Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-21

81 =. -
keep I'D our educational system, and TO exert every
other agency calculated to preserve society, and to
develop our moral and Intellectual resources; and
to some of these We would respectfully and ear
nestly call your attention. :, :,
In the present condition Of things in this world,
wars are often necessary and justfable; and such
is the contest in which the people of the Confederate
States now engaged.
Nevertheless, every war is attended with tempo
rary evils and 1t remains with those who conduct
it to diminish or neutralze them by means and ap-
pliances which God puts within their reach. No
such struggle could be Just if it entailed evils which
could not be prevented and which, in moral sense,
would overbalance the benefits; but We are not OF
those who believe that war for the defence of our
homes, and for such institutions, reig'ous and po
liticaI rs those with which we blessed, is in IT.
self of such character. Its hazards to the moral
condition of things undoubtedly great; but tor
this very reason it ought to prove advantage to
society," by giving vigorous and healthful exercise
to all tho moral faculties of the community. If we
arc equal to this occasion, We will feel that there
are now devoved upon US the greatest responsible
ties which Christian people are ever called upon to
discharge and if we will be endowed with the SEN
timents which ought to animate us we will carry
on this war IN the pulpit in the schoolroom, at the
fire-sde and at every other point where We are
assailed by the great enemy of human progress
The minister, the parent, the teacher, and every
other laborer in the moral vineyard, will find this
foe encroachng upon the very grounds where he
has been stationed for defence; and in the minds
and hearts Of our younger children there is cita-
del. whose possession by good or bad principles, is
to be decisive of our future fate Upon this strong
! hold the enemy will bring to bear all the subtle
devices of his internal genius land while our eyes
wholly fixed on distant field, an encampment
of evil principles may be fixed and fortified in the
very heart of our hopes II cannot be expected that
snc
the great principles at stake in our controversy
with the North and while they in the midst
fthe more entertaining excitements ofwar, and out
of view of its sterner realities there is great danger
that their minds will become dissipated and that
they will acquire habits which it will be difficult to
eradicate, and which may unfit them for those great
and solemn trusts which will soon be devolved upon
them.
Wesay, without hesitation, that all the young men
who serve their country in the field, and who
are there needed should be encouraged to take up
arms in defence Of common rights; bnt after
these have all lett our schools there will still remain
vast number who old enough to learn, and will
be learning something whether we take pains to in
| struct them in right ways or not
We know that it is natural for the parent, whose
heart is absorbed with the issues at stake in our
! great contest for freedom and independence, to i'm
agne that the restessness Of his children originates
| in feelings and thoughts kindred to his own; but
we would kindly ard respectfully submit, whether
the natural indsposition Of the very young to judi
cious restraints does not nstincvely avail itself Of
the confusion Of the tines and whether the excite
ment of this class, fed by sights and sounds, only
exhilirating to them, can be long encouraged with
out serious injury to their future welfare and to the
success and safety of the country of whose rights
and liberties they are, under God to be the guar
! dams?
1t would be lamentable 10 think that the glorious
fruits won by the valor, PATRIOTISM and Christian
| manhood-by the toll. endurance, and sacrifices Of
this generation, should be lost by being committed
TO the hands of those who would have no conception
of the dignity and soernnity of their trusts and
permit us to ask, in all candor, if idleness and ami
nal excitement, reigning unchecked among the very
| young may not tend to such result?
1t is no sacrifice to children to release them from
moral restraints and from study; and thus, if they
are to be free from proper educational influences,
this day of trial and discipline TO the parent will be
| day of Jubilee and levty to his offspring; and
while the crisis will be developing the moral man.
hood Of the former, and fitting him for his task of
achieving, it will be facilitating and dwarfng the
! mind and energies of the other and rendering him
incapable Of the equally important task of preserving
| freedom.
! Another consideration which we would, with de-
ference submit to the people Of North Carolina, is
the promising condition of their educational system,
towards the material progress of the State.
| Many of the States Of the Southern Confederacy
produce some leading agricultural staple in such
quantities as to insure to them wealth and power;
but the greatness of North Carolina consists IN her
diversified interests, and in the energy and skill ne
cessary to render them available. For the want of
such energy and skill, those interests WERE for
long time. neglected. and our State was held back
and enfeebed by the constant stream Of emigration;
| but since our educational influences have reached
the minds and hearts of the Masses and our school
literature has been tinctured with sentiments honor
able to North. Carolina, the whole state of things
has been completely changed, and we have advanced
with more rapidity than any community on the con-
tinent Behold, to-day. the glorious generation of
young men who have, with one heart and with many
thousands of strong arms, sprung into instant he
roes at the call of their country, and who, with the
chivary of the world for generous rivals have in the
very outset of this contest emblazoned the name Of
NorthCarolina high and illustrious above those Of
all her distinguished compcers.
| How is the world unfamiliar with what has been
going in the heart of society here astonished at
the spectacle which we now present?
Let us not forget the sources of this now healthy
and vigorous life in the body polite let US wisely
remember that the schools and the school literature
of the State have been the great nurseries of the
| popular energy and patriotism which now enable
her to take such proud position in the struggle for
! Southern independence.
The present war found this educational system,
in all its departments, from the University to the
Common Schools, just entering upon prosperous
and most hopeful condition, becoming source of
immediate pccunary profit to the State from foreign
patronage, filling it with persons, male and female,
prepared for usefulness in all the walks of life great
ly enhancing the amenities of existence rapidly ee-
waiting the tone Of society among the ruling race,
creating and fostering love of home, and inter-
est in its resources and institutions, and infusing
new life and energy into all the industrial pursuits
Of the people: and now, shall these lights that were
brightly burning from the Atlantic to the Allegha-
MES, throwing cheerful radiance over the whole
face Of society, and exposing to our gaze the diver
sifed wealth and attractions of the goodly land
which God has given US, be suddenly extingushed
at the very time when darkness and consequent
confusion and mental depression will be our worst
enemies?