The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-09-16
For The Cecil Wing.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
no. M.

! system WcTc St1cIally au"ptcu, lilc HAAS cl
the people would become good readers. TIE
/ influence that would thus he cXcrtcl in chang
| ing the character ana habits of the people
remains an wnsolcd problem; as there has
never been an entire community, speaking
the English tongue, who have been thus ac-
compishcd. 1t has been shown that. so great
| has been the barrier to learning imposed by
the photographic of the Roman alphabet, tina t
none but the favored sons of genius. Or for
tune, have fully slrmountcd it. The specta-
Gle of whole people, enjoying alike the bles-
sings of literature; where rich and poor,
standing on a common leYcl, have equal ac-
cess TO the trcaSurc'sof history and science.
has not yet been presented to the world,
Hence we can refer to no example, to prove
that phonetic spelling if applied would force
the strongholds Of degradation and crime in
an entire community. But we can refer to
individual experience, TO show its probable
result as general condition.
In taking the following extract from an
English paper and assuming that it applies to
| the state Of things in America, ! am not I'M
cons :ous, that we have here large amount
Of intcmncrancc, amongst persons in high
places. | am not unconscious, that a stag
gcrlng foul-mouhcd senator is as deeply de-
graded, as the mlcttcr@d vic,iin Of the bottle.
But with that class of persons who, dcSl lite
| the buoyant Influences Of talent, refined as
sociatcs and high station. have labored down
wards, striving to emulate the brute. these
articles, have nothing to do. Iwrtc. indeed
for the benefit of all. but for the benefit of
the popnlacc in particular. Perhaps, if their
mental faculties were properly cultivated
that anomalous thing. smoking, drinking
swearing cc'ticmui, would no longer be found
in our legislative halls.
Few truths have been made more plainly
manifest than that of the hui tful effects of al
coholic beverages upon the system. Not
withstanding that demonstration has been
| hcapcd upon demonstration, and fact upon
fact in lectures, tracts, books, newspapers
and magazines, in short, through every me-
dium by which it is possible to present an
idea, yet. as whole British drunkenness
seems hardly che led. What is the cause of
this! Why is it that with the expenditure
of so much zeal, such small Roadway has
been made, and in what point lave the means
used been inadequate to the end.
Beyond question the enormous consump-
ton of spiri.uous and malt liquors represent
ed by the annual sum Of t5Q.UOO, 900 is
mainly effected BY the working men and wo-
men Of Great Britain. II then remains to be
cn1uircd why it is that they cannot he indu-
crd to abandon such course of prolitlcss ex-
pcnliturc, and why the dearest and most
common sense reasoning, fails to convince
them of their folly. What, in fine conSt-
tutcs that intense fascination. that binds
them past all power of separation to such
wast'ful and pernicouS practices.
The grand mistake, we apprchcnl, lies in
the trcatmtn. of intcmr erancc as IA cause and
not as an effect. 1t is said, the misery and
distress which abound among the lower order
are mainly caused by drunkenness, and then
rcformatoly operations are founded upon this
suppoSilon. The fact tsclf we admit, but
we would probe more deeply by asking
Nhas is the cause OF intcmpciancc and why
is it so universal We have long thought
that the ignorance in which the minds of SC
many millions Of our people are cntombcd, is
| w oS ItEdlhCu aS VIC Cliltl CAUSE VI INC Ia
inevitable prevalence of disSipated and intern.
pcratc la bits. AT least one third of the En-
gliSh people cannot read, and in view of thi,
fact, let any one say what e would conceive
to he the probable mode of spending the time
which even the hardest labor affords for thu
purpose of recreation. Men must he anu
scd and if rational entertainments are not
provided. it is certain vicious and hurtful
ones will be sought.
Unable to read, and therefore to relish thu
refined home pleasures of the frcsidc. so deal
oall cultivated minds: the illitcratc man seek.
the tavern and there, with his comrades, sa
tates his natural cravings with unwholcsomt
and unnatural stimulants. His family is nc
elected. The money which would send hi.
children to school and provide the nccessaric,
of life for his family is squandcictl on the ba
sest scnsuality, and thus the evil is pcrpctua
ted to the next generation. Nothing is NOR
self evident to every one who lives in Eng
land. with his eyes open, than the litera
truth Of this statement.
How absurd then is it to get excited ant
angry, because total abstinence from all in
toXicating drinks, does not spread faster
How can it, seeing that millions are in stat
which renders the bottle almost necessar,
Of life. TO make this immense class total ID
staincrs you must in the first place change
the constitution or human nature. If vo,
could persuade them to forsake the alchousc
what then! Are we to expect them to 81
evening after evening and Sunday after Sun
day, and look at their fingers. And if no
this, what are they to do! The truth is tina
FIVE, as temperance rcformers, are to sue
j., coed, we must set about competing with tn
charms of the gin palace, and the low de