The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-15

and writing either in themselves con-
stitute all education, or that tho ma.
jority of those thus taught avail them.
salves of it, as q starting point for
future cultivation. | need not enter
into All elaborate argument to show
that the bare knowledge Of reading aud
writing constitutes in no true sense, an,
education. 1t certainly cannot ofitsesss
make better man or q better citizen.
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"But again, Does this system, we'll
nigh barren as it is ofintellectual fruit,
cherish morals and instil virtue i?
If it does not, the very objects for
which it is instituted, the promotion
OF public virtue, as essential to repub
licanism, are defeated. There is the
test, and the common school system
must stand or ial! by it,
Now, let us admit, for the sake of
argument, that this system does edu.
cate intellectually, it may we'll be
doubted whether il even then promotes
morals. Indeed, although ut the first
glance there would seem 80 be direct
connection between intellectual Gu
lighlcnment and virturc, that tho light
which kinilcs tn, mind should also
penetrate the heart; yet history is full
"fcxampics Of the highest illumination
of the one, liukcd with the deepest de.
pravity Of the other.
But what is the state of morals
where this system prevails? In Pru
sia, whose boast is the enlightenment
of her people, crime and vice are great
ly on the increase. In france, where
the Prussian system has been adopted
they exhibit no diminution. In the
United States there is still sadder
tale. In New England, where we are
told this system has been eminently
successful, where reading and writing
are taught to all, crime, vice and inf
deity are progressing in q fearful
ratio. It's attempted to explain this
by the influences OF emigration. Bat
the statistics show Che Increase to be
independent oft. While tho South
reviIcd, hecause she hesitates TO adopt
and establish this me;yca. insufficient
and unsatisfactory SYSTEM Of public
education, enjoys comparative nnu un-
cxampled immunity from all.
"Bw tbs reading aaa uritinq
system is not Only 9.ot pro9uctire Of
p"biic virtuc, bat tenls dirsctly 10 a
mc"ml Generalization, no Tess fatal to
repNbIiconis", Htaas lics,.:iovsacss and
vicc."
We stated, also, in the second
place, as We have arranged our a!lcg4.
tons, that, -" IN order 10 Shoop Me ms
chaJ Of cdl'catio'l amongs: tie masses,
he nppealcd 70 Tie Northern States. !"
In rct,rcn to this matter. We give
the following extracts, which fully
Justify the assertion rilat Mr.. Tabcr
regarded the education Of recalling and
writing as nischlcvouS, and that
the effect o! this education WAS fu!ly
developed III the Northern States:
= But this reading auc: writing system
is not only not prndnci;vc Of public
virtue. bu' tends directly 10 ii mental
Decentralization, no less fatal to rcpubli-
canisln, than RIGHTEOUSNESS and vice
Place; the Young mind un,icr tuition
Ike this, where no fxcu principles in
morals or politics are taught, where
knowledge is circuln>cr! nci within Il
few dDgHas and where even this nar.
row !raiuIuing ceases at the vcrY mo
menl wh2A the mind IS awake with in
qury and spcculation-then turn it out
to pasture in the unwccded garden,
which 4 Iicentous Press has planted
and what is the result? Can it sur.
prise us that such u mind, vain because
OF its meagre learning, not yet subducd
into that beautiful humility which, ac-
cording to Bacon, true knowledge fos
tiers, should at once launch into wild
spccificat: Need zoe 4condcy Ma
tie Instrument thus entrusted to unskH
tW hands, should be used, not to prune
bit to dcstroy2 Or that a mind so pre-
pared, should at once fall victim h
spccious Jatiacies, and mad theories
that II should greediiy absorb the ligh
and setiuctive, and reject The MonghJul
and sober s,fEHerc is one great clue t.
the radicIa5isHsot the North. Here is
the .toelntaas ofkhat torrent Of isms
sOhich IS svallos8iiag up Literature, NOR
ais and politicsSfamd has cast upon
society again the buried o6al of ferplodeo
.talsehood. The youth who leaves The
common school at the North feels the
pains Of authorship within him.
Originality is his sole thought, and the
more extreme and radical is he. tho
stronger and better his claim. Eager
publishers calculate the success Of the
new work, by its congcniality to popu
larlideas and passion; and forth it goe:
in blue and gilt to minds us anchorles:
and weak rs his own. Enter tn,
cities of the North, embark on hcl
steamers ride on her railroads, go into
the country, and every where you vii
lind tho appetite Of her SO called read
| ing public, dieted on literary garbage
| Cheap iniidelty, socialism and vice, are
served up in every form to suit tho
pallates Of the million.
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