The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-10-13
Oripinal.
1FoR THE JACKSON STANDARD.
AMERICAN EDUCATIOM

5 easy, VIZ Whefe LleIe Is gt0ob Nool
If ignorance, or a great deal OF knowi-
.dge. When sufficiently enlighted, the
people are made capable OF sef'govern-
ment, and where such in ignorance. they
easily become the dupes and slaves OF
others. .ga In the one case, they are but
brutes who submit without resistance 10 be
guided by reins placed in the hands of a
lespot; in tue other they undertake, and
are fitted TO manage for themselves.
The most critical condition in which
society can be placed, is in the transition
state; when a people too knowing TO be
slaves. have conceived the desire, without
possessing the ability 10 govern them
selves. This seems to be the ordeal
through which much Of the civilized world
IS at present passing. From the period ol
our indepe dence TO the present time,
power has been necessarily striding from
the lew to the many; there has been a
steady departure from monarchy 10 eX-
treme democracy till the right Of suffrage
is exercised without discrimination. The
power Of the peope has thus been exten.
ded to its utmost limits, and without the
saving efficacy Of universal education, it
will only prove an augmentation oi power
without principle and knowledge 10 use it
safely. What shall be the issue in any
case depends upon the energy and wis
dom with v hich the Schoolmasler is ena-
bIed to do his office.
Constituted as our government is;every'
man is legislator. and The question is,
shall he do his duty well or i'll. Is intel
llgence essential to legislature? Then
the people who control its acts should be
enlightened. is ignorant legislation to be
deprecated? Then ignorance should be
removed from the people. the fountain OF
Legislation. The administration ol gov
ernme would be unsafe in the hands oI
ID child because OF ignorance; in the hands
OF banditu, from want Of principle, and
both of these disqualifcations meet in an
unenlghlened nation Of adults. We
should not feel safe on Shipboard with an
idiot at the helm during storm, or with
crew of pirates in a vessel laden with va
liable treasure, and the great ship OF stateS
is not one whit more independent of intel
ligence and principle. 10 provide the
people with an education both moral and
intellectual. is the dictate Of self preser.
vatlon. and national shipwreck must be
the inevitable consequence OF negIeclng
! it. .
1t should not be forgotten that in this
country every man legislales for others a,
well as for himself The object Of legis
lation is the protection OF our rights, and
are the sacred rights ol liberty and prop
erly to he intrusted to men without inform
alton and without principle 7 Shall We
inIrust those rights, without which lie is
but burden, TO the control Of men who
cannot anticipate, or who are regardless
Of the consequences OF their official con
duct On the day Of an election, you g
to the polls, and are jostled from the door
by reeIing drunkard on the one hand
and clustering ignoramus with falls,
ticket which he cannot read on the other
to both Of whom as portions Of the sove
reign people. you must with all due defer
ence give way. This however is but
trlnng consideration. Have you proper
Ity These men with scarce dollar the,
can call their own, are about TO expires
their will, land it will weigh as much a
yours, whether your property shalt b
: taxed to what extent, and for what pur
poses and their voice is to be heard il
the decision Of principle, which may al
feet the safety of your dearest interests
What then is to be donel Shall they b,
denied their vote =? No; unqueslionabl,
not. OF two evils, lei US always choos
the least. The only efIectual remedy il
this case, is to educate their children ; an
thus take care that for every one sue
character at present, we do not entail up
on the next generation, in his children
some half dozen like him.
From that citizen who will barter hi
judgment or his conscience for brlbe, o
sell his vote for pint OF whisky, lille "a
be hoped. Beside the man who, this yea
for pint of whisky, votes to support tn
constitution. may next year for quart
vote to overthrow it. Toresort to whlsk
aud bribery to control elections, is to re
sort to desperate remedies. W hose hear
does not quail, when he reads OF hundred
OF thousands OF foreign paupers crowdinI
our shores, and hears Of mob alter mol
and sees the elections in our large town
aud cities, controlled by reckless popu
lace--a rebbIe, who never failing to vote
a9d being the ready tools OF politjcs
demagogues, generally vote wrong.
The country is thrown into convulsions
as some imagine, by the mistaken polio
of our government, or is supposed TO b
in danger from the controlling influence
OF reckless, selfish and unprincipled par
ty sprit,.in determining our elections =
What is to be donel "Mend the consti
tulions"--"Fly to the Polls"-"Etleot
change of rules--is the general cry of ou
leading politicians, And when brough
to the polls, what are the expedients gen
crafty resorted to, to decide the people
choice Administration and anti admin
isIraliong grog shops are thrown open; an,
worse than all bubery--age the corrup
us OF money is resorled to secretly it /
true, but only therefore the more eilectu
ally. AN EXAMINER.
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Never fall out with the world; il Is III,
best we have, and we had better put uI