The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-07-26

fusion of intelligence in the whole com
munity. They were among the first tt
declare positively against an EXCLUSIVE
aristocracy in mental culture; they were
among the first to open fully and freely
to all classes and to both sexes the foun
tains of knowledge; the first to establish
and maintain, at the public expense
wherever they felled the forest and foun
ded settlement, the means of public In
struction. To us, then, who are met to
day within the limits of State so honor
ably distinguished in the annals of human
Improvement, this example of our ances
tors, makes plain the path of our duty
standing as we now do between the fallen
heroes of our late war on the one hand
and the rising progeny of such noble
parentage, is c committed the responsible
Office of ministering with pure hands and
devoted hearts to the education of q
rising multitude, and of perpetuating to
others yet to come the blessings we have
richly received.
The education of our country's youth
becomes an object OF the first Importance,
when we remember that here, no heredi-
tary rights can be asserted-hsre, title
and ancestry give place to the supe-
rior claims of personal merit, and where,
as one has said with emphasis, men are
made, not born. Upon their proper NOR
oil and intellectual education rest the Sc
curity of our Individual and social enjoy
ments the permanency of our civil and
religious institutions, and the perpetuity
of our government The whole people
must be educated to enjoy civil and reli-
gious liberty. five would know and en-
ioy our privileges as citizens of an inde-
pendent and confederate State, we must
develop our own moral and intellectual
resources. If we would perpetuate the
blessings of free government, we must
educate every child in our Commonwealth.
I subscribe to the utterance, that every
child in our land on arriving at the period
of his majority, should be able to read
our common language understandingly,
write legibly, and compute accounts.
Nav, more: he should understand the
| genius of our government, be an indepen-
dent thinker, and be thoroughly estab-
lished in virtue.
The spirit of free government cannot
exist, where the means Of knowledge are
not universally disseminated among the
body polite Demagogues may harangue
an ignorant populace and basely eulogize
them as the enlightened democracy, to
obtain their votes and secure their own
promotion for sinister purposes, while the
government remains unchanged But
Ichabod is written over the portals Of the
temple-the glory has departed. The
form remains-the soul OF liberty has de-
parted. The people in such cases are led
by traitors in a way they know not.
They are to all intents and purposes, in
slavery.
The cause of popular education, in my
Judgment, vastly transcends in Importance
evcry other temporal interest. 1t in
wolves not only the welfare and happiness
of the present and succeeding generations,
but the welfare and the very life OF free
institutions. Our people cannot too car
nestly insist upon maintaining, up to the
highest point of usefulness, our Colleges,
Academies and Common Schools, nor can
they too jealously guard the character OF
the instruction impaired in them. Lower
their standard-degrade them, and you
degrade the people; and in the footsteps
of that degradation will follow poverty,
oppression, crime and anarchy. Elevate
them, and you elevate the character OF
the people; you lift up the down troddenl,
and give new courage to the faint hearted;
YOU shiver the sword and spear Of the
strong, and clad the weak in impenetra-
BILE armor; you strengthen the links OF
the golden chain which binds man to
earth, and earth to heaven; you take the
first etfectual step towards abolishing the
Fictitious distinctions which are permitted
to exist in society, and make the equality
of man living reality; and you hasten
the coming of those prophetic ages when
man shall be re-created in the moral i'm
age of his Maker, and earth become again
an Eden.
In this great and glorious work there
should be no sluggards. Let no man do
himself the gross injustice to believe, and
act upon the belief, that he can exert no
influence Every member of the commu-
nifty can do something, and what he can
he is solemnly bound to do. 1t is mat,
ter of indifference what may be his con-
dition or calling, whether he occupies q
public or private station, whether he be
wise or unwise, rich or poor, there is
something in this cause which should ex
cite his highest interest and call forth his
noblest efforts.
The preservation of our civil and reli
gious rights, of reputation, of property
the present and future well-being OF oul
State, of ourselves and our children, de
mand at our hands prompt, efficient ano
unwearied action. This cause appeals *
US as Christians, philanthropists, patriots
Would we diffuse far and wide the blessed
influences of the religion Of Jesus-woulo
we assert and maintain the dignity O
human nature-would we preserve tht
IL L. +ka lie