The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-15

wish to know what others have done befor
}. them, and how they lived and died; and tia
4, might awaken dormant idea, which nigh
set them to speculatng, as to what may bt
after them.
o II, as the poet says, "the proper study o
/, mankind is man." and that opinion seems L
be virtually endorsed. Certainly the histor,
o of past generations, will be called into requi
: sition to perfect in that science, for, though
Q much must be learned by actual observation
in the daily walks of life, the days allotted tc
, one man, are too few, and his sphere Of &c.
ton too contracted, to know all that is now
or all that has been.
But since motives for human action are
the same at all times, by making due nllow-
ance for difference in existing circumstances,
we are enabled to judge with tolerable accur-
lacy, Of the future by tae past; taking care to
make improvements in the present, by void-
ing the errors of preceding nations and indi-
viduals.
! To the patriotic statesman or legislator,
historical knowledge will be particularly ad-
vantageous, indeed the qualifications OF either,
will be deficient without, since it is in the
book Of nations alone, that he can trace the
origin and operation, and see the excelen-
cies and defects of any system of government
In the possession of this, he can see from a
distance the storms that threaten and the des-
tiny that awaits his country; and, viewing
with an impartial eye, the various forms Of
government that have been formed and over
thrown, since the creation Of man, thus ad-
ding the "wisdom Of ages" to his own expe-
ho;a tot. fha hall hn
quietly unveils the true character Of the de-
signing demagogue, or the masked hypocrite,
| with nice tact turning all to the good of the
| state. Or, if storms gather or dark clouds
are lowering overhead, having foreseen, he is
prepared for the coming tempest, the disas-
ters Of buried empires serving him as bea-
cons, and like a skllful pilot acquainted with
every hidden reef and shoal, though he indeed
feels the dangers and terrors that surrouni him,
with his acquired foresight, he is enabled to
meet and brave them, or ride safely through,
and finally succeed in getting the ship of state
securely harbored.
The philosopher, in the pursuit of knowl-
edge, will not fail TO avail himself of the rich
store open for him in the ample pages of his
tory.
So long as Art and Science have any de-
votees at their shrine, Egypt, Carthage, A
thens and Rome, shall render their untold
wealth; and the names of Solon, Socrates,
Cicero and Demoslhenes, shall touch and kim
die in many republican bosoms, spark of
latent ambition that may create their coun-
terpart in many generations. And though in
the investigation of individual character, which
70 ,r;1 doI fhatO IF nj h n
may find much to pain the finer sensibi!ites
of his nature, and much he will feel bound to
condemn; there is still more that is worthy
of emulation. As q christian, he will be
pleased to observe that where virtue is en-
couraged and predominant the prosperity and
happiness of people are greatly increased,
but that where vice gains the ascendency,
the decline and final decay of that nation is
inevitable. And in tracing the course of e.
vents as portrayed in historical records, or to
| borrow figure, to look at the Past, as pre-
sented in miniature by the graphic pen of the
historian, he finds much to confirm his belief,
and convince him that the issue of all human
events is subject to the control of an All wise
and Overriding Power. And, if it should be
true as the greatest christian phiosoper
claims, that history will be branch of study
in which the saints in heaven will engage,
that it will be prominent object of study a.
mong the celestial inhabitants, as furnishing
those materials which will illustrate the ways
of Providence, and display the wisdom and
righteousness of Jehovah, in his government
of the universe; and if, too, it should prove
correct, as he further maintains, that all USE
full knowledge acquired here will be retained
and available in a future state Of existence,
and advance us in that state; it will certainly
be to our eternal as well temporal advance
ment. We have no entire and connected
history of any nation, from its origin until
its extincton; but we find enough to occupy
all the time that can properly be devoted to
it, and if we have all that we can attain of
man, when we change our sphere Of existence,
we shall be ready, as he suggests, to enter
at once upon the history of Angels! sub
lime one, truly. One, that the greatest poet
in our language deemed worthy of his pen.
One which the good and great of all times
aspire to, and anticipate; and, might we not
truly add, one, though the the idea takes no
tangible form, one that haunts, as it were,
every thinking mind, and Of which it strives
in vain to divest itself! If then facts prove,
that as branch Of science, history is of so
much practical importance, it will be admit
ted that it should consequently become a
common branch of education; and, yet there
is no subject of equal importance, so utterly
neglected; indeed it is considered part of
education in very few of our schools: and most
persons who have an intimate knowledge Of
history, owe it to an inclination to crafty
an awakened curiosity, the principle os which
"rhe bounteous power of Heaven
In every breast implanting the desire
Ofobjoc,s new and strange to urge us on
With unremitted labor to pursue ...
Those secret stores that wait the ripening soul,
In Truths exhausess bosoni."
And this constitutional desire for obtaining
knowledge, is particularly strong in youth,
before the jarring interests, the prejudices
and passions Of after lite have exersed their
witherinr, blightng influence on the intel