The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-04-13
Our Common Schools the Chief Pillar o.
Free Institutions.
An Address by e. b. Reynolds, Teacher, at
the Closing Exercises Of school No. :.
Jefferson Township, Wayne County, Ind.

successfully contrOverted, and Is so self
evident from the very nature OF the
proposition itself, as to scarcely need
an argument, or an elucidation OF facts
to substantiate it.
We believe man was born free, and
in his primative or original state was IN
every respect qualified to enjoy and
maintain this freedom, and that it was
only by his becoming ignorant that he
lost those rights, which God intended
he should possess and exercise; rights
which were and are inalienable and can
not be taken away from him except by
the arbitrary power of others, or his own
wrong act.
The history of man, is but history
Of attempts on his part, to assume and
regain his natural rights. and govern
himself-rights Of which he had not been
deprived. so much by the acts and oppres-
sions of others as his neglecting to cul-
tivate his mind, and acquire a knowledge
of those facts which were necessary TO
enable him to defend and maintain them
against attempts to subvert and over
throw them.
The Greeks reared upon their sunny
Island the tree of knowledge-it pros
pered-grew into giant proportions, send
ing the light of its influence and the eff
fects of its power over the mountains
and through the valleys, and rolled out
upon the blue waters Of the Egean sea,
in the pride and spirit Of her Navy and
Commercial ships. 1t made Nerxes
tremble on his throne for his possessions
in Asia Minor.
Under its influence Athens rose on the
shores of the Egean, over shadowing
ali other cities in the Island by the grand
eur and beauty of her architecture,
the glory of her schools and the extent
Of her commerce. Yet it died an igno-
minious and mournful death, and in its
dying, throes demoralized society, and
brought the dark night of n savage des-
potism upon the land, from which the
Greek have not recovered to this day
And why should it die-why should its
sun go down in darkness? We answer,
because the people were too ignorant,
too stupid to maintain those free institu
tions to see clearly their duties and OBJ
! legations and discharge properly those
duties which that form of government
ever bestows upon the people. tits true,
she had her schools of philosophy, in
which some of the most sublime, moral
thruths were taught and enforced. But
their numbers were few, and Plato as he
taught in the groves of the academy,
could not boast of more than 20 pupils,
while the large mass were entirely unedu-
Gated, were ignorant of the very first
principles of human science, and es-
pecially of the important science which
they were called upon to exercise in
governing themselves In fact, about
three fourths Of the inhabitants Of Athens
were slaves, (an institution which has
cursed every free government that has
had an existence in the world. and from
the very nature of their condition were
deprived of the means of acquiring q
knowledge of those facts. which are
necessary for free people in free gov
ernment to possess.
Freedom was planted upon the seven
hills of Rome hy the dagger of Brutus,
and for long period of years it main
tanned that planting. rose up in colossal
power, and swept out over the land from
sea TO sea and ocean to ocean, crunbliu g
thrones, kingdoms and empires, and
bro't them to the condition of provinces
and the people to the condition of slaves
under its irresistible tread. But having
raised the Roman government to the
highest pinnacle of glory and power
having carried her arms into almos
every part of the then known world
having given laws, customs and manner:
to the same. it died, and its dying groan'
convulsed every part of that same worle
upon it a night Of superstitution, igno
rance and despotism-more dark and ter
rible than that which held chained tn,
minds and hearts of the Pagans, wrape,
in their ancient mythology. And again
;. we ask. why should it by its death. hur
upon the world night so terrible IN al
its consequences to human happiness
We answer, because the people were un
4, acquainted with the first principles o
in human government; did not have clea
ideas of their duties as citizen and sub
ject. Their minds and hearts were no
\ cultivated and disciplined. with stud
Q. of those branches of elementary learning
n which would instruct them in these dr
rs ties and how to discharge them, so tbs
Il their actions might be consistant wit
- - their rights, their freedom, and the pre-:
n, ervation of the government. estahlishe
for the maintenance of the same.
Iwould not be understood to say tn: