Polynesian., 1854-04-01

it to move the spindes, the loom, the saw, drill,
stone-cutter, ard the planning, polishing and sew.
ing machines In replacing the living man and
woman by steam carpet looms and artificial reap
ers /; IN teaching the locomotive and car to sur
mount steep activities and wind rotind sharp
curves at trifiing expense in designing new mod
els and new modes of constructing, rigging and
steering ships upon the sea, diminishing the crews
while doubling the speed and size Of the vessel;
insenting new processes for spinning and bleach
ing; new furnaces for the steam engine, and new
presses for the printer?
few years since the question wa. asked by
distinguished divine, Who reads an American
work The question now is, WHO does not
read an American book, journal or newspaper p
The trained soldier effect more than the new
recruit and the skilled artisan more than the rude
plough-boy. Disciplined America can entrust the
guidance of her mechanism and the teaching of
her children to the trained female and devote the
strength and talent of the male to agriculture,
navigation, construction and invention. Temper
ance seems to follow in the train Of educaton.-
Thirty years since, spirits were used to excess in
many of the States. A marked change has occur
red as education has advanced. and now in some
States the sale of spirits is almost Discontinued
The saving thus effected more than connterbalan-
ces the whole cost of education.
The effect of education on morals is well Illus
trated by the progress of Massachusetts in one
branch of manufactures, that of boots and shoes
While in some countries the manufacturer dares
not entrst the materials to the workmeii at their
houses, in this state the artizans scattered in
their rural homes the materials sent to them with
entire confidence, and returned weekly ready for
market. Among other great branches of industry,
this now amounts annually in this little State, to
5000, ,0O0L. sterling.
! In this State, in the face Of large immigration
| of laborers from ireland, and liberal outlay for
III, hac hoo roHx
| ing. We learn from Hunts Merchants Magazine
for June, 1851 that in twelve years preceding, in
that State, population had increased 40 per cent,
wealth 120 per cent, and the cost of pauperim but
3s per cent, although 1850 foreigners were aided
in 1e47, and l2 :334 received assistance in 1885,
| Thus in twelve years, the writer remarks, the
cost of maintaining the poor distributed per eoPito
upon the population, has fallen from A cents per
head to 43, and the percentage on property has
been actually reduced one-third. Native paupef.
ism is mparatively diminished, and the principal
draft on the charity OF Massachusetts, is the tenn.
porary aid give to the foreign emigrant.'
| We learn by the census returns lately published
that in 1850 the whole number of churhes and
meeting g-houses in the United States was 36,Oll Z,
containing l3,S49,S9 seats, room for three
fifths of the existing population. In this growing
country nearly one-fifth of the inhabitants are
under the are of six and if we deduct those who
from sickness, extreme youth, old age, or domestic
duties, unable to worship together this must be
a very liberal provision. BY the same returns we
| find the whole number of foreigners in the ceun-
try was 2,2l0,S2 or less than one-tenth the en-
tire population; and while the annual expense for
paupers was but 6O0,00Oi., the permanent foreign
paupers were l3, 3,437, and the native 36,947 only.
With respect to crime the ratio is still more strik-
ing. Of "a 900 crimes in the United States dur
lag 1850, no less than l4,0OO were committed by
foreigners. In country whose natives are edu-
Gated more than half the crimes are traced to
terate foreigners, forming less than one-tenth of
the whole population.
! 1t seems then, to be established in America,
that general education increases the efficiency OF
a nation, promotes temperance, aids religion and
checks pauperism; while all concede that It d.
minishes crime. Why should its effects be differ
ent in England, and why should we not find in ed
ucation o cheap and most admirable substitute for
prisons and penal colonies? If in America hold
ers of property sustain education, because they in
sure their safety, and the security of their for
tunes by the instruction of the masses, why should
rot the same results attend education In England