M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-11-22

ever felt fully satisfied with his first ef-
fort at public speaking, nor for years
was enabled to entirely overcome this
''man.tearing spirit' particularly,
when he Ielt that he was ia the pres,
ence OF his superiors,
The very word Educate, when we
look into its primary meaning or sig,
Didcauon, implies more than a simple
knowledge Of letters, or even of sci
ence. The word edueO, which is the
rCct from which the wotd educate is
derived, signifies expansion or draw.
ing out. Any and every association,
therefore, calculated in its nature to
dIaw out and bring to view any efthose
rich and innate principles which the
Creator has conferred upon man as the
seal of his pre.eminence, and as a.
means by which he may adon his
species, may well be termed an institn-
tion OF learning, and should receive
encouragement from every philanlhro.
pist.
The mind ofMani is frequently and
very appropriately compared to marble
in the quarry, which shows none Of
its inhereat beauties until the skill Of
the sculptor discovers its variegated
cOlors and gives to it symmetry and
form. A perfect education in the same
manner brings to view every latent vir.
tue and perfection that adorns the ha-
man mind, and enables man to see and
feel his superiority over the brute crea>
lion, and to think and act as q creature
destined for Immortality. And not.
withstanding the wonderful effect Of
education, in removing from our minds
the rubbish of superstition and the
cloud OF ignorance, vast multitudes Of
persons in whose minds the Creator
implanted the germ of giant intellects,
have lived and died in obscurity, and
without any, or at least very imperfect,
ideas of the object Of their creation.- -
And even in the present day, and in
our favored land where every induce
ment is offered to the people 10 prepare
themselves for usefulness and a partic.
ipation in the affairs Of our Govern
ment, the idea is quite too prevalent
that eminence is rather the result Of
accident, and that every one must or
should be content to remain just what
they may happen TO be. Hence it is
that the halls of legislation, the legal
and medical professions, and even the
sacred desk, are too frequently dis
Igraced by men who do not understand
the first or elementary principles oi our
Government, nor oil the profession or
calling they have espoused. Many
are the excuses offered by some who
are unqualified TO discharge properly
the duties OF the Office or trust contided
to them; few, however, are willing TO
admit that their ignorance may be at
Itributed to incidence or want Of in.
dustry and application on their part.
Industry and intense application, are
Iindispensably necessary to the accom-
plishment of all education, as well as
all good and great undertakings. And
there does not now live a single orator,
Statesman, or great scholar, who will
not bear testimony to, and afford an ex.
ample oil, the truth of this aSsertion.-
Nothing is more natural for mankind
than 10 consult their own ease and CON-
fort. Very few, compared with the
great number who might be termed
idle loafers, are willing TO tax their
minds vita the pursuit of knowledge.
They have very few, if any, ideas
which are their own, and they are con-
tent to pin their faith to the sleeves Of
others; and before you can reasonably
expect such persons to improve the OPP
portunities which are afforded them for
the improvement of their minds, and
to apply themselves with proper indus
try, you must place them in position
in which they will feel that there is
not only a pressing, but an absolute
and present necessity for industry and
intense application. And allow me,
gentlemen, at this point, to premise that
this society is admirably calculated in
its very nature, to accomplish this de-
sirable object.
If the members of this society will
exercise their influence in its behalf, a
majority OF our citizens, and particu-
larly the young men, can be induced
TO become members, and participate in
our exercises.
This accomplished, we have moth
ing to do but to assign to each his po.
sition and work, agreeable to the regu.
lations Of our Constitution and bylaws.
And am clear in the opinion, that
when we are thus fairly organized,
each individual member will feel that
he is under present and a pressing
necessity to search for truth, and 10
hunt up and invent argument, in sup.
por! Of the position assigned him, or
which he intends voluntarily to advo-
cate.
Owing to what I conceive to be q
radical defect in our system of educa.
tion, or rather the fault may be attribu-
ted to those to whom has been entrust.
ed the management and control OF our
common schools, an astonishing num-
her of persons who have arrived 10 the