The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-13
tbs SOVEREIGN RULER

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regard for them: andaa We boast of the
reign oflaw. and profess that it Is our
only ruler. But OF what little force are
all these against the actual power that
not only rules the State, and governs
all things in our social and commercial
life How slight an exertion Of popular
opinion changes, modifies, or sets aside
all other authority both in State and So
ciety. 1t rules unchecked in our Legs
latiye Halls-the Executive funetionaries
are its watchiul, subservient SERVANTS
The judiciary has struggled long and
manfully against its encroachmentS, but
that has, at last. yielded, and become
scarce anything but registrles Of its de-
crees In the highest tribunals. interpret
ing the gre 1t fundamental law of the State
we see its usurpations, controlling and
debating the constructions and judge |
ments to be rendered 1t has become
the almighty, controlling influence in all
our affairs, and is felt by evsry man IN all
the interests and concerns Of every day
life. IL has broken down all the checks
and balances contriyed by the wisdom
and art Of our ancestors to resist its I'M
checked sway. 1t claims the divine
rights Of Kings and the infallibility Of the
Pope. The fate Of the country and the
destiny Of the governmental our
rights of person and property depend up
on the character of its rule. We are
inevitably its subjects with no Power to
change our sovereign. How moUentous,
then, isat to us that this mighty imper-
sonality OF sovereignty should be enlight-
encd, wise, and yirtuous;--be impelled
by tho noblest considerations Of patriot
ism and humanity and virtue. and guild
cd by knowledge and the lessons of ex-
perience and wisdom. Popular sover-
eighty. blinded by ignorance and degra-
ded by lax moral principles will exercise
the most oppressive and degrading des-
potism, under which men can suffer,
whenever it gains the ascendency in its
degraded state. Enlightened by educa-
tioc, purified in the schools Of virtue, and
by the maxims of morality and patriot
ism. it becomes divine ruler, diffusing
its blessing, like Providence, almost un.
seen and scarcely felt.
There is no way to escape from the de-
grading tyrrany ofignorance, immortality
and vice in our government and secu
ring the mild just, and benevolent rule o.
popular sovereignty--but by the educa-
ton of the people and raising them t.
the highest degree of intelligence Of the
age. II we need enlightened and virtu
Gus public officers we must have-a.
surely as cause has its conscquences-ar
enlightened and virtuous people. AL
power now resides in the masses, and il
the lower strata of the masses. They
must be raised and purified and brought
fully uD to the standard by which we
would measure the qualifications Of oul
public men.
Our public schools are not organized
70 impart knowledge to individuals tC
confer benefits upon certain number o
children for their advantage. They art
nurseries to form citizens for the State.
equality the rising generation to dis
charge their duty to their country. Th'
State maintains them for her own per
minency. peace, order, good government
and the preservation of liberty and free
dom--like our military and NayalSchool
the chief consideration with The govern
ment, that establishes and supports then
is the public good, not the advantage onl
ofthe Recipients Of its bounty. A boy
not taken at West Point, teducated an
paid S4O0 year while being educated
for his own personal benefit, but to max
useful citizen in case Of need to tn
country. So also every State and cit
is bound by considerations for the publ
welfare to educate its own citizens of a
classes in o manner that shall make thel
capable Of fulfilling well their duties 9
sovereigns Of the country. And th
State or city that neglects this imperatiy
duty is recreant in its obligations to tn
country and the cause Of freedom; an
the man who opposes it has no appreci'
ton Of the duties Of citizen OF r,
public, or if he has, he is false to h
Democracy.
The rich who are able to command Il
largest opportunities for the education
their own children, secure but an uncel
T. tain happiness and peace to their ON
offspring by educating them alone.
: this country where all power in Il
courts-in legislative halls-in the ex
cutive chairs-where popular Assem-
blages erect their Lynch courts, the pea,
Of socisty-all our rights of proper,
and Of person--all we hold dear in Ii
is dependent upon the opinion of Il
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