Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-11-22
EDUCATE THE MASSES.

Il has pleased an Overruling Provi-
5ence 10 give US birth in an age of intel
Iccfual advancement, and III Il country
,.hose citizens are not only permitted 20
-.o;ov the fruits Of their own inclina-
lions, but where every person may cx-
ert controlling influence in the at
airs Of state. Our foreiathers, discard
ing the aristocra,icai principles Of mo-
nnrchial system, and believing in the in
teyri,y Of the people and their capabiiitv
Of noycrninc themselves, threw off the
woke of the opprcssor, and laid the toun-
iation Of this now mi ghiy republic
Their doctrine was liberty and equality
they claimed for themselves and their
posterity a voice in the councils OF the
.natioa--a right to choose their own rulers
and 10 appoint their own agents, 10 make
the laws by which they were 10 be gov
erned. Time has tcstedt heir decisions.
and twenty millions of enlightened and
happy frcemcn are the monuments Of
their wisdom.
But though they were successful. and
we are now rcapin9 the rewards Of their
toll, there is much 10 %, done. II we
would preserve the liberties 50 dearly
purchased; If we would shun the rocks
on which other republics have fouudcred
and gone down TO oblivion; if we would
heed the warnings OF Greece and Rome.
once. each in their turn, the masters OF
the then civilized world; if W would prof
il by III, civil discords Of the French rev.
olltion, and the disscntlonS in sister re-
publics Of our own continent, we most
educate the masses. In SO doing is 0 +
only safeguard. The power of an cmpe-
ror is not enhanced, nor the permanently
Of his empire insured by the intcllig ger ce
OF his subjects. On the contrary, isno-
rance is the chief support OF despoiisrn:
but the stability OF republican institutions
dep nd altogether upon the intellectual.
moral, and political education Of the pco-
pie. 4 king counts upon military power
TO enforce obedience TO his mandates
His authority is hereditary, and from his
lordly tribunal there is no appeal. BE
his measures liberal or iyranEical, his
subjects must be made to su nit to- them.
pcaceablv if they will, but forcibly flhey
must; and just in proportion as they are
degraded III the scale of moral and poiti-
cal science. just III proportion as they are
ignorant of the true principles Of govern
mcnt. and of their rights as citizens and
relations man 10 man; just in that pro-
portion will n dcspot be enabled 70 tram
pie them under foot, or make them bow in
humble submission 10 his power, and
kiss the rod that smtcs thcm.
How diff, cnt IS il in our own nation.
Here the chicfmagistratc and the law ma
king body receive their commissions di-
rect from the people. Though nominal
" rulers they are literally servants. and
may be required at any time to surrender
their brief authority into the hands of
those who gave il. inas,nuch then as
every citizen Of our republic IS emphati-
cally sovereign. how important IS It that
each and every one should be literally
educated. ia order that our council halls
may DC filed with those who are ''hone>t.
capable and faithful and the pages OF
our statute books be covered with wise
and Just laws Education should not be
confined 10 the few; and the means 10 ac-
J,irc /, should be placed in the Lands Of
every American youth.
Here arises the question how is this 10
be accomplished, We answer by pioyi-
ding a system Of good free schools, III
which all. however poor, may be enabled
to attain the desired end. Ancient Spar
Ia educated ! or youth, though not i'll a
very moral manner, at the expense of the
government. Prussia mikes il ohligato-
~ upon every parent 10 keep their chill
drcn at school a specified term, and
where poverty forbids. they are both
clothed and educated. and the public
treasury settles the lawful demand. In
view Of this. and knowing what must in
cvitubly be the consequence of such ii
course. will any of our republican States.
or to bring the matter home, will our own
happy State enjoying as she does the
plentiful gifts of nature, permit the poorer
class of her citizcns TO grow up in igno-
ranccl-Wc trust not. Let every youth
be educated. and let the poor be educa-
ted at the public expense. We know that
there are those who object to supporting
schools by property tax. assigning as :
reason that it is ant-repubican. We
fear that such are influenced by the paltrs
sum Of d liars and cents more than BY
principles: for it is certainly the duty o
legislators to provide for the future vel
fare ofthe State. and the happiness of the
people This can be done in no other
way but the one in question. ignorance
is abroad in the land, AMI this course will
cfiectually check it. No regard should
be paid to the cost. but let the motto Of ev-
cry person whose wish is that our State
aud nation should continue to occupy thai
prominent position which they now hold
whose interest is the prosperity and nd
vancement of our country. and who are
willingto aid in pushing forward so nobl'
work: we repeat. let the motto OF suc'
be, educate the masses.
DuTCH TEMPEEANCE.-An old Dutch
man who had recently joined the Tenn
perance Society. was taken sick and sen
for u Doctor TO prescribe for him. who or
dcrcd him to take an ounce of brand,
per day. The old chap overhauled hi.
arithmetic, and found in the table Of \
po,hecares' ight-'eight drains max,
one ounce"
Mine - says the Dutchman. .da
IL. /.