Washington sentinel., 1853-11-15
GENIUS AND MISSION OF DEMOCRACY


/ National HteHigeacer, treats us to three columns
and fraction ofeditorial in its issue of Satur.
I day last. u.s.
| The text on which il comments, is an extract
from the recent inaugural address Of Governor
! Andrew johnson, Of Tennessee. The Cover,
nor's address, or. rather, that portion of il
! which is copied abounds, We acknowledge, in
metaphysical subtleties and scholastic yagaries.
! The HiteAigeRcer however, has read IL only to
misunderstood, and commented on it only to
misinterpret. Both unntentional, we feel con-
yinced; but, since its misconstruction is calcu-
lated to mslead many of the willing minds of
its trusting readers, we hope to be pardoned
| for replying to it. Whatever emanates from
that grave, dignifed, and venerable journal is
entitled to consideration. The h,teliigencer
exercises powerful influence. Whether it up
holds truth, or advocates error, what it saws
goes forth with the combined force Of private
worth and professional eminence, to make its
impress on the mind.
! In this view, we cannot consent to permit
! three grave columns of elaboratelv prepared
editorial, based upon misconceived data and
abounding in erroneous views, to go forth un,
answered Not only does the LatelHgence1 sad
die on Governor johnson sentiments that are
calculated to injure him, but it makes the dem
oeratic party responsible for the same. The
! IateVigeacer says:
"From the earlier portion Of this extract it
will be seen that Governor johnson, as a genu-
Inc and consistent democrat. entertains very
natural repugnance for academies and col
4 edges 1t is clear that he regards education
I as nimical to democracy, or to the principles
4 Of the democratic party proper" as he else
! were calls it.; and in this we confess it as our
! own opinion that the worthy governor is more
than half right. We have long shrewdly sus-
pected as much ourselves, though perhaps it
least became US to say it."
Now if our neighbor, always, we know, un-
willing to do injustice, will but glance again at
the extract constituting its text, it will find not
one word against colleges, academies, or insti-
tutions of learning. Governor Johnson says:
! Il have not deemed it improper nor out of
place, on tins occasion, to make single allu
| sion to the young men of our country. Many
4 OF them, iohiie at our dcademies and C0lLeges
and phen IN the study Of their professions, i'm
1 perceptibly imbibe notions p1ejudiciul 10 demo
Cyacy. Their wealth, and too frequently their
},receptors-many of whom are bigoted and su-
percilious on account Of their literary attain
meRts and assumed superior information on
1 most subjects-inspre their students with false
4 ideas OF their own superiority, mixed with a
supera abundance Of selfesteem, which causes
them to feel that the great mass Of mankind
u Id Al L I 4
wood and drawers of water that it is in this
government as it was in olden Rome between
the patricians and plebeans; where, in fact, the
people never enjoyed, for one moment, the pure
4 liberty and freedom of thought and of action
which is enjoyed by the people of the United
l States" :.
| Is not candor forced to admit that our wor-
| thy neighbor has read to misunderstood and
misinterpret?
The governor is evidently lecturing a vain,
foolish, and egotistical class of young men,
4 who assume airs of superiority over their fel
; low citizens; and his object is to trace their
pride to its origin. If he had thought that it
was referable to colleges and academies, the
honesty and candor for which the Iteliigence,.
extols him would have led him to say so. In
stead, however, Of attributing it to institutions
which fills the heads of young weak men with
wrong estimates of themselves and others, and
to the literary vanity of their preceptors.
The whole scope of the article in the LateHi-
geacer, is to convey the idea that democracy is
opposed to education. That is the stereotyped
charge that the wings love to make against the
democrats. Is there any foundation for it?
We are persuaded that the hatelhgencer re-
ligiousy believes it---because it has so often
given its emphatic sanction to it-and we know
that the hteuigeacer would sanction nothing
that it does not believe.
Why should democrats be opposed to educa
ton? "'Tis education forms the common mind ,
A democracy is government by the people
: A pure democracy is a government by the peo
!. pie themselves in primary assemblage. A de
] mocracy like ours, is government. by the peo
a pie, through their elected representatives Tc
govern, requires mind, intelligence, information
education. Democrats peculiarly approve
nay, require a general diffusion of education
: and OF the blessings OF government.
81 Where one man governs, which form of gov
, ernment is despotism, or where a few mer
govern, which is called an oligarchy, there il
not the same need of popular education. The
rulers think, feel, and act for the people They
must be intelligent and educated to do so. Blu
when the people are either by themselves, o
their elected delegates the ruling mower ther
must the people be educated.
Give us colleges, give us schools--give vi
an all pervading system of education. We de
sire TO see the boy in humble life, fitted to oc
cupy and adorn the highest station. We dc
not want to see education confined to those, who
call themselves the "silk stocking gentry
To attribute to the democracy, a desire t
keep the masses in ignorance, is to do then
much ininstire We yentrra the assertion thai