Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-27

we look into our prisons, our poor houses,
and penitentiaries, we shall find them peo-
pied in ninety-nine eases ont of hundred
with those who have never had the advan-
tages of education. The same may be
said of the victims of intemperance. Those
who fall prey to that fell monster are gen.
orally those whose minds have not been for
tilted by the golden gems of science and
literature.
We find most of our large towns and +
cities flooded with miserable beings, sunk to
the lowest depths Of degradation and human
folly and we also find that in nearly every
instance they are those whose minds are
unimproved. These are facts that defy all
contradiction, and that show in the most
conclusive manner the s1perlatiye blessings
Of well directed education. The souls of
our countrymen slain by infdelity and in
temperance, with their associates in profit
gacy, errors and vice, lifteth cry high up I
into the Heavens For these and kindred
sins, the land mourns; and can see no eff
fectual remedy for these giant evils, except
in the proper education of the Masses
Let us then as individuals, each one con-
tribute his part to stay the torrent of cor
ruption. A food-tide of apparent prosperi-
ty may come as in the days of Roman glory,
filing up the channels Of commerce, and
satisfying the cravings of curiosity and am
bition but without an enlightened public
sentiment, it will sooner or later have its
ebb, and in its turn leave our country al
prey to the tempest, that has overwhelmed
in its resistless course the mightiest empires
of the old world. History is a silent but
eloquent witness of its truth, ard from her
undying lamp sheds a stream of unceasing
light along our pathway The resources Of
this country are vast; her spirit bold and
daring, and we can but regard her as des-
tined at no distant period, to take a more
elevated and important station Ia controll-
ing the destinies Of the world. If she is
but true to herself, she will stand in the
Stars pouring light on the millennial NOR,
ming, while her spirit waking trumpet shall
break upon the ears of slumbering millions
If we take wide survey of the present
condition Of man, and view him IN every
variety of character and condition, from the
lowest depths Of degradation and misery, to
the most enviable summit of earthly hap
piness, we are naturally led to enquire,
what is the cause Of so great diversity in
the human species? Why are not beings
equally virtuous and happy, who are the
i children of one common parent, endowed
by their Creator with the same unaGenable
rights, who possess the same lofty and dig
nifed properties of soul? Can any one hes
itate moment for reply? Do we not
see the condition Of man elevated and de-
pressed, just in proportion to the encour-
agement given to learning among the COM
mon people? If we consult the history of
the world, and trace man from the earliest
dawn of his recorded actions down to the
present time, we shall find abundant proof
that ignorance has ever been the strong hold
Of superstition, tyranny and vice. When
: knowledge is confined to the higher walks
Of life, the learned few trample over the ig-
norant multitude, and practice upon them
the vilest deceptions There is no country
perhaps in which the common people are as
intelligent as in the United States; and in
no country are there so many inducements
to education.
In country like ours, in which the su-
preme authority is vested in the People, the
general diffusion of knowledge among al
classes is Of the greatest Importance Al
intelligent people alone are capable of sell
government. 1t is lamentable that SO great
an apathy yet prevails upon this important
subject. If young men and women would
devote their leisure time to the pursuit Of
useful knowledge, they might soon become
bright ornaments to society. We see q
Franklin emerging from the greatest oh.
security, and by his own unaided efforts ri
. sing to distinction, and becoming one of the
. brightest stars in the armament ofhis coun
trys history. would not be understood
, that every man can become Franklin, but
;, [ would be understood that every one car
: become an intelligent and useful citizen
: When we take survey of the unlimited re
. gions of learning, and our meditations rur
> over the names Of all the sciences, Will
!, their numerous branches and particular
. themes Of knowledge, we can but refec
= with how few of them are we acquainted
+; The most learned of mortals will never hav
= occasion to act over again what is tabled 0
! Alexander the Great, that when he ha
> conquered what was called the Eastern world
y he wept for want gilmore worlds to conquer
/ The worlds of science are innumerable ant
h endless as the starry host that bedecks tn
a vault of night. But the most important Q
ic all knowledge, is self knowledge. 'Knor
ID thyself,' was written in golden capitals upo
in the splendid Temple of Delphos, as tn
a. most important maxim which the wise me
X of Greece could hand down tounborn gen
ce rations. 1t has been truly said, that maj
u the Lord of Creation, is the grand clima7
ne the maater piece of all Gods works wit
re which we are acquainted; and man
te mind the master piece ofman.' othe stud
~ of mans mind towers far above all other
Te Yes, knowledge is power, and more to |
e desired than all the treasures of earth con
he bined yea, it is more to be desired than IL
D. everlasting echo of Fame.
! RELEASE OF PRIsoNERs.-The Nation
- ~ Intelligencer learns through private lett,
es from Europe, that our Minister at Madrid, NJ
ng Barringer, has fully succeeded in his effort
"a his DarSonaI ;p6u 4l,a