Ponola [sic] weekly register., 1843-07-29
good, as It's character is good IN the ad-
,,.,,a,,e,, &c Lnowte6ao md virIue

that retards knowledge is that it is the
interest OF kings and mobiles 10 keep their
subjects inignorance. They we'll know
that their institutions cannot bear the
tes, Of reason--that intelligence would
soon strip them OF the fimsy garb that
conceals their deformities. Hence, in
some conservative countries knowledge
is restricted by prohibhory laws; in all
bv the indirect influences Of the institu-
tions, and the want Of inducements to
intellectual exertion Intellectual en-
liphtenment is cc mined to the privileged
few-they alone are allowed TO revel in
the luxury of refined thought-thelr
souls alone are harmonized with earn
ing and civilization; and this explains
the apparent paradox, that country
may be distinguished for the sublimest
steps in science, literature and philoso-
ply, and yet the mass of the nation
wanders in the blindest ignorance
Who felt the beams Of the wit and re-
6nement Of the Augustan age of French
hiternture2 The people! No! They
did not transcend the precincts of Louis
court. The people still groPed their
way among the mists of that dark igno-
rance in which their fathers walked. In
what one point, then, was the intellectu-
al light Of France preferable to the Chm
minan night of the land of barbarians
Where would be the benefit of the sun.
ifhe confined the dispensations Of his
benifcent influences TO few thousands
sprinkled among the millions of the
earthl
In most conservative countries all the
written productions OF mind are sub
jected TO the pruning knife Of govern
ment. The noblest of all thoughts, those
favorable 10 liberty and sense, are Of
course stricken out, as endangering the
safety Of conservatism. For spoken
thought, men are liable 10 governmental
prosecutions; and there are not wanting
emissaries to report every word TO the
government.
These are the positive influences Of
Conservative institutions upon the know
ledge Of the people; their indirect inhu-
ences are even greater IN effect than
these. They fail TO deveiope individu-
ality they make mems minds indolent,
energeless and dependendent-they con-
fine civil emoluments, honors and pow
ers to ihe priviledged classes, SO there
are few motives to intellectual action
Ambition sleeps in the bosoms Of the
people--for there is nought to arouse
her into action. The breath of nspira-
lion is wanting.
Free institutions are founded upon the
presumption Of mans capacity for self
government. The essential conditions
Of selfgOvernment are Intelligence and
virtue. SelfpreservaIion itself then
calls for the general diffusion Of knowl-
edge and virtue. Our legislators have
seen and acted upon this necessity
They have started into operation laws
that have already done much; and that
promise yet richer harvest for the fu-
ture. There is even now in he infan-
cy Of our Republic, dare assert, more
general intelligence than any other coun-
try on the face of the globe. Monarchles
hoary with age, must bow in this res
pect to the pre-eminence of young Amer
.ica.
The spirit of conservatism is, to give
the highest degrees of education to the
priviledged few; that of Democracy is tc
''give the highest degrees of education tc
the highest degrees of genius; and tc
all degrees Of it so much as may enable
them to read and understand what i.
going on in the world; and keep theil
part OF it going on right" This express
es the whole American Democratic sy5
tenn of education.
We have already remarked that ma
ny modes have been adopted by the
American Republic for advancing know
ledge and virtue. Such are the systems
of common schools--the endowments OF