Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-21
For the Spirit of the Age.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
Dedicated to the /" Social Circle"
BY RAVENS WOOD.
CONCLUDED.

BY RAVENS WOOD.
CONCLUDED.
KEowledgeis power.-BAcoN.
And no where are the effects of gener-
al distribute on of knowledge more apparent
than in these United States. We are a free,
independent and educated people. We are
the happiest, the most glorious, the most
famous and the most intelligence of nations.
Our growing power already begins to alarm
the iron-croWned despnts of the old world,
and to receive respect and reverence from
the potentates Of the new. The sails of
our ships now whiten every ocean, sea and
bay on the globe, and the stately prows
of our merchantmen, plow the waters of
every channel from California S rock bound
coast to the fertile shores of India. The
smoke of our fast going steamers curls in
the air of every climate and every zone
The scream of our steam-eagle is heard
amid the northern regions and the dreary
wilds of Patagonia. The hoarse voices of
our engines echo against the walls Of eve-
ry commercial city and seaport town in
Asia, Africa and Europe, and in deep, loud,
sullen tones of thunder-proclaims the
joyful news of liberty, the triumph of
popular rights over monarchical principles,
the solution of the problem of self,g govern
ment, to the enslaved millions of Europe
and Asia's down-trodden and oppressed
myriads.
The triumphs of our literature, our sci
ence and art, are not less than those of our
commerce. The celebrity of our authors,
the renown of our artists and the fame of
our bards fill the world. The utility and
novelty of our inventions are universally
conceded to be not inferior, if not actually
superior to those of England, France, TIA
ly or Germany. Now, it may be asked
what is the source of our prosperity in
science and art and literature It is un.
doubtedly our superior education. It is
because we are educated people that We
are thus enabled to rival the world ano
bear off the palm Of victory. And il
seems to me, no one, in theleast acquainted
with the laws of political economy, can OF
will deny the truth of this assertion.
tits to that system of general edscation
or in other words, the distribution of knowl
edge among all ranks, a system peculiar
to us as nation, we repeat, it is to thi
system that we may, without hesitation
ascribe the lofty eminence which we a
present occupy among the nations of tn
earth. The stability of republican gov
ernment depends in no small degree upo
the intelligence of the people, and the ir
telligence of the people is the surest an
best safeguard of their liberties, their law
and their institutions. The intelligence {
nation is the strongest defence of the
rights and the most insurmountable barrie
that can be opposed to the army Of the il
vader.
While the thrones of monarchical El
rope are tottering On their rotten found
tion, while oppressed millions groan beneat
the CALLING yoke of tyranny, while the ro
al treasures of Europe are being emptit
> in support of expensive wars as unchri
tian as useless, we are enjoying the plea
} ures of universal peace and reaping t
benefits of prosperity.
It is the ignorance of the masses of Il
population Of Europe, that thus enables t
hearthless sovereigns who rule them
S trample upon their rights, to degra
them, to defraud them, and to dispoil the
: of their liberty in despite of that justie
l a sense Of which is innate in the minds
y all men. Were the degraded subjects
n those old despotisms which have wit
+ stood the shocks of time, and the reyol
r tions, the seditions, the intestine comm
t tion of SO many centuries, were the mass
!, of the people who compose them thoroug
!, ly educated and enlightened, the ca
b would be far different The people,
It laity, when once possessed of the pow
) which knowledge bestows would WELD
+ in defence of their rights and use it a
# means of deposing the unprincipled rul
e who oppress them. A thoroughly enlig
y ened nation never has been or ever will
), ruled by tyrants.
y How important then is the education
: youth How important the subject, wi
E. we reflect how closely it is connected W
a our present condition and how much
u concerns our future destinies Amo
e. the youth of the rising generation we
p hold our future Presidents, Senators {
IN Governors; our future lawyers, minist
< and physicians, in fact, all the vast machi
e, ry of society in embryo.
an It is they who will, so years hence, c
e, troll the destinies of our republic, and ]
ne haps of the world 1t is to their ha
en- the helm of the ship of State must be
q, trusted. 1t is a matter of vast importal
ng therefore, that they should be trained
" in the way they should 60. They shoulc
ry educated. Their minds should early be
he bued with just principles and enli ghte
ere by knowledge. And more than all,
10 principles Of morality should be insti
Is into their mental constitutions, for ther,
Is they will be shielded from the many te
nj tations which must beset them in the CO
we of life. Let them be brought up in
be ways of virtue, but let them be unacqu
md ted with vice. By all means, let them
old IN education. They will never be
worse for it. By SO doing, you will be
. upon them the source of inexhaustibl
tellectual wealth which the world can
lrs' ther give nor take away. 1t is the
be legacy you can bequeath them They
on never lose it.
ter We think we have clearly and satisf
Tor rily shown the immense benefits arisin
=, of system of general aducation.
ltn there are many objectors.
sue Saws one: