The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-25
| E d u G a t io.nsal.
[For the Spirit Of Democracy.]
EDUCATION. M

EDUCATION.
Mr.. EDITOR From our previous refiec-
tons on this subject, we have attained the
position, that intellectual education forms
the highest interest in the destiny Of man;
that separate from it governments must
cease 10 exist, and our race become wan
derers in world indisposed, without the
aid Of the sciences, to produce intellectual
and physical happiness. This position is
verified by the contrast between a highly
enlightened and christian country, and
the inhabitants Of parts Of Asia, the islands
Of the. Pacific Ocean, and Africa, Ancient
ly,. Africa was distinguished for her re-
fnement, and knowledge Of the arts and
sciences. From Egypt, Europe brought
the first germs Of civilization, and Carthage
extended her commerce over the known
world. But her glory has departed, and
is the least known division Of the earth,
distinguished only for her ancient ruins.
We learn, from the decline and fall Of the
Grecian and Roman empires, and other
ancient ations of renown-dis!inguished
for their knowledge of the fine arts, poetry,
philosophy, astronomy, and rhetoric the
inevitable truth, that no nation can have
an immutable basis, where the laws Of vir-
tue and the fear Of God are disregarded
by the populace. This was the cause OF
the decline and ultimate fall Of the ancients
The ancient Jews, once the chosen and
highly favored OF Jehovah, by a departure
from the laws of virtue and innocence,
suffered the severest chastisement by the
Almighty, and as nation are dispersed
throughout the earth. Through all ages
Of the world, as we learn from the faithful
records of history, a departure from the
laws of God has always been succeeded
by his fearful punishments. a1,
knowledge and virtue are so intimately
connected, that the absence Of the one
lessons or impairs the other. It does not
impair the force Of this proposition, though
there have been learned men who arrayed
their Intellectual strength against the gov
ernment of God. On the other side. null
titudes of learned men have advocated
the doctrines of christianity; science has
brought to the aid Of christianity and
morals the meditatons and researches OF
the pious and good Of every age. 10
what are the sublime doctrines OF christi
anity addressed? To our physical or
intellectual nature? Is it on knowledge or
ignorance the hopes Of christianity depend!
II some learned men have attacked the
Bible, must ignorance or learning defend
III Nothing but knowledge is sufficient
TO perpetuate virtue and religion in the
earth. What is human knowledge! 1t is
the cultivation of the intellectual powers
Waare composed Of two elements: "the
one a little dust caught up from the earth
n which we shall soon return, the other
aspark Of that divine intelligence in which
we bear the image Of the Great Creator
knowledge opens to our view all the won
ders of acknowledgements seals up tht
fountains Of thought, and leaves the ami
NAL passions alone, without reflection.
The art Of printing was invented bJ
DR.. Faust, German, in the 18th century
To this event may be attributed a new
era in the progress Of human mind. Th'
means of education have become mor'
accessible than at any former period OF th'
world. And indeed, the hopes Of christi
anity and civilization are indebted TO thi
divine art, more than any other cause
The first printing press established in tn
British colonies Of North America, was il
1889, at, Cambridge, Massachusetts,. ,a
Is Geology opens to the intelligent mind
among the rugged precipices Of hills am
mountains,s the mysteries Of the prime
Commissions Of the world; the evidence 9
the slsmental struggles Of what is now tn
habitsble earth--ignorance beholds moth
ing Bai diaorder and inorganic ruins In
telligehcs descends to examine, throug
the microscope, the otherwise invinsibl
dominion Of creation - myriads Of AM
msls sporting in drop Of water. In th
language Of Edward Everett: "Let Al
,ronomy lead him to the mount Of yisior
let her turn her heaven-piercing tube TO tn
sparkling vault; through that, LEI him OF
serve the serene star of evening, and Sc
Il transformed into cloud-encomPasse
4 / l :