience, given by his Creator to gov
ern his appctites ana passions, having never been
unfuded or educated, rendered suhservieut to
the lower natures, which are ever ready to usurp
the supremacy when education does not furnish
the higher, with strength to overcome them. Such
an unfortunate being has 10 other capacity for
happiness, than the indulgence OF his grusscr sI..
petitcs. If all received good elementary cdu,a-
tion--and this includes thorough ins,ructon in the
principles of Christianity-they would dnd hap
piness within themselves in reading and study |
and in cultivatine the heart and head But socie.
ty, without these higher, independent sources OF
happiness is left to the destructive influence OF
tea-tab'c a,te, drinking, horse racing, gambling
and the like. But the educated have other sub
jects than their neighhors for conversation
sources than vicious places of resort and neigh.
borhood scandal, for amusement--and other asso-
ciates than the stupid and ignorant, or the vile
and worthless In good common schools. society
may obtain that which will secure morality. in
dus,ry. and enterprise; but If the schools are
worthless, society will lose wha, it can gain from
no other source, ard the want of which will make
the Inhabitants weak, degraded, and despiscd
knowledge is happiness as well as 60 owerr and