The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-08-30
NO. II.
A Nations Jewels.

NO. II.
A Nations Jewels.
rising out of good possessed,
And prudent caution needful to avert
Impending evil, equally require
That the whole people should be taught and
trained" WORDSWORTH.
To THE PEOPLE OF OHIo:
Never was there more admirable re-
ply than that which the Roman mat
ron, CeRNELIA, the mother of the Crac-
Chi, made to lady ofrank and wealth,
who had with foolish pride been dis
playing to her profusion Of splendid
Cornelia detained the la
dy in conversation, until her children
came in from school, and then, point
ing to them, said, "These dre my jeo-
els"
The beautiful aptness Of this reply
has been a thousand and thousand
times admired, but perhaps it has not
been so often observed that it is the
great truth which it contains, that
makes it beautiful. AS ! visw it, we
have nothing, in all that remains of the
records Of Roman greatness, which,
when rightly considered, conveys to
US a more importantle lesson.
That which the head of family
may point to with highest pride, the
same should be the chief glory Of the
guardians Of a free State. Well edu-
Gated children are the noblest orna-
ments Of family; State IS but COL
lection Of families; therefore, a well
educated generation of children con-
stitute the noblest ornaments Of
State.
Under our Republican institutions,
the people themselves are the sovereign
guardians OF the State; and all the va
rious officers of our government, from
the least to The greatest, are but agents
to use the power which the people
have given them. And how is it with
the children Of the people Of ONO?
Are they SO educated as to be worthy
of being presented as the pride and
glory Of those who are responsible for
their education?
The Want of Statistics.
Citizens of Onio,-l have to tell you
of that which is burning shame to you,
and stain upon the face of the COM
monwealth of which you are members!
Ifa man, in the county Of Franklin or
in any other county of Ohio, wishes
to know the "number Of acres of land,"
or the "amount Of moneys at interest,"
or the "number of horses, mules, asses
and neat cattle" in anv township ofthe
county, he may easily do SO, for the
laws of Ohio particularly provide for
ascertaining these things. So, also,
the manner, in which the militia is Or
ganized, or taxes are collected, or tav-
ern-licences are granted, may be re9di-
ly andprecisely known. But, if man
inquiries what number Of children there
are in the State, or if he would know
how many of them are at school, or if
he asks in what manner they are edu-
cated,- ,-there is none 10 ans,oer hun!
A wise people ought, as far as pos
sible, to have accurate and minute in
formation upon all matters at all inn
portant 10 their present or future well
fare. 1t is just as easy to collect the
statistics of property; and is it not far
more Important
Remember, there is no gem Of earth
so precious as single human mind,
though that mind belong to one who is
clothed in beggar's rags. Surely. there
fore, there is not one among you who
will not admit, that it is a great wrong
that you cnumerate your horses for
taxation, and yet neglect to enumerate
your children for education. o.'
''' The Children of Ohio.
In order to ascertain, as nearly as
we can in the absence Of any authen-
tic enumeration, how many children
there are in this State, who ought now
to be subject to the kindly influences Of
education, invite attention to the fol-
lowing facts and estimates. a
Accordlngto to the last census taken
by the federal government, there was
in the year 1910. white population Of
I.5O2,l12. ,at 1
BY the same census, II appears, that,
or that population there were,
Under years Of age, 2sI.7o7
5 and under 10. I7ta atfip 226,78l
10 and under Is, Jt,1 ri atst,i lS7,99l
Is and under 20, sn,.i,e,o r. l66,30S
1t may be safely estimated, that Of
the persons under 5 years Of age, at
least one-sirth, or 46,95l, were over a
years of age. II may also be safely
estimated, that Of the persons Is and
under 20, onsJffih, or ss,2eo, were
under l6.h 5li ai esgel vtdndS3a llw
81 Adding these, numbers to the num-