Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-11-26
War and Education.

While war is abroad in the land, com
pelling us to the most gigantic endeavors
in defiance Of our national existance, it
may seem idle, if not even unpatriotic,
to expect any large measures of serious
attention to the ordinary affairs of
the schools A mandate of Divine Provi-
dence has ordered us to the front rank
Of contending nations, and engaged
US in a conflict which aborsorbs into its
own terrible channels almost the entire
currents of our industries and our ideas.
A generation thus called upon to strug-
gle for its life and liberties, might well
be excused if forgetful, for time, Of
the generation coming afterit
But the grand march of humanity
stops not in It's course even for war
From the cradle to the coffin, the crowd
through the successive stages of life
Children connot halt in its progress fol
returning peace to afford leisure for edu-
cation. On into the years-to man
hood, to citizenship, to destiny-it rush
es, whether learning lights its path and
guides its steps or Ignorance involves il
in error and conducts it headlong into
vice. And if in peace the school is
needful to rear our children to an intel
ligent and virtuous manhood, how much
greater the need in war, which with its
inseparable barbarisms, is drifting the
nation from its onward course Of peace
full civilization back to the old realms Of
darkness and of brute force.
The high and heroic aims of this con-
1ict will doubtless mitigate the evils
which necessarily attend an appeal to
arms. To say nothing of the physical
health and prowess that camp life and
military disipline will develope, the love
of country and love Of liberty will rise
again from mere holiday sentiments to
the grandure and power Of national
passions, and the Union, made doubly
precious by the blood which its main
tenance will cost, will attain strength
which no mortal force can shake or dis
troy. History will grow heroic again
and humanity itself will be inspired anc
glorifed by this fresh vindication Of its
God-given rights and duties in this in
carnation and triumph Of the principles
of constitutional and republican liberty
The too absorbing love of money which
has hitherto characterized US, has loos
ened, somewhat, its clutch, and beer
won to acts of genuine benevolence, al
the sight Of an imperiled country and
the fiery demon of party sinks away
abashed before the reused patriotism
which lays life itself on the altar of lib.
erty.
But with all this the barbarisms ot
war are too palpable and terrific to be
forgotten or disregarded, and the wise
and patriotic statesman will find in then
more urgent reason for fostering those
ciyilizing agencies which nourish The
growing intelligence and virtue of the
civilized people. Against the ideas anc
vices engendered in the camps, anc
amidst the battle fields, we must raise
still higher the bulwarks of v;rtuou
habits and beliefs, in the children ye
at home. We shall need the utmos
stretch of home and school influence t.
save society and the State from the ter
rible domination Of military ideas anc
military forces, always SO dangerous t,
civil liberty and free government
Hon. J. NJ, GREGORY, Michigaa
| School Report.