Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-04-08
"That shallow draughts iutoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again"

practically be would not be above the most
ignorant. He might be a walking library,
and the only material difference between
himself and stationary library would be
that ono could move and the other could not.
What would the largest arsenal ever accom-
plish, though filled with all the implements
of death, and all the means of destruction,
il they are never to be brought into execu
tioui do not wish to place too low an
estimate Oh the acquisition of knowledge,
but simply to impress the idea that the ex-
eroise of that knowledge, embraced In the
single word-to thinks Of the highest
conceivable importance.
Practically, for better would it he to read
but little and make use Of the facts Of his
tory acquired, than to lay upon the dusty
shelves of memory any amount Of facts In
word that education which teaches mon to
be active, is the best.
Talks view Of facts. That which is good
is often couuterfeited. May it not be so
with education f--that is that il may be cur
rent, useful, Or uncurrent, uselessl Shall hei
pass for an educated man, who is notorious
| ly defective in every part Of sciencei Mon
Judge of the value OF an article by what they
see it able to accomplish. What estimate
then shall they place upon that education
from which they see no practical resultl-I
Havo you not heard it said by some who
are connecting links between tho present
and the past generation, Why, do not see
that men are any smarter now than they
used TO be. With all our boosted system of
education Uhdt hare we accomplished?
Is not the notion too prevalent among in
dulgent parents, that their sons should enter
some profession, after they have acquired a
/ 1.-THE Of liberal education? Wearing le.
1 gal robes does not make lawyer Of man,
0 any more than during the days of ancient
: fable, putting on lions skin made lion Of
f certain animal noted for the length of biz
|, ears. Among the anecdotes Of the ancient.
/. | find this; When, on certain occasion
# some inferior men had been promoted tc
F. the post Of generalship, it was proposed
= that vote be taken, and that they elec
thoir asses TO be horses. Here then is ,
,r volume, perfect mint of thought and o
% truth. Why are the professions crowded
,, with inferior advocatesi Does acquiring NJ
e education unfit man for tilling the soiil O
/. must there indeed be mud-siIlsi Perhap
4 the truth lies between, that men should both
"a think and labor,--the thinkers think les
= and work more. The workers work less
II and think more. But put the question
A. and ! think fairly, which is the best sduca
l. ted, he who commences with but little O
al book knowledge, thinks his way to distinc
r. ton, and makes the world admire hi
h. thoughts, or he who expects to gain nctori
is ETY. by the name of being sducatad--wh
10 makes an aim at lofty things without an ei
l. fort, aud ingloriously docs not succeed p
70 Nay farther, which Of the two knows th
ID nost' has the most mental disiplinol is tn
or best educated
II But again: We should think and thin
N freely; that is, not be too much restricted i
- the subjects upon which we think. Though
of may indeed be considered the Archimedea
a. lever. 1t is stronger than the army it gov
10 erns the army; it calls together the army
s. Men do not think for themselves. The
ic arc the property Of other mems brains. I
lis the machinery of life, some leading spirit
the motive power The rest arc attache
,e to it, and when the mighty wheel revolve
IA they too perform their appropriate functions
n when it ceases, they cease; if ii moves SLOW
v Iy so do they; if it revolves with undue RI
y ~ pidty, so do they.
Would it not be safe to say, that othe
IT. mems thoughts have, for ages, created VOL
TO shippers of the crescent made men perform
rk long and toilsome and painful pilgrimage
We held millions in religious obedience to POI
IS ish superstitions, propagated tnonkery, lido
III airy, invented cruel tortures, crucifed ma
10 tyrs, and created perfect Pandora's box
ID human illsi Nay, in professedly protestar
re enlightened christendom, how many al
It, able to give reason for their faithi VIII
~ can sustain even satisfactorily to himsel
VI the dogmas to which be holds? All thes
of have not learned to think. Here, then,
be what might be denominated mental SLAYER
or But suppose that unbounded license
as granted to all men, what would be the n
On sultl Perhaps some timid soul, possesse
with religious and undue reverence for Al
n tiquity, would consider it sacrilege to call
n question the faith of his fathers. Has sue
nt an one read the history of Gallileoa Il
of taught views on the subject of Astronom'
n, opposed to the faith of the holy cathol
nd church, for which he received the maledi
lis tons of that immaculate body, was pious
on prosecuted and made to recant. And aft,
n I he had denounced publicly his own faith
th to the revolution Of the earth, he is reportc
mt to have said, "bA it does turn, though"
las A question to the wise Whose view
ss- does posterity sustainl But from the u
eh bounded license to free thought, spring he
Ter erodoxy, y,schism, strange and irrational view
ry, new and absurd theories.
*, Modern spiritualism and woman's RICH
all are the legitimate progeny of this enlarge
We view of mental liberty Let them be me
ay If right let them prevail. Ifwroug, let the
ct fall. If true they should stand, for certai
al ly truth should prevail. If false, they c,
nd probably be overthrown. AS we'll as l I
member, Attorney General Clifford pa
ms the following beautiful tribute to science,
IN the occasion of his prosecuting the case
ne the commonwealth Of Massachusetts, again
be, Professor Webster for the murder Of {
for Parkman: Herein does science appear
ed its true dignity. For, as the body of 4
tly murdered man Uas destroyed upon seientij
su- principles, so, upon scientific principles
III J.