New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-21

infinite wealth, It's WOndrOuS achievements
whether Of Nature or Of Art, to darkness and 81
lence OF course, a watch Is kept, and, under
pressing and peculiar circumstances, work has
been permitted but the treasures here collected
must be guarded with scrupUlouS vigilance. II
a fire should consume the Crystal Palace, the
inevitable loss must exceed One Hundred Nil.
lions of Dollars, even Supposlng that few OF
the most precious articles should De Snatched
from the swift destruction. Ten minutes with
out wind or five with it would suffice 10 wrap
the whole immense magazine IN flames and net
a hundred,h part of the value of building and
contents would remain at the close OF another
hour.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
The exhibition is destined 70 contribute I'M
mensey to the Industrial and Practical Education
of the British People The cheap Excursion
Trains from the Country have hardly commenced
running vet but It Is certain that large pro
portion OF the mechanics, artisans and appren-
tees of the manufacturing towns and districts
will spend one OF two days each IN the Palace
before It closes Superficial as such view OF
It's contents must be, it will have important re-
pare the products OF his own trade with those IN
the same line from other Nations, especially the
most successful, and will be stimulated to dis
Germ and master the point wherein his own and
his neighbOr'S efforts have hitherto compare
lively failed OF a million who come to gaze.
only hundred thousand may come with any
clear idea Of profting by the show, and but half
of those succeed in carrying back more wisdom
than they brought here vet even those are quite
am army, and fifty thousand skilled artisans or
sharp-eyed apprentices viewing such an Exposl
ton Alright and going home to ponder and dream
upon it. cannot fail of working ont great tn
umphs The British mind Is more fertile m inn
prO,cment than IN absolute invention, as Is here
demonstrated especially IN the department OF
Machinery, and the simple adaptation Of the
forces now attained, the principles established,
the machines already invented, TO all the beneh-
cent uses of which they are capable would
speedily transform the Industrial and Social
condition OF mankind. | am perfectly satisfied,
.or example, that Boots and Shoes may be cut
out and made up 10y machinery with less than one
fourth the labor now requred-that this would
require no absolutely new inventions, but only
an adaptation OF those already we'll known. So
in other departments OF Industry There Is no
reason for continuing to sew plain seams on
thick cloth by hand when machinery can do the
work even better and twenty times as fast.
shall be disappointed If this Exhibition be not
speedily followed by immense advances m
Labor-Saylng Machinery, especially IN this
country
But ont Of the domain Of Industry, British
Progress in Popular Education IS hating and
partial And the chief obstacle IS not a want OF
means, nor even niggardlmess tor the Nation Is
wealthy, sagacous and philosophical. think
the influential classes generally, or at least very
extensively, realize that a well managed system
OF Common Schools, supported by taxation on
Property, would save more in diminishing
the burihen Of Paupersm than It would
cost believe the Ministry feel this. And yet
Mr. F0x's motion looking to such system was
voted down IN the House Of Commons by some
three 10 one. the ministry and their reliable sup
porters vieing with the Tories IN opposing 1t
So the Nation is thrown back on the wretched
shift Of voluntsylsm, or Instruction for the poor
and ignorant children to be provided, directed
and paid for by their poor, Ignorant and often
vicious parents with such help and guidance as
selEcOnsliuted casual associations may see lit
10 give them. The result Is and will be what It
ever has been and must be--the virtual denial Of
Education to a great share OF the rising genera
ton
For this suicidal crime, hold the Episcopal
and Roman Catholic Priesthoods mainly respon-
"a, "a
only stand out of the way, a system Of efficient
Common Schools for the whole Nation might be
speedily established But they will not permit
IT, By insisting that no Nationally directed and
supported system shall be put m operation which
does not recognize and affirm the tenets Of their
respective creeds, they render the adoption of any
such system impossible They see this they
know IL they man it. And nothing moves me
10 indignation quicker than their stereOtyped cant
Of Goddess education teaching inhdelity
knowledge worthless or dangerous without Re
ligion &c &c. Why, Sirs, It Is very true that
the People need Religious as well as purely In
tellectual culture but the former has been al.
ready provided for You clergymen Of the Es
tabllshed Church have been richly endowed and
benefited expressly for this work--mhy dont yoU
DoH1 Why do you stand here darkenlng and
stopping the gateway OF secular instruction with
a self-condeming assumption that your own du
ties have been and are crmInally neglected, and
that therefore others shall likewise remain un-
performed Teach the children as much Re
hgion as YOU can very few Of you ever lack pu-
pills when you give your hearts to the work and
if they prove less apt or less capable learners be-
cause they have been taught reading, writing,
grammar, geography and arithmetic IN secular
schools It argues some defect IN your theology
OF is teachers If you really wanted the children