Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-09-18
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
POPULAR EDUCATION.

The old Constitution erected in $3.50 will socn be aoo-
shed ana another ehce built cut Ot It's RUNS VIII aN
It's place. The ancient architecture, suggested ny "ie'
and Roman and Gothic models, is give place 10 i"ie
fashionable style, OF modern order WIN t"e
which we are ie acquainted. The deails VI ''.e CON
sruc,on We must leave To wisdom ana TASTE vi iose
whv have been commissioned 10 suPenLenu ""' ,S
be 50 bold say that strength anu ou'aoy are W e
first Importance in such work lie uSr'u' suu 'o oe
sscrcsd fn the ornamental but The great Objects vi the
enterprise should Re kept steadily IN view ooh III inc ue-
s; nj ,be sxeculiun The great eud OF all government
ms, b ~ secure To the governed those Dement'S tor which
has been organized aud To throw the guardianship OF
;nv,ae law around thSe rights upon which the puwer
and the passions of mankind constantly encruachng-
These yuls need proeclUn, nut only IRON the abuse OF
Of official authority but huSe sudden outbreaks pop
uar violence which somelnnes visit us like the eMPeS'
and sweep every thing before theln We aust be equally
defended from the desPtsm OF the great and me
of the many. Aud 10 This end, we must not o"y nav
bundant and wholesome legislation, but the Ia" "uN e III
vested with sancllty, aud sustained oy my" '''" '
aud general intelligence among The PeoP'e'
We regafd an efficient system Oi popular eoucaoh as 'ne
most mporlant ui the subjects To % coSueiea ny 'he a
pruachly Convention, aud indeed DIS CONSTITUTING he very
Corner SHINE unun when the edce they about 10 erect
mpS, no e,npdsd We believe II is now universally admit
Ted thai CERTAIN degree Ut civilization is necessary To er-
dor n.,;n CAPABLE Of exercising tie right OF SeltgOvern
mon, So 1t must alsu be Conceded that free institutions
deneod tor Their permauence aud prosperity upon the INTEL
hupn
ioy them Italy less prepared Tor them than Eng
AUD Eugland less than The people OF Irgnla It's 0opS
tsreHe ina latter must educate ana refine her pOpna
tim she would secure To future generations the perpeuy
OF these Oes lngS which she nov possesses
Il IS not pretended that the Convention should adopt IN
detail thorough scheme vi education Tor the masses the
subordinate features Vi any plan of general education must
Of course lett To be developed by the discretion Ut future
LEGISLATURES But we sincerely hope that sOme pro-
vision will be made which shall Oblge the Legislature To
make popular education prominent object IMAM uey
have ever yet done, and that least the outlines O some
sysem efficient than the present, may DC incofpfa-
ted in the New Constitution. How otherwise can we ex-
meet the uneducated poor to Distinguish between truth and
error2 How can the voter who reads Tor himself,
contradict the denagugue who with flNey ana hsehOOd
ON his ungue approaches deceive HIM? The ability to
read in the history OF men and nations, the recorded exam
pies of wicked deception aud fatal is The hrS step 10
that manly Independence un the part Of the voter, upon
which our future destiny depends The people must JH'ge
for themselves but this they canOo do So hong as 'htr IN
formation is derived irum The active demag"gue WIN" TOT
The sake of Office is ever the alert 10 argue and To deceive
The danger If such deception is always greater IN es VI
great pollcal excitement, when feeling ana prejudice are
allowed To control the conduct OF hnSe whn Ill eae no
nents w,ud be more their guard II Is expected mat
the New Conslituua it adopted, will render popular cleo
tns more numernns and frequent, and The excitement que
10 these causes will course be much greater han ever
is therefore most Important that new barriers Soo oe
erected TO defend scety against the aglanns we en-
uect The stability OF npnlun aud prlnclpe must oe pro-
noted aud the popular mind guarded at every avenue a.
qains the deluSoos which it will be exposed IL wnuiu
be gratifying to see more attention paid just now to TINS I'M
nortant subject We should BE- glad to more evidence
of interest in it on the part Of friends OF the Press De-
cause they are merely the exponents out 10 some IN
tent the authors nf public sentiment, and Wieu III te
hands the efficient instrument Ot nHuence A"o%
mOng men.
Il,