The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-09-04


read TO avoid them. Then would an &c
] quolntance with books make US, not only
wiser, but happier and better.
All must see that correct knowledge
OF the past may be of essential service to
Us in many Of the departments of life
This is the only source Of proof that can
a! all times be relied on; and frequently
it will be the on y test by which we can
detect the iasehood of the sentiments we
are asked TO believe. But if the interests
of the country are in any way 10 be conf,
ded to our safe keeping-if we are ever TO
be called upon TO raise our voices in de-
fence OF her Institutions, or, discharge the
sacred duties Of electors, it becomes doubIy
important that we should be familiar with
the history of those nations, which n past
ages have risen, reigned and fallen. Then
may we be able to trace their ruin to its
legitimate cause, and guard the institutions
of our. own country against like fatal
evils.
These benefits, however, are not to be
secured by a hasty perusal and, conse.
queutly, superficial knowledge of his,o-
ry. We must not content ourselves with
merely reading, but we must study it,
We must labor, not only, to treasure up
fact, but princip Ies-not only to obtain
knowledge of events, but of the causes
that produced them-not only to detect the
errors in the theories of others, but 10
form perfect one for ourselves.
There are other sources of intelligence
no less interesting and important. How
ever we'll acquainted we may be with the
records of The past, we cannot be truly
useful and intelligent members Of society
without thorough knowledge Of the
present. The history Of the past is of lit
lie value to US only so far as we make a
practical application Of the lesson it teach
es, What has been, can no more affect US
than the events Of the distant future. But
with the present all his interests are in
timatelv connected. Every question TO be
decided has reference to a period time
commencing now. If any event of the
pas! enga 2es our attention, The principle
object should be to discover truths that
may be OF service 10 US, Or TO those with
whom we are connected: and, unless We
understand the genius Of our own age, our
familiarity with the past will be useless.
We shall be able to make no practical ap.
pIication Of the knowledge we possess.
however great may be its Intrinsic value
For instance, if our field of labor was
public one-if we were called upon 10 be
the immediate guardians Of the Institutions
of the country and their Rfotectogs against
those errors which have proved fatal 10
others, would it be Sufficient that we were
acquainted with The history OF ancient ma
tions and understood the causes Of their
downfall ? Such knowledge it is true
would be necessary; but it wonld prove
nearly useless without familiarity with
orr own institutions and the influences
Which are now exerting an influence on
them. Ii would be equally as necessary
to understand definitely all the differences
which geographical situation, the differ
ent ages in which they had their existence,
as well as the different manners and Gus
toms Of the inhabitants have produced be-
tween this and other nations. When fa-
miIiar with all these circumstances we
might be able to point out The danger, if
any existed, & devise remedy. 1t is just
so in any department of learning or 5u.
siness il is not sufficient to understand il
as it has been, but as it now is The con
stanl changes that take place, and the con-
slant improvements that are made, show
the necessity of keeping pace with the
spirit Of the age. This includes not only
a familiarity with the events Of the las!
century, or, the last year, but an intimate
with all that is now tSans>
piring. So rapidly do changes follow
each other; that the wise man of l845
will, if he cease to improve, be compare
lively ignorant in '46, and grossly so IN
1850. But the means of improvement
are within The reach Of every one. We
have nothing 10 do but to read, compare,