The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-07-21

safely be treated as an axiom. Ine effect of
this potent agency, is to deveiope The intellect,
to elevate the moral faculties, to raise man a.
bove the animal creation, and fashion him after
his Maker. | am aware that | can be pointed
TO instances of the preparation of the greatest
crimes BY persons OF education. But exceptions
to general rule rather strengthen than weaken
its force. Besides, there may be intellect with
out conscience, and when | speak OF education
il this connection, / have rsiefence to the quail
tiles OF the heart, rs we'll as those OF the head.
| certainly cannot be mistaken in the belief that
Were society 10 take entire charge and control
of the destitute and vagrlnt youth that are found
in our cities and larger towns, and 10 send them
10 school, the effect would be to lessen materl-
ally the aggregate Of Juvenile delinquency. But
we are not leit to theory and speculation alone
10 maintain this position. There are stubborn
facts in the history OF the past, which may be
relied upon as seyfaence OF its truth. The New
York Prison AssBfiation tor the year 1890, say
that examination into the causes OF crime, leasis
them to this result; that neglected education is
tue prolific cause ofrnost OF the crime amongst
MS. CT 732 convicts at Auburn, 5l7 were new
esFsinstricted in any tiade or calling 37l We're
lntemperate 46S had received noH.oial InStruc-
ton, and 5l2 had never read the Bible, or at
tended Divine worship.
The Secretary OF the State OF Massachusetts,
reports the whole number Of conlnittals TO Pri-
sons and Houses OF Correction, tor the year
1893, at 1927, af whom about one-halt could
neither read nor write.
The Hon, VIM. D. Kelley, in an address
delivered at the opening of the other branch OF
this institution, in 1919, presented statistics de-
rnonstrating that large proportion OF the con
yicts in the Criminal Courts, and of the deln-
quenis assigned to the House of Refuge, were
very deficient in the rudiments OF an education.
In Great Britain, in 1919, in report exhi-
biting the degree of education, amongst the
criminals Of that year, stated that out OF
ri ,989 offenders, 81 $40 We're males, and l0,-
649 were females. OF the former, 6,4S4. could
read and write, 1900 could read only, and p
15I could neither read nor write, and OF the
remaining 9,676, no information could be ob-
tanned. OF the females, $50 could read and
write, 800 could read, and :, ,S77 were total
ly ignorant.
The Minister Of Justice in France, in his an
nual report OF 1919, SAYS: That oGt of the
whole numbr then in the Department of the
Seine, 1855 could neither read ncr write, and
396 were to some degree persons of education.
A comparison of the condition Of Spain with
that of England, indicates most clearly the al
lance between ignorance and crime. The peo-
pIe ofthe latter escape the scourge of crime, in
about the ratio that they stand in advance OF
the former in the work OF education.
The statistics of Scotland and Ireland furnish
unInistakable evidence to sustain the same view
And in the criminal statistics of France, as
compared with Prussia, the same striking fact is
observed-the latter possessing the highest de-
gree of edncation, and exhibiting the smallest
per centage of crime. The same condition Of
things exists in other parts of Europe, but no
where IS the fact more apparant than in a COM
parison between the criminal statistics of Great
Britain and those of the United States, deduct
ing from the latter the convicts who are not
citizens Of the country.
The natural proclieity Of ignorance and sup
erstiton to vice and crime is a0undantlv evinc-
ed in other and less civilized parts of the world;
and in their history the fact is attested, that be-
1fIghted intellect and distorted moral perceptions
are found the fruitful sources OF cruelty and crime
The history Of TaFtary, Hindoostan, Benin, and
other petty states Of lrica: of New Iealand and
the Sandwich Islands, and the Islands OF The
South Pacific, prior TO their moral transformation,
is replete " th testimony To sustain the position.
The destruction OF infants, the drowning OF aged
parents, the Offering OF human beings in sacgi-
fee, the baFbarouS torturrS inflicted on the van
quished in battle, are the fearful conseq of
moral obliquitv and human depravity. II is to
ignorance, and its natural offspring superstition,
that the vices and harbarities Of the ancient pa
gan world are to be mainly attributed. And if
we turn Our eyes TO the actual state of society
around rs, We shall find the same causes operat-
ing. Who are most frequently engaged in
brawing and debaucheryl Injtae commission
Of theft ana other petty offences In rioing,
turbulence, and disorderl Are they not, for
the most part, the rude the ignorant, the uatu-
tored--thoSe whose moral instruction has been
sadly neglected, by their parents and guardians,
and whose wayward inclinations have led them
10 turn deaf ear to the voice OF wisdom and
truth
But it is scarcely necessary to pursue this
idea further. Enough has been presented 10
show the transcendent importance OF general
education 10 any people. ] hold it-as amongst
the highest duties OF government to provide for
the education OF the people, and especially for
the poor and helpless 'slyho have claim fouud--
ed in nature" Nowhere is this obligation more
sacred or imperative, than in government Ike
oars, whose very foundations rest upon popular
will, and whose stabInty and efficiency depend
upon the virtue and intelligence of the people
True political economy not less than moral OBJ
legation indicates this duty. 4 distinguished
philanthropist OF Europe said at were wise TO
give pence TO infant schools, and thereby save
pounds in the expenses OF jails bridewells, tread
mills, iransportatlons, and eXecutions.'' ssAn
ounce OF prevention Is worth pound of cure
is saying as true OF social and moral as Of phv-
seal diseases. A wise economist has said -
fake care OF the pence, and the pounds will