Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-26
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 81, 1858.
THE DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION.


Not many days ago we took occasion to offer a
few good-natured remarks on the genius OF Demo-
cracy as being opposed to education. 1t may be
remembered that we founded our observations on
this head upon what we conceived to be good au-
thority, no less than that of the present worthy
Governor Of Tennessee. Our comments, however,
on Gov JoHNsoN's admission that many of the
young men of our country, whilo at our acade-
mics and colleges and when in the study Of their
professions mperceptibly imbibe notions preja-
dcial to Democracy" seem to have proved unpa-
latable to our neighbors, the Union and the Seat-
mel, who, however much they may differ on certain
points of Democratic doctrine, have at least united
to dissent from the conclusions to which we were
led by following too implicitly our Interpretation of
Gov Johnson's " metaphysical subtleties and scho-
lastic yagares the latter of the two organs en-
titles them If we could have foreseen that we
were laying our hand on such sore place in the
Democracy it is possible that we might have been
a little more gentle in our manipulations, though
we endeavored to spare their feelings as much as
possible.
We are told by the Union that We have miscon-
strued the true meaning of Gov. Johnsons Ian
guage, and that, far from being opposed to acade
mics and colleges, he designed merely to designate
one of the abuses to which these noble institutions
are sometimes subjected under wrong management"
Now, as the only abuse that Gov. johnson specifies
is the fact that young men at "academies and col
leges" i" "imperccptibly imbibe notions prejudicial
to Democracy" we supposed that this was the gra-
vamen of his accusation in the premises; and as
the Governor further informs that the I" abuse
of which he complains is too frequently chargeable
to their preceptors, "many of whom, he says,
g are bigoted and supercilous account Of their
literary attanments" we supposed it perfectly ma
tural and consistent for him as good Democrat to
contemn that which after all he represents to be the
ultimate source of the abuse" designated, to wit,
{" literary attainments." If we have miscon-
strued the language of Gov. johnson, as the Union
charges, or misunderstood" it, as the Sentinel
more courteously intimates, submit that it must
be because we have failed to discover that the Gov
ernor does not mean what he says; discovery
which our high opinion of his outspoken honesty
and transparent candor would naturally prevent
US from making.
The Union certainly misrepresents Cthough un-
comments on the worthy Governors Inaugural Ad-
Dress when it says that the IntcNigencer assails
him for "oxposing one of the means by which
Federalism has sought to perpetuate itself" So
far from !" assailing" the Governor on account of
his expositions, we merely adyentured blandly to
exposuate with him in behalf of I" academies and
colleges" and attempted to convince him that pre-
eeptors were not likely to be rendered "bigoted
and supercous account Of their literary attain
ments,' but rather from the lack of them, as was
sometimes seen to be the case with other people
than professors; politicians, for instance.
As to the complaint of the Union that it was
neither logical nor just in the Intehigencer to as
sumo that Democracy is hostile to education" even
upon the assumption that Gov. johnson was so, i
might be sufficient for us to quote the Unions owr
endorsement Of the Governor q man Gin the
front ranks Of intellectual eminence" and whC
would therefore not be likely to make mistake il
apprehending the genius of Democracy. Besides
we know Of no man more entitled to speak with au
thority on democratic instincts" as the organ
calls them than is Gov. johnson. That all tn,
Democracy, however, do not sympathize with hi
opinions was admitted by in the article which ha
provoked the Uaion's and tScahneys structures anc
among the "certain leaders Of the Democracy" who
before said emo longer have the fear of college
before their eyes," we are very glad to array thu
influential names of our neighbors.A