Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-07-15

The following excellent article wepublish
from the Toledo Blade OF June 22d, and
commend it to the notice Of our readers
The subject Of education should especially
interest every person. II has been incon-
testably proved that it is far more econom-
ical TO educate children than 10 punish Grim
iEGls:
Yesterday Michael Beaudien expiated the
crime Of murder with his life which was
made sacrifice to the offended law. For
some two years this miserable offender has
lain in the Jail Of the county--had four sew
eral times had his offence passed upon by
juries Of his peers, and been three times
found guilty. It's not our purpose to COM
ment at present upon the policy of those Of
the legal profession who in the face Of the
evidence, and in view Of the finding Of jurieS,
avaied themselves Of what we may bo par
doned for styling quibbles Of law, to stavc off
the period for the enforcement Of the penal
ty. For our present purpose It is sufficient
to examine another aspect Of the case.
The long conference.-the numerous
trials, and all the attendant expenses and
fees in the case, as we understand, swelled
the costs Of this prosecution and execution
to some four thousand dollars. This amount
the people Of our county must pay. It
comes from their pockets in the form of
direct tax, and is penalty upon society
for condition Of its members which induces
and leads to crime. Patient as our citizens
ordinarily are in submitting to the burthen
which government imposes upon them, an
occasional murmnr escapes their lips at the
burthens imposed by the prosecution and
punishment Of criminal offenders.
There is another species Of tax, to which,
We are pleased to say that they never object.
We allude to that for the support Of our
schools. For the money required of them
for that purpose they are sure that valu-
able return is to bo made. They know
that the education Of their children-of all
the children Of the city is one of the surest
means by which they can guard against
crime in all its varied forms. They feel
that to cultivate the mind--to expand the
intellectual faculties, and create thirst for
knowlenge is the true way to Danish the
taste for, or the desire to mingle in, the
haunts of vice. They know too that as a
question of economy, the scheme of educd-
ton possesses great superiority over that
of punishment 1t is shown by the expert
ence of our schools for the past nine years
that the cost Of education Of less than eleven
dollars per year upon the average attend
ance, whilst if the estimate be based upor
tho entire number of scholars enrolled, thu
expense has been less than sac dollars pc
scholar. Taking the highest of these esti
mates, and the entire expense Of educating
n child from the time it enters the primary
until it shall have graduated from the high
school, will not exceed one hundred dollars
This is not matter Of guess work, but tho
result of practical experience, and needs nj
comment.
We thus find that whilst one hundred
dollars will fit child for the enjoyment o.
all the blessings Of knowledge, and enable
it to assume any station, that to arrest the
downward career of one whose education
was obtained in the purlieus of vice, and
whose mind was never enlightened by the
beauties of true knowledge, it costs thou
sands of dollars.
We have not been led to these remarks
because we feel that our people need am
inducement TO persevere in the good wori
of education, but in the hope that this illus
tration may not bo without its effects else
where, and that so practical case may
impress the people in localities hitherto les
favored with educational advantages, to re
double their exerLions in behalf Of education
al movements, by showing them that evel
if they entertain no love for knowledge il
the abstract, that it is cheaper than ignor
ance. To those who can see no advantag
to a community from n thorough educa
tion Of their youth we appeal in form
which is suro to find a response in thi
money getting age. Wo say emphati
cally that the way to prevent crime is 4
dissiminate knowledge-the way to encour
age virtue is to enlightcn the mind, and fin
ally that to educate yo~r children costs les
than to punish your criminals.