The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-18
For the Union and Journal.
REMARKS OF J. Moo. PERKINS,
Isssrsctsr Of Limingssn Academy, NJ ihe
ciese or n Lectsre 81 ''Edscatissai
Fsrces," sa Friday Evesing,
October 4, 1891.
For the Union and Journ

Ladies and Genilemn:-l have, this even
Ing, endeavored to excite In your hearts such
thoughts and such reflections rs will induct
you to renew and strengthen your interest
in making the EDUCATIONAL FORCES Of youth
what they ought to be, In order to educatt
your sons and daughters to be manly mer
and womaniy women. II I have succeeded
in awakening your attention to the impor'
lance Of this subject, in the remotcst degree
then, l am amply rewarded with the con-
sciousness Of doing my duty. The bulwark,
Of Republic is the intelligence Of its citi'
zens. Ignorance !. the bane and scourge ol
all democratic governments. Despotism can
not exist while breathing tho atmosphere Of
free schools. Free inshtutions can live only
under the sunshine Of general education.-
The true patriot only hopes for the existence
and permanency Of free constitution by
means OF the dissemination and diffusion Of
the blessings of popular education. The
mere trucking politician expects success on.
ly through the mists Of popular Ignorance.
My friends, It needs no labored argument to
prove that true patriotism Is the handspring
and fountain head Of all efforts to enlighten
the people-to arouse in them an ambition
for mental and moral culture. The line Of
demarkation which separates general intelli.
gence from the love Of liberty cannot be
drawn.
Therefore you will pardon me, I trust, II !
advert to the distracted and unhappy state
Of our country. which demonstrates most
clearly the terrible results Of Ignorance and
slavery in democratic government. can
not If would, and would not IL I could,
refrain from making these suggestions as
am sure l shall not have another opportuni-
ty for doing so. In the history Of the world
there is no parallel to the great American
Republic in its progress in the arts, sciences,
religion, intelligence OF Its people, and in all
that tends to make human existence dear and
sweet to every man and woman. The press
is free, religion is free, education Is free, oil
our institutions are free. every man is a ruler,
q king. The largest liberty consistent with
the public safety is allowed every individual.
All personal and social action is given the
widest scope compatible with the rights Of
Others. Human Freedom seems here to have
found it's promised land" In the choicest
portion OF the american Continent, with
belt Of nearly twenty degrees Of latitude,
stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Oceans, with every variety Of soil and eli.
mate, with tho amplest means of develop
ment and ntercommunication by lakes, riv-
ers, canals, railroads, and telegraphs, with q
brilliant history and IN honoryblo rank
among the Oldest and most powerful nations
Of the earth, with q glorious old Banner
which the proudest monarchics Of the Old
World reverence this, this, my friends, is
our illustrious Pather-land, our beloved
Country. Nowhere else on the globe has
Constitutional Liberty found homo. The
down trodden millions Of the Old World
have vainly struggled to establish free insti-
tutions upon the shores Of Europe. Defeat
and disappointment have ever followed all
attempts in this direction. There despotism
always triumphs over the bleeding form Of
liberty. To free homes and tho blessings Of
good government and Of civil and religious
liberty have the American people ever vel.
coined the oppressed millions of the earth.
This is tho asylum, the resting place Of the
Ark Of Liberty-committed to our care by
the God of Nations. But free institutions
have, hitherto. existed only In part Of our
country. The shadows Of tho worst system
Of bondage on eartI, have been deepening
and lengthcning in the southern portion OF
the land since the formation Of the Constitu.
tion. This scoprge Of the land has spread q
malaria of the worst forms Of licentiousness,
ignorance. vice. and crimo among oil within
the reach Of It's poison. It Is like Virgil's
description Of old Cyclops,
I" .uonstrum horrsndum, informs, ingsn', Gu,
Iumsn adsmpfum,"-
wicked monster, misshapen, fercc, and
sightles.
This inhuman and blood-thirsty monster
has put on the garments Of Treason, and has
mobbcd. killed, and banished the ministers
and officers Of the government; has stolen
the money, arms, and other public property
of the nation; has captured its forts, armo-
ries, ar,enals, and vessels Of war; has dark.
ened the high seas with devilish horde Of
pirates and frce.bootep; has organized vast
armies to destroy and ovcrturn the founda.
tions Of the Republic; has burnt bridges,
national vessels, and other property; has
killed peaceful citizens. and avagely mur-
dercd wounded and helpless men has forced
the most patriotic citizens to acts Of treason,
threatening them with instant death II TO
fusing to obey its diibolical commands; has
torn up nilroad tracks, and has secretly
placed deadly distractions in public places
in order to murder innocent men, women
and children; has rcsortcd to the most cow
srdly and dishononbls means 10 accomplish
the basst and most fendish purposes. All
this has been done without the most trinins
prsts1s. 81. ]