The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-09-11

resulting to his son! However excellent
or yirtuous may have been the education
he has hitherto received, on entering the
army it would stand in great danger of
becoming entirely prevented by the evils
that constantly environ and Turk in the
can >, this system might manufacture
Coos soldiers, as it evidently does in
Prussia: and ii also would tend to unfit
them for any honorable pursuit on leav-
ing the army. 1t would create a desire
for lo.Ling but TO remain IN the army and
enjoy he luxury ofease and Incidence. and
that daaiIe would gain sufficient strength, cs-
pecial'y under free government 10 induce
them to put into operation such means as
would secure their continuance in the army
What has such system for lis object but
the utter annihilatIon Of human liberty! The
evil effects of this system are manifest even
in Prussia, governed as it is by Absolute
Authority. Her soldiers when dis charged
are uneasy-iind it difficult 10 engage in
any honorable occupation Their taste for
labor, their habits OF industry become pre-
vertcd during tlieir three years service, and
a large portion of them will not resort TO any
thing that bears the impress Of labor unless
compelled to Ivy absolute authority or abso-
lutc. necessity. And even that portion Of
the more favored class, who have the ability
and a desire TO pursue the study Of the sci
enc2s, and rendered unfit for any thing else
but to continue that pursuit, through the del
e,erious influence Of this military education.
Action in any useful employment is out Of
the question. This whole system Of educa-
ton Is directly calculated to give 10 their
minds one sided direction, and TO bury
common sense under heap OF scholastic
learning.
do not object 10 the practice Of those
who
Seize upon truth where e'or il can be found,
Whether on Christian or On Heather ground I;
But do object to the introduction of foreign
notions Of government, systems of education
military a5surdi'ica, into this country; for
their effect. adopted, must prove Mimcal
to the counry's best interests. Vet scarcely
a day passes bit some foreign notions OF pub
lie policy are presented 10 us and held up 10
admira,ion by American citizens Not an
eastern breeze that blows but watts Us some
contemplate absurdiy tina. must be hawkcd
about the country by those claiming to be
but not deserving OF the title oi--true Amer-
iaans. Our fashions must proceed directly
from Paris. Our sculpture must come from
Italy Our style of architecture from England;
her taste must be our taste: if she adopts the
Gothic style we must adopt il; if the Grccian
We must do 50. Oar military laws our #ys-
tens OF education must proceed from Prus-
sia. And i'll every instance, these notions
originate under thc sanction Of despotic pow
er and the patronage of the enemies of lib
crtv. come to Us tainted and dchei with the
spirit of dospousm and Aingly peculiarly.
And all is TO be embraced 10y Republican
America
/ agree with the gentleman fiat our sys-
tenn OF education is defective and that there
is great room for improvement, in this res
pect in every state of the Union. But not
withstanlmg. same of the states have adopted
a system, in my opinion, far superior to that
OF Prussia Look at Connecticut, small as
the state Is she nevertheless has school
fund Of two million dollars, which enables
every child of the commonwealth to acquire
Il good common school education; and that
too without imposing the condition that he
serre Nrce 9cays in Ike oimy Is a rctun for
Ms boon. Massachusetts ranks next in the
literally Other school provisions All New
England, New York and also Pennsylvania
have adopted or are adopting s. stems Of Cd.
ucali0n vastly superior to that OF Prussla,
Massachusetts annually eNpends for various
educational purposes upwards Of million
dollars, In the United States no compulsiOn
is practiced no cocrciye measures arc adopt
ed as in the gentlemams model system Of
Prussia; neither could there be consistently
with the principles Of a free government.
Our state governments require 10 equivalent
lheir aid in support of education is gratui-
.ously prohercd. in proof of the superiority
of our institutions let the general intelligence
oithc people testify. defy any man 10
point to q nation on the face of the earth
where intelligence is so generally diused
as in the uni;ed States! Or where the people
are so industrious, enlerprlzing; prosperous
and happy as here. Does not these facts.
which cannot be denied, speaks volumes in
favor of our institutions. The gentleman
seems to have entirely mistaken the genius
of our institutions when he recommended
for this country system which originated
with Monarchy and was expressly designed
to serve and perpetuafe Monarchy. Amer
lea is making an experiment: never before
tried on 50 grand scale, TO ascertain wheth-
er men are competent to,goyem themselves.
Let her digest her own laws; with rea>
son for her guide and experience for an ass
sisant, lie, her manufacture her own instiu-
tons and contcmn the aid Of designing Mon
archy and unmitiga.ed Despoism'