Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-04-04
Want of Patriotic Education.

10 investigating the various causes wnlcn
have produced the generalization which now
threatens to destroy the influence of our free
government upon the progress of civilization
in the world, we should not ignore the fact
that no systematic efforts have been made to
incuIcate warm feeling Of patriotism in the
hearts of the people. We have but few mon
uments to keep before the eyes of the COM
munity the great and unselfsh deeds of those
who have done most for the glory of the coun-
try, and. who have passed to their reward !;
we have but few national holidays, and what
we have are rarely celebrated in such q way
as to improve the minds and morals of the
people, and to increase their devotion to the
good and the honor of their native land; and,
what is perhaps of more Importance than
either monuments or holidays, we have no
institutions which hold out sure reward and
appreciation for truly useful and meritorious
efforts. We have nothing to excite honora-
lle ambition in the minds of the young, nor
anything calculated to stimulate effort and
perseverance in those things which tend to
elevate mankind, and to make men wiser,
better and happier citizens of our great Re-
public.
The degrading worship of "the omnipotent
dollar" has cauterized the minds and souls of
men, and rendered them callous to every gem
erous emotion, and regardless of their coun.
try's welfare, where selfish interest prompts
them to depart from the path of duty and pa
triotism. 1t is folly to neglect to recognize
the fact that men are in very great meas
ure creatures of the circumstances in which
they are placed, and by which they are edu-
GATED, and when they are surrounded by
temptations to vice and depravity, breathing
a noxious atmosphere, and have no powerful
incentive to spur them on to Yirtuous and
noble deeds, it is not to be hoped that their
morals should improve. The youth of our
country grow up amongst men whom they
see on all sides sacrificing conscience, honor,
and self'respect, to gain wealth, power, and
influence, and they do not see that the wise,
the yirtuous, and the useful amongst them
are appreciated and encouraged according to
their deserts
Without money, or official position. the
mos: worthy are left to pine in obscurity,
whilethe unscrupulous and un principled gain
places of honor ar p-ofs. In word, the
rewards of society are given to the avari
cious and depraved, while there is nothing
but cold neglect for the yir:uous and worthy.
In our moral and social affairs we have
adopted the laissez moi tiaire principle, which
leaves every one to pursue the bent of his
own nclinations
Is it possible that so enlightened people
as we are can Go nothing bat provide pun
ishment for the grosser forms Of vice and
crime? We know that intelligence, indus
try and good morals are Of inealculable Ben
eft to community, and that without these
things we cannot hope for permanent pros
perity and good order, and yet we have ut
terly neglected to provide sufficient incen-
tiyes to induce men to love virtue and to de-
spise vice.
! There are two great instrumentalities
which exercise sn overwhelming influence
upon the sentiments and conduct of the peo-
pie. These are education and amusement ;
and if these we're systematically combined
and accompanied by the certainty of prop
er need of public praise for those VIII" strive
to improve themselves ia what is good and
useful. the current which is now carrying us
to perdition might be diverted. and caused to
run in the direction of haven Of peace, pros
perity and virtue.