Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-09-30
"To catch dame Fortunes gilded smile,
Assiduous wait upon her
And gather gear by ev'ry vile
That's justified by honor;
Not for to hide it in hedge,
Not for a train attendant,
But for the glorious privilege
of beinr indenen1ent. y


am aware that there are many who thnk-and
their character is such that it entities their opinions
to weight-that the development of the physical
resources of the country and its increase in wealth
have already outrun the means of mental and moral
culture. That while agriculture, commerce, and
manufactures are pouring their corruptng abund-
ancc into the lap of the nation, our literary and re-
gious institutions linger in the back ground, ,--es-
pecially those which are to form the mind, and
heart and conscience of the great masses If this be
true it is easy to see what relation popular educa-
ton bears to the pecunary interests of the country
In the government of the old world wealth intro
duced luxury, upon the downy lapof luxury were
fostercd efiemnacy corruption, dcpravity, aud We
nality and these slowly, but surely undermining
the foundations of public virtue and social order
truth is illustrated in the history of Babylon Persia
Greece and Rome, and, in modern times, Spain af-
fords another exemplicatiou of the same tendency
The gold, which she derived from the New World
introduced a spirit of luxury and extravaganza
which have wasted her strength till from being one
OF the first powers on the continent she has sunk
so low in the scale Of national importance that her
influence is hardly felt in European politics. or in
the adjustment of European affairs. So, apprehen-
sons are felt that shall perish by our own pros
perity. But this must not and win not be the case,
! five wisely educate the generation which is to
succeed US. Our prosperity has doubt, surpassed
The most sanguine expectation hut is yet to rush
20, g q.
dreamt and we must know better how to use
money than the Spaniards did or it win exert as
ruinous an influence upon our character as it did
upon theirs. The wealth of England is greater than
that of Spain ever was and yet it has been compare
! lively innoxous upon the English character. And
why? Because England is better educated than
Spain and her wealth. instead of being wasted in
an ostentatous display ofluxury and in the gratif-
cation ofsensual apetites has been applied to wise
and benefcent purposes; and this, To-day, is the
key to England glory as il is to the shame of Spain
! Wealth, then, properly used is blessing abused
it is blighting curse As the tide of our prosper-
y swels higher and higher and its expanding waves
roll wider and yet wider, so much the ampler mus
be our provisions for universal education In a word
the corrupting tendencies of wealth may and mus
be counteracted and neutralized by system of wise
thorough, aIid comprehensive popular education
Those institutions, literary and religious whch ar,
designed to form the mind, the heart and the con
science of the people, must not be neglected or suff
cred to fall into decay while wealth accumulates,
our prosperity will prove our bane
'Ill fares the land, to Fastening ills prcy,
Where wealth sccuprulaes, and men decay,
Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade
A breath can make them, as a breath has made ;
But a bold peaSantry, their country pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied"
But few apprehcpd feel any socitude, or anti
: cpatc any danger from accumulatng wealth.
they do they close their eyes against its existence
and stop their ears against every warning voice
lfthis nation is distinguished for any one peculiariy
it is its eager pursuit after wealth. This is tn
master passion, which, like Aarons rod, swallow
IupNll the rest. We do love-there is no disguisin
the foct--thc almighty dollar. We worship mos
deyouty at the altar of Mammou. Wealth, i
4 America, Is the one universal pursuit No one ca
deny, doubt the lact if there are is any truth
the maxim, that factions speak louder than words.
And here the question arises whether there is any
thing morally wrongin this gaping desire for wealtl
am disposed to think not unless wealth is pursue
rs an end, and dishonest and dishonmblc practice
are resorted to for its attainment Nor do / forge
n in this connection, that Paul said that "they thi
will be rich fall into temptation ana a snare, an
}, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, whic
drown men in destruction and perdition. For II
II love Of money is the root of all evil which whi
4 some coveted after, they have erred from the alt
land pierced themselves through with many sorow'