American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-30
NUMBER 81
educational department
Intelligence the Support of Free
Government,

coDsequents OF the war, and of the emaR-
cipation which was one of its measures.
that the question of the proper qualifi.
cations Of enfranchisement is receiving
attention throughout the country. The
high privileges connected with citizen
ship sh2uld be diffused as widely as ia
consistent with the benefit of indiyiduais
and the safety Of fsociety. But both these
considerations require some attention ssto
the subject Capitalization for using those
privileges. That many enjoy the privi-f
lege Of the ballot, who lack these quail
fications, can hardly be doubted. The
commendable liberality of our provisions
has been perverted and abused, to some
extent. But the questions whether this
abuse can be corrected by restrictions, or
whether it would be obviated by further
extensions, are of such doubtful decision,
that persons may be excusable for hold
ing them for time in suspense. These
we do not discuss in the present article.
A more general but not less important
subject is before u.s. The connection Of
intelligence with virtue, in the people, is
the means OF their own benefit, and is
the strongest support of free eonstitu-
tional government.
Whatever may be the prevalent opin-
ions and theories, in countries ruled by
despOtic or aristocratic sway, it's an ak,
iom among ns. That popular Intelligence
is not only conductive to the highest hap
piness of society, but is even essential to
it. We have another sentiment which,
though often denied and secuted abroad,
is olso an axiom with us, viz: That pop
ular freedom is essential to the highest
happiness of society. Underlying these,
and supporting them, is third sentiment,
not controyerted anywhere, though often
neglected which is, That popular virtue
is essential to the highest happiness Of
society. These, together, form three
fold cord, not easily broken, that bind so
ciety together undar good ciyil govern
ment. Diffused among people, they
qualify them for forming good gov,
ernmcnt, and for maintaining it. But
freedom, without intelligence and virtue,
could not long subsist. The history Of
its wild life and ignominious death would
be summed up in a few brief md melan-
choly senteHcss, depicting in its frantic
acts of violence and misrule, its reyelings
in anarchy, and iss'extinction in iron des,
potism.
This renders education necessity 10
our country. And the correctness of
principles is proved by the fact, that
where the facilities for education have
becn enjoyed in the highest degree, these
two results have followed: : The social
condition of the people has been the haB-,
piest, and the fidelity of the people to the
govesnment has been most firm. The
late disturbance of our country's peace,
by formidable insurrection, does not Of
fer an exception to these views. 1t Eatb-
er affords astrong confirmation ofthir cor
rectness for this insurrection had its
inception and support in that section and
from those classes in our country, in
which the privileges Of education had
been most scantily enjoyed, and it was
suppressed by men who had been taught
in school houses, and familiar with cor
rect political and moral principles from
their childhood.
1t is not merely the amount Of scholas-
tic instruction, communicated in the usu~
al processes of education, that qualities
men for enjoying and beneftting society
The processes themselves are conclusive
to this end. The elevating social infu-
enccs, the subordibation to rightfql au-
thority, the selfgovernment, the habitual
control, l,of moral principles, insensibilityr
yet surely, operate to the promotion of
the character Of intelligent, orderly, vir-
tuous citizens. This is finely illustrated
by those elementary and valuable schools
in which no secular science is introduced
in which politics is never named, in which
the history or constitution, of our coup-
try form no part ofrthSS instruction, but
which embraces, as themes of thought
and tuition, only moral and religious sub
jects. Here we find the character and
tone IF m mind formed (which perpetuaat4a;da, a 4;a,
will make men and women of the gort
that free government requires. Princi-s
Piles of right are inculcated, and habits
Of integrity are formed, which will sway
their benign influence over the whole
life. Respect for the rights of Others
viii accompany the consciousness Of
privileges, and'while the principles i'm,
bibed will afford happiness, they will also
supply impulses for the good Of society.
History will fully sustain the principles
we have advanced. They are illustrated
| by the contrasts in free and despotic gov-