Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-08-16
Southern Education.


Men should be early imbued with the
principles which are to guide them through
life. The proposition is as true with re-
gard TO the subject of politics as to that of
religion. s:1'he boy is father to the man"
But Notwithstanding the obvious correct
ness of these ideas, our people have prac-
tically ignored them by almost entirely
neglecting the political education of youth.
They have permitted the new generations
who receive in the schools that mental dis.
cipline which prepares them for living in
and governing society, to grow up without
endeavoring TO impress upon them fixed
aud true principles of government; thus
leaving their minds entirely unguarded
against the insane political notions which
characterize the present century. We do
not speak here of those slight differences
OF opinion which separate parties, ofthose
questions Of State and Federal policy,
which, from their very nature, are Of an
cphemeral character; but OF those essen
tial and permanent truths which lie at the
very foundation of government. we re-
fer to those questions which involve the
discussion Of the nature and relative me rit
Of the different forms Of social and gov
ornamental polity. The banefnl results of
such defective, one-sided plan of educa-
ton are seen in the monstrous social and
political doctrines which have been devel
oped of late years-are felt in the period
ical commissions which agitate the country
and trouble the patriots heart with sad
forebodings Of the future. In contempla-
ting these disastrous phenomena, good
men lament that verify they have fallen up
on evil days; but they neglect to look fur
Their back than the ominous facts them
selves. They fail to analyze the causes
from which they spring. They do not
bare the root whence has grown the nigh
~ Upas tree of Radicalisln, which over
shadows these latter days, and is gradu-
ally but surely poisoning the very life
blood OF the nation. At the North, those
fatal tendencies are manifesting them
selves in all their energy and virulence.
They haqe enlisted in their advocacy men
Of undoubted talents and da unless tenac-
ity Of purpose.
LIN those States where schools and col.
leges are most numerous and fourishing,
where the educated class are intensely
litcrate, the errors Of which we speak
have attained the proportions Of moral
plague. They have not originated among
the farmers, the merchants, the mechan.
ics-they are the conceptions Of student
minds. They had their birth in the closets
Of the book-devourers. Is it that much
learning has made them mad! or has the
vice of their educational training misgui-
ded their intellects, 1t being conceded
that all men should be highly educated,
the answer is doubtless in the latter hy
pothesis. While the religious community
have been necessarily intoxicating the me-
cessity Of moulding the plastic minds Of
youth to conformity with orthodox opinss
ions Of christianity, menof the world in this
country seem not to have been impressed
with the equal urgency Of Installing into
the minds Of the nations youth, those vital
principles Of social and governmental or
der, which constitute the bulwark Of the
nations peace and permanent security.
This portion q young mems education has
been so much neglected, the new genera
tiens Is they enter upon the stage Of ac-
T. a1e . littlo 1brtiied IN tho reverence
sf.eisat Al s.csed principles Of gov
=, tAat do most Preposterous polit-
Ill can i ~ tho present day
g IL ~ sye1s, Il their orig
& aerst - saoogh to render
Nm =, II = = s1dsnt minds BY GER
kia 60 brilliancy and daring
fs d a q ~