Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-04-25
EDUCATION.
A Plea for Common Schools.
Owe must Educate. y

We are awaking to knowledge of the
fact, that for the effectual clearing of the
stream Of life in community, Education is
second only to Christianity. A rectifying,
infallible agent-the browning merit Of
which, is its applicability to the fountain
head--the true chemistry that clears each
drop as it springs from mother earth, all
lesser reiormatory influences being. in COM
parison, small In this country, much more
than in any other, educational development
ought to be eminenty successful, if there be
any truth III the opinion of the German wri-
ters that, the reasons why, among the old
Greeks any true science was to be found
rather than among the iIindoos and Eevp-
tians from whom they had it III its first I'M
perfect form. is to be sought not only in their
natural endowments, Lut also in their free,
political constitution, i'll consequence of
which there rose Universities for Science,
which in the short space of three centres.
(froni Scion TO Alexander the Great. at
tanned all eniinence never reached III auy Of
the older natious.
The world has never before felt the need
of Education a. we feel t. We ask what
are our schools What are they to be in
future The man who is one day to he our
chief magistrate is, very probably running
barefoot at this moment the man who IS
to command our armies may he just nov
giving black eye 10 a comrade; II future
chief justice is perhaps, sweeping law Offices
al sixpeuce 4 day. Shall We leave them
where they are? Could We always be con-
+. = ii
Shall there be no intermedial cleansing stage
betwoeu these extreme estates ; Yes. We
answer, Education
Our social aud Political state in this dizzy
hour ii sudden wealth, might easily be like
IN Aifau,Na of gilded domes, and walls
bazonea I'll ever With hely-sentsnees, whose
foundations are sinking ia u morass even
wble It's banners fout the skies. 10 so on
adding gh'tering pnnacles aud minarets,
viii not keep the gaping rents from root and
chamber, az keep the goodly stenes froia
teppling ahoH, the ears o. careless inmates.
But We are happiiy turning cur attention to
essentials, and aiming so to build as not to
he ashamed hereafter IIopo and Love have
word 10 say in eur councils; Science and
order Legn to be heard; keuovolcnce aud
Prudence have Joined hands fer one work at
least There is no subject so interesting 10
our American cars, (always excepting mo-
ney makine,) rs the subject Of Educa-
ton. To cur minds eye our noble Repub-
lie, when We look at her as the instructress
of her children, is a majestic figure.
We love 10 think Of her, seated between
her oceans, opening her generous arms to
all the children OF Earth, aud saying, Here
is room enough, and knowledge for the ask
ing BE no longer the bond-slaves Of ig-
noranee, and vice, her cruel sister. Wealth
more than enough, has been poured Into my
lap by the bounty of Heaven and earth, and
as much of it as is needed for your redemp-
ton shall be yours Come, from whatever
ignominy, contempt, and despair, into light
and warmth, growth and goodness" There
is nothing that sets bounds to the grand Office
Of education to all. The day will come when
our country shall be the glory eli the earth
in better things than the Commerce and
the Arts.
1--WE live in deeds, not years; in thots, not breath;
lie most lives
Who thinks most, feels modest, aets the best.