The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-09-26
NO. FL
:" - Fv' " I7He71l0l vaEsII9' :
Our COuntTY's Great Need.

continent racs of men and women great
Ily superior to the present generation.
whatever nay be said 10 tbs contrary
The position assumed in the thoughts
which follow. is, that our modern modes
OF education are defective; and in some re.
spects irrational; and that instead of an
advance 10 all the essential elements that
constitute an elevated race OF men, moral
y, socially and religiously, society has
rather been falling bsyk y Rational rsAee-
ton, and careful review of the past and
the present. viii briSg thousands of wit
nesses to tho truth ofour asseyera:ions.-7-
The admission forces Us TO a melancho "
reflection: for while We have been boast
iDgly consoling ourselves that we were
really the foremos. nation on the earth,
and that our children were to take honor
able positions. 10 the nest solightened and
liberal govefnme ut in the world, we have
been deliberately training up our sons and
daughters in q method so loose snd su-
per6cial. as to qualify them for httIe more
than q life Of frivoIties made up of wit,
showinesS and money spending. As
f6retaste Of The fret fruits Of our systems
Of training the uprising generations, we
6nd ourselves iD the year 1861. fifteen
years less than century from the sign
ing Of that immortSl document, venersted
as the Declaration Of Independence Of the
United Siaies OF Aurerica. to be so incon-,
gruous, so little fitted for self government,
with all cur freedom Of speech and CT the
press, as to pfese0t 10 the world The spec
Iacls Of almost Complete anarchy an6 dis
oIu ion. fh9'
80 utterly has the eternal principles Of
truth. justice and cincsrity been neglect
ed 10 our systems Of education; and SO
entirely have we ignored the cultivation of
all the Humanitarian ends Of our being;
the soeial and benevolent affections, which
are the foundation snd impressive require
ments Of our most holy religion: so entire
ly has the nation gisen itself up to the
pursuit Of tie encbantmeDts Of the all po.
tent dollar, that universal confidence
between men is almost obiterated. Men
are distrus,ful ofeach other word or bond;
and the great question of mans quall6ca-
ton for self government is yet to be solv-
ed. The fault lies in our systems of edu-
cstion, as l shall proceed TO- show.
The universal recognition of the de.
mands of Justice from man to man; the
cultivation of the domestic and social af-
fections, and the perception Of tbe truth.
that .'dn honest man IS tie noblest cork Of
God" would lead to the acknowledgment
toi tie mutual claims OF society and Of
true religion. The practice Of these pre-
cepts can alone work the cure of the evils
complained Of. But This will require an
entire remode6ng ofGll orr schools, NOR
a, social and educational. Personal mer-
it, prsdicated upon moral integrity must
become the standard OF approval. Truth
, and undisguised sincerity in all the rsla-
tions of life must become the method Of
intercourse between man and man. We
must cease TO worship a. the shrine Of
wealth, or family distinction. or we shall
bring our children to poverty and dis
grace, aud thwsrt all the ends of society
and good government.
[
most wholly to che intelligent aud acquis-
tive pfopensities; While the affections and
moral sentiments are left undeVeloped.-
Thus, instead of expanding all the re-
sources Of the man, he is eet loose In the
world hsf educated; or. rather, with
morbid condition Ct himself. proper; or
that portion of bis attributes which is pro-
perly .be man. The mere education Of
the inteiiec. may give man shrewdness
and ingenuity. and assist him to build up
a fortune atlhe expense of his less lucky
neighbor; but generally be will be cold
selfish being, and iu bis sphere. never do
much good to his race, or to the great
cause Of humanity. The schol'r, of eth.
er sex. is but scholar: there is little 10
all his course that msirieS iniWith the
commodities OF life; he lives above the
humarities: speaks different language
from that Of his neighbor; and the work
ine man who wells near him, he cannot
make up hIs mind toTtc cognise as at all
related, to him, but holds him az one be-
longing to different race of mortafs. a.
/ Genuine good msuuers consists Of the
aturaldenonstration 81 generous feelings;
while our present systsm Of educational
Institutions. throws back. upon society
class OF young ladies aud geaaemsn, with
little else, generally, to recommend thom,
: than large stock Or Rippant, boastiul.
brazeu efftontry and impiods irrevorence;
and fancied superiority, which they exer-
else To- make others feel worthless in their
lpresence, and TO e4lort attention 10 them>
selves, which their merits do not entitls
. them to. a greater mistake than this
could not be made. II is Q confession. or
should be held to be such. by all really
: sensible people, Of an entire failure. ssna2
will not be .underslQod as dispNagipg
intellectual education; far from IT,. / would
!, have the whole person moved along 10.
gether. would have our schools so re-
. formed, as to- make the development Of
siecllons and moral sentiments receive
, the leading attention Of all teachers, l
would enforce attention 10 the reciprocal
rights Of all. would epjoin peremptory
obsdisucs 10 thelgoldsu rule, Of doing To-
!. all others as We would that Allotbers should
do 10 us; but aboss oil. the attribute OF
y : reverence and lvensration for the neble,
: the true anG the good. ! world teach the
equality aud common Brotherhood OF the
y human tnce, and the practice OF the fun.
Q dsmental principles ofrehgion. l would
= enforce the free, unbiased and unlimited
y scone Of human reason; the gift Of the