The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-24
Education.

Education Is q subject OF the most VIAL l'n
portance, that can claim the attention of Amerl-
can youth. Even our religious and moral char
acter is essentially influenced by well directed
pursuit of the treasures reserved for US IN the
store house of learning. Although the civilized
world have pretty generally become convinced
of the importance of the subject, yet we lind
public opinion very far from being uniform re,
specting it. When we compare the learned
with the unlearned in our own country, the ad-
vautages of education are not fully appreciated
Pope says:
"A little learning is dangerous thing,
Drink deep or taste not the Pieran spring,
For shallow draughts intoXicate the brain,
Bnt drinking largely, sohers it again"
Yet we must admit that even little learning,
sheds benign radiancy over every department
in life. In this country education has exerted
an Influence upon society, that every citizen must
feel hence the advantages of education are not
shared alone by the learned. Every man of eve
ry grade, of every condition, the learned and the
unlearned the rich and the poor, are sharing the
inestimable blessings that are every where poured
out upon us with an unsparing hand. The man
who has never had the opportunity OF digging
for diamonds in the rich mines of literature and
science, is in great measure compensated tor
the frowns of fortune, by mingng in good So
ciety, in ar intelligent and well regulated com
munnity. So great arc these advantages that
MANY persons become intelligent without ever
stepping upon the thresholds dedicated to learn
inc. Hence the impossbty of arriving at just
conclusions on this subject, by comparing one
class of society to another. But let me ask,
what has. elevated the condition of this great
Republic above the benightcd regions of Asia
and Africas Has nature been more liberal in her
eifts to us than to those we call savages and
barbarians? Certainly not. Look at any and
every country where science has never shed
genial raw upon the human intellect and we see
man the same miserable and degraded being.
We there see man but one remove from the
brute creation. The noble aud digni6cd proper
ties of his nature are there concealed. We DO
not there see the radiant face of virtue, gladden.
ins, beautifyi,g and cheering the walks OF i'fe
We do there see religion, that bright morning
star Of human happiness, shedding lustre upon,
the world. We do not there see the eternal
nruci,les of honor, justice and humanity, ce-
mcnfinr the bonds OF social compact for the mu-
tual benefit of ALL ard raising Formidable front
against vice and immortality. We do not there
see all enlightened Judiciary holding in due re
stra;nt the most vile disturbers of the public
peace and protecting every man in the peacea-
BILE possession of the fruits of industry and tru-
oality> No. We find vice the constant COM
panion of ignorance. Ifwelook into ourprlsons,
our poor houses, and penitentlaries, we shall ind
them peopled in ninety -nine cases out OF hum
dr. d with those who have never had the advan.
tapes of education. The same may he said of
the the victims of intempersnce. Those who
fall prey totbat fellmonster aregenerally those
whose minds have not been fortified by the gold
en- gems of science and literature.
We find most of our large towns and cities
flooded with miserable beings, sunk to the low.
est 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 super
lative blessings of we'll directed education. The
souls of our countrymen slain by infdelity and
intemperance, with their associates in profiigacy,
errors and vice, ftetb cry high up into the
Heavens. For these and kindred sins, the land
mourns; and l can see no efectual remedy for
these giant evils, except in the proper education
of the masses. Let us then as individuals, each
one contribute his part to stay the torrent of
corruption. A food-tide Of apparent prosperity
NAV come as in the days of Roman glory, filling
ND the channels of commerce, and satisfying the
cravings of curiosity and ambition; but without
an enlig ghtened public sentiment, it will sooner
or later have its ebb, and in its turn leave our
country prey to the tempest, that has over
whelmed in its r.sistless course the mlghtest
empires of the old world. History is a silent but
eloquent witness of its truth, and from her un-
diving lamp sheds stream of unceaslng light
aiony our pathway. The resources of this coun-
try are m vast her spirit bold and daring, and we
can but regard her as destined at no distant Pc
riod. 20 take more elevated and important sta
tion in controlling the destinies Of the world.
If she is but true to herself she will stand in the
| front rank of the Sacramcntal Host, her Stars
pouring light on the miennial morning, while
her spirit waking trumpet shall break upon the
ears of sumbering millions.
If we take wide survey Of the present cordl-
ton of man, and view him in every variety OF
character and condition, from the lowest depths
of de gradation and misery, to the most env'aoie
summit of earthly happiness, we are paturally
led to enquire what is the cause OF SO great
diversity in the human species9 Why are not
beings equally virtuous and happy, who are the
children Of one common parent, endowed by their
Creator with the same unal;enable rights, who
possess the same lofty and dignifed properties
of soul9 Can any one hesitate moment for
rerly9 Do we not see the condition of man
elevated and depressed, just in proportion to
the encouragement given to learning among the
common 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