Democratic banner., 1847-07-26
EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.

lLOu VI u IEohb1 SIhAi okAO
be astonished, that the heads of families,
men of undoubted sagacity, can pass
through life apparently satisfied t'.at they
have fully discharged their duty to God and
to man. Few there are who seem to reflect
upon the responsibility of their office, in di-
~recting for veal or for wo, the destinies Of
those whom God has so signally committed
to their charge.
This trust, if we take a proper view OF
it, is of two imposing a character, 20 be thus
trifcd with or turned to any selfish purpo-
SEES, other than the furthing the prospects or
facilitating the progress of those whose adj
vancements will redowr to our credit, as
well as to their benefit. How much more
Irrational for those who have the interest Of
their children at stake, to give them a iber-
al education; which with industrious and
sober habits, is Of itself a fortune, and one
of which they cannot be Invested by rever-
SEES, than to endeavour to emass for them a
fortune they can never enjoy; impoverishing
their minds and rendering them inferior TO
their species: and in many instances, with
holding them from fame, or from filling the
high destiny to which nature has assigned
them. By suffering to lie dormant the geni-
us of. so many thousands, thus neglected,
, the State, TO say nothing of individuals, is
not only the loser of an incalculable amount
of wealth and strength, but is daily incur
y ing an expense, in the p%unisl'T, slt Of crime
= consequent upon that state orsnnral debase-
S nent, that is always the offspring Of igno-
= rance, sufficient of itself 10 wipe out this
t national blot, by a general diffusion of
/ knowledgc; and to awaken and bring forth
those hidden treasures Of the mind, the
value of which none can determine, to or
nament society and adorn our Republic.
: The population of this State is by nature
I endowed with as high an order of intelli-
r gence as any people on earth; and though
yet in her infancy, when called upon to
measure strength with the enemy, her sons
] have been found as intrepid and brave as
1.-THE bravest, and in the councils of the ma
oition inferior to none. Is it not then rea-
r sonable to suppose that among the numbers
: who are left to group their way in darkness,
that talent and genius instead Of light y
the feet of man and adding to his comfort,
eIis frequently buried beneath a heap Of
$ corruption, where it but cnnkers and con-
teammates those who come within its inlu-
%ences. The mind being so peculiarly or
gained as to require constantly something
= upon which to act, if we neglect to furnish
: it with wholesome food, it will naturally
seek that which is obnoxious, for
"The human mind ne'r knows a state Of rest,
Bad leads to worse and better tends to best"
. And precisely in keeping with the activity and
!, strength of the mind, if not properly trained
will its tendency be to corruption and disorder
$50 the mind that is capable of rendering the
? greatest service to the community when proper
+ ly attended to, if corrupt is equally capable Of
producing the most deleterious effect upon the
? minds of youth. 1t has been beautifully illus.
trated by comparing the strongest minds to the
J richest portions Of the soil: "Where the most
abundant crops are produced by cultivation and
care, are invariably found the most formidable
and poisonous growth of bramblcs and thorn.
/ in the absence Of the plough" So
"If good we plant not vice will fill the place
And rankest weeds the richest soils deface.'
1t would be a false notion Of economy in thu
d rich to suppose that by refusing to educate thu
poor even mainly at their expense, th~attliey
would be protecting their property or increasing
their stores.
j. If you would make your property valuable
N you must surround yourself with an intelligen
and enterprisIng community; and if you woul
put your property under the protection of tn
laws you must do it, not by drawing round tina
law q circle invisible to the people, but by open
ing their eyes to the law, that thew may see and re
spcct the rights Of each other; by withholding
from them that light you are sacrificing daily NOR
to robbery and pauperism, than the expense o
:, enlightening them would require.
IF we could estimate what portion Of publ