Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-11-13

wen may tAe} lay dsiQe tneiT ulSn OF
politics" to assist in rolling on The bali
which has been put in molten, to "ele-
yate the masses"
ELEVATE THE MASSES.
We observe, with supreme satisfac-
ton, that the Virginia papers especial
", besides those of other states IN our
gloriously advancing republic, have
been recently occupied with subject
Of universal interest the vitality i'm
portant one of popular education.
We gladly withdraw our attention
for one moment from the standing
dish Of politics, in order that we may
express our heartfelt sympathy in
movement we hope) INSTRUCTED by no
Iparty opposition, in order that we may
mingle for a space in an agitation
where the sounds of discord are not to
be heard.
Surely, every well-wisher to the
species, every lover of his country,
will rejoice at the awakened zeal
In severel States of this great con-
federacy in behalf of popular educa-
ton.
Cheered by SO generous a move
lnent, the heart of the phiIanthropist
palpltates with hope powerfully re-
newed. The joyous tear of parental
senslblllty starts at the approach of
that era IN human Improvement, when
the children poverty and ignorance
shall be brought under the patronage
OF our State governments to the tenn
I pie OF science. The ardent sentiment
talist, cherishing as he does the delight.
ful expectation that the progress of
civilization is onward-that its adj
vance is indefinite, and may finally
compass the boundaries of each-he
must look to universal education
as the great medium of approach for
this millennium for humanity.
Who is there so dead to all proner
conception ofthe universal interests of
mankind as not to be moved by that
grand impulse which strives for the
propagation of knowledge, and the
spread Of taste for letters amony the
people-the masses? Who is there
that can find it in his heart to arrest
the tlde-the warm tide of feeling
now, we trust, setting in, in IA
vor of cause which meditates the
introduction ofthe lamp Of intelligence
and OF science into the meanest hoy
ell?
1t was centuries ago, that captive
Greek, in hostile country, and at the
mercy of a tyrant, found himself pre-
pared to rehearse line from Euripi-
des. BY that repetition, he fulfilled a
condition upon which depended his
life, and restoration to his native
land The despot, soflened by the
effasions of a departed genius-touch-
ed by the pathos of the immortal poet
-bade the Athentic Go, and thank
the bard for freedom and his strains. ~
If the nations Of antiquity could imbibe
so passionate desire for knoul-
edge, for culture, and the arts--if that
led to such pitch of refinement,
let us in this advanced period
of the worlds history, emulate the ex-
ample OF those exquisitely polished ma.
tlons!
Were modern communications i'm
pregnated with the same admirable |
spirit that taste for the highest enbel- |
ishments of the understanding-then,
with our divine system of theology,
we might hope to make the nearest ap-
Proclamation to all Of good that is at
tainable by man. But it is to be re-
marked, as very humiating truth, |
that in the freest government under the
canopy of Heaven-framed as it was
to effectuate the greatest good to the
greatest number-devised, as that gov
eminent was, expressly for The free and
unobstructed progress Of all It's citizens
IN all the avenues of Improvement
here are many Of the States in this
Union greatly behind some of the
most intolerant despotisms Of Eurnpe,
behind them in enlarged and efficient
schemes Of popular education! The
plan for general instruction prevalent
in Prussia, and, as it is stated to
be, SO beneficial in its operation, may,
after all, be the one proper for the
adoption of the States ofthis confeder-
acy.
But, after all, in spite of symptoms
which are, or seem to be, so encoura-
ging at present, in different quarters oil
the country, we may not be warranted
n speaking OF the prospective accom-
plishment OF that which should be a II
matter Of such profound concern, the