New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-05-22
THE TRIBUNE.
school LibrnrIe. and Creed..

From the hrst suggestion that DISTRICT SCHOOL
LlBRxRIgs might or should be created in the seve-
rsl School Districts of our State we have regarded
the plan with ardent and upm;ngled admiration In
our Judgment, though their cost is comparatively
trafng their worth can be inferior only 10 that Of
the Schools themselves. Not merely for Children
aud Youth in whom the formation of q habit and
love Of Reading are OF the greatest moment but for
Parents and persons of mature age also, are these
Libraries destined to become unequaed and
steadily increasing source of useful Knowledge, Of
yirtuous Impulses and of rational healihful Enjoy
nent We believe the honor Of suggesting, certain.
y that of urging and procuring he-edopiion Of the
plan of District School Libraries is justly due TO the
late amented JAMES WADswoRTH of Livingston
County-s gentleman whose eminent abilities
boundless wealth and great social influence were.
during his life ungrudgingly devoted to the we'll
being of his fellow men. The author Of such q Gre
alton better deserves triumphal column than any
conqueror or ruler the world ever knew. Too few
Of our great men know realize how scanty and
pecarlous are the facilities for Intellectual Culture
hitherto enjoyed by the mass Of the Youth of our
mi townships and neighborhoods-with what diff
Guilty books suited TO their intellectual wants oh
tanned, and how grea, is the preponderance, among
tue works readily within their reach of the trashy
and demoraizing. Let us remedy this thoroughly
and twenty years of School Library accumulation
will do t--and we shall rejoice in decided intel
ec,ual, moral and social advancement-in Young
Men who find pleasure in good books rather than
full bottles, and in Young Women who prize even
ngs devoted 10 reading and converse at home far
above the unhealthiul crowds and uneasy glitter of
tho ballroom. Individuals like these among US
now bat 10 render such inclinations, such teuden
Giles predominant il the destined labor and triumph
olDis,rict School Libraries.
Yet even these are liable TO be abused and per-
ver,ed they may be badly selected. and so dispense
evil as well as good-possbly evil in place OF good
Already ieaouses have been excited and com
plants preferred respecting the character Of some
Of the books chosen to form these Libraries. The
Nev York O5serrer Told School Presbyterian and
Nee. York Evangelist New. School do have is
sued repeated and severe attacks on certain works
chosen by some Districts and on the decisions Of
the State Department in relation thereto. The facts
on which these complaints are founded are al fol.
lows
Some time since very generous otter was made
on the part Of the American Tract Society OF in
dividuns Of like faith. TO place set OF the standard
publications of that Society abou forty volumes In
each School District Library in the State free Of
charge This offer the State Superintendent was
compelled to decline, by the general regulations
endowed forth in the laws of the State which inter
diets the introduction OF any work Of sectaran or
partisan character into the Schools--many OF the
Tract Societys publications embodviug assump
ions and allegations calculated extremely TO offend
moi only unbelevers but Christians OF other denom'
nations than thosetcrmed Orthodox.
But il is now urged that while Orthodox wri'
,inss are thus excluded from the Libraries those
iuculcating opposite senuments-nanely Comoe S
Constitution of Man and Austin's Voice to
YOUTH are approved by the Superintendent and
extensively admitted into the Libraries-the Voice
10 Youth appearing from the official returns 10
have place in over thousand OF the Libraries
The former of these works although IT processes 70
archaeological tenets and teach demonstrate ana
physical Science only is alleged TO be decidedly hos
lie In its bearing and spirit TO Orthodox views OF
Divine trutb Aus,ins Voice is still more siren
uously and specifically objected TO, The author Is
.Unver,alist clergyman, who wrote IL avowedly
asa Guide TO Practical Religion for the Young OF
Kindred sentiments with his own. Niney'nine
hundredhs Of il appears to be such AZ no good man
1 could positirely object TO, though negatively IL
would DO held defective by many in the extent OF
M acquisitions and the character of its incementsto
sood and dissuasives from evil. a few pages, or
rather passages are quoted as still moro oolecuoha-
bly, sssailing in drec, though guarded terms certain
elements and essentials of Orthodox faith On
these grounds the exclusion of these TWO works
from the Libraries is imperatively demanded.
The general rules with regard TO this critical sub
jee, Is settled by the regulations OF Mr.. Benton
\ predecessors in the State Department are suostan
italy these
/. To approve no works as 1T for the School LII
Sailes Of which one leading object appears to be
Tie combination of the views Of any sect or BODY OF
| Christians;
., Not to exclude any work Of which the gener-
dsope and purpose is unohjectionahse' because II
Incidentally aud casually expresses some sentiment
Of opinion which does conravene the views OF GER
VA PORTIONS of the community.
These rules il will be SEEN exclude portion
tse,hink only portion) ofihe Tract Society puo
aeanons while they do not exclude Mr. Austin
S@s,which was written not TO commend the writer
Peculiar doctrines bu, the great practical duties oil
Religion in q manner which would not otesd and
fepe, hose " no hold these doctrines. Mr. Connie
We think. did no, nsean TO give offence. 10 any
oafia'iaas, when preparing bis work
~Yetwhile we DO not see that the Secretary
eouid have acted otherwise than he has done In the
Premises, unless he were TO modify the second rule
1 seavo given, and order the omission OF The few
s0siavey Objectionable passages in Mr.. Austin
so's from the School Library edition thereof we
q .oa think the State acts narrowly and unwisey In
saenp;ing to exclude Religious Doctrine t7of the
A Saoos and School Libraries of our State, In tse
& Place the effort is futile: awriter on Morals OF
.'ee Science who cherishes fixed and earnest op'n'
vas respecting God and His Law will be pretty
ss'e to commend those opinions in his work and only
Ie more nsdiously if you forbid their direct avo~-
aud frank incubation. II does seem 10 Us ihh'
oas laws onsht to have been such that the mun'h-
~n' offer of the Trac, Socetys select puoicasions
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