Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-02-01

Il
West have comparatively little to do but to
complete the GOOD work. ikey command
the position The courage Of he soldier and
the sagacity of the statesman working har--
moniously. have now sealedand confirmed
the victory. and nothing moe is required
but faithful adherence to the doctrines
which have achieved such marvellous re-
suits.
The overthrow Of the rebellion has chang
ed the whole system of Southern society,
and proportionally affected cher interests
and sections. Demanding tie enlightment
of millions, long benighted, { forces upon
the North and West the confederation Of a
more perfect and lervadiIg educational
policy.
Much as we have bdasted, and have rea-
son to boast, Of our common schools, we
cannot deny, when we conpare them with
those Of New England, and contrast them
with the preparations for he education OF
the Southern people of allclasses, that we
have much to overcome, il we would equal
the one or stimulate the oher The recent
convention of County Scbol Superintend-
ents of Pennsylvania exhibits some start
ling facts, which deserve the attention of
the people and their representatives. Yet
it is not by legislation alop that any people
can be brought to understand their relations
TO each other as citizens Their best in
structors are themselves. However liberal
the appropriations may be If these are not
seconded by that commenCable spirit which
impels the parent TO imprss upon the child
the necessity of a sound, moral and intel
lectual training, your representatives. are
generous. in vain. Everything depends
upon the people hence tie great complaint
preferred by the convention OF teachers, OF
shortness Of terms in some districts, of the
small attendance of ennlled scholars, of
the employment of Unqualified instructors,
and of the want of proplr school houses,
results unquestionably, net so much from
the Indifference of the State, as from the
negligence Of those who are invited to share
and enjoy the blessings of cheap and ad-
mirable system of popular education. If
my fellow citizens will only recollect the
difference between tho opportunities Of the
present generation and those of their fa-
theirs, and how much is to be gained by q
cultivation of modern facilities, they viii re-
quire but little exhortation to the discharge
Of duties which relate most exclusively to
themselves and to those nearest and dearest
to them
The importance Of common schools, in a
republican government can never be fully
estimated. To educate the people is the
highest public duty. To permit them to
remain In ignorance is inexcusable. Eve
rything. therefore, should be encouraged
that tends to build up, strengthen
and elevate our State on the sure
foundation Of the education of the peo.
pie, Every interest and industrial pur-
suit will be aided and promoted by its ope-
TatIOns every man who is educated Is i'm
proved IN te5cfolllOas. j.. proportion as he il
skilled in labor, or intelligent ia the profcs
sions, and is in every respect more valuable
to society Education seems to be essential
to loyalty, for no State in the full enjoyment
OF free schools ever rebelled against the GOV.
ernment
Pennsylvania should be the vanguard Of
education. She should remember that as
she has been the mother of States, she
should also be the teacher of States. The
problem Of civilization is how to bring the
higher intelligence Of the community, and
its better moral feelings, to bear upon the
masses of the people, so that the lowest
grade of intelligence and morals shall al
ways be approaching the higher, and be still
rising. A church purified of superstition
solves part of this problem, and a good
school system does the rest
Nothing after the education of the peo-
pie, contributes more to the security of q
State, than thorough military system. The
fathers OF aRepublic, actingupon the instinct
ofpreparing for war in time of peace embod
led this knowledge among the primary OBJ
legations Of the citizen. Yet the rebel
lion found US almost wholly unprepared
Our confidence in our Institutions was SO
firm that the idea Of an stack upon them
from any quarter, much less from those
who had been the spoiled children" of the
government, was never believed possible,
however threatened. The first clash oi
arms found us equally undeeeived and unor
ganlzed, and We very soon experienced that
the contrivers of the great slave conspiracy
had not only strengthened themselves by the
stolen ships, arms and Qualifications Of the
government, but had been for years desi gn
edly lnstructlng their youth in the science
Of arms and when the bloody tempest
opened upon US they were ready to spring a
the heart OF the Republic, while the citi
zens, in whose hands the government was
left, were compelled to protect themselves
and their country as best they could.
When We reflect upon the terrible sacrif
ces we endured to maintain our liberties
anticipate that glorious period of our coun
try, when the whole continent will be dedi
Gated to human freedom, and when the des
potisms Of earth will construe our example
into standing threat against their tyrrany
we cannot disregard the consideration o.
this important subject.
As before remarked, Pennsylvania contrib
uted over three hundred thousand troops t
the national cause Dedueting the loss O.
nearly thirty thousand by wounds and dis
ease incurred in the field, what an immens,
army has been left to circulate among anC
to educate the mass of our population
Properly comprehending this thought, VIZ
have at once the secret of our past success
our present safety and our future power. L
would be easy to create an emulation in the
science Of arms among the youth of the
State. by proper organization, and to dis
seminate, in all our schools, that loyalty to
the whole country, without which there can
be no permanent safety for our liberty.
In their late report, the visitor.
laid a significant stress upon the ne.
cessity of such preceptors, in the fu.
ture, as would teach the students Of that
institution their first and unavoidable obi
cations to the principles upon which the
government itself reposes. The neglect OF
this kind of instruction was felt in almost
every movement during the recent conflict
and it is not going too far to say that many
who disregarded their oaths, and who drew
their swords against the government that
had educated and nourished them, found a
neretricious consolation in the fact tina;
they were permitted to cherish an allegiance
to the State in which they we're born, which
conAiete,i with and DESTROYED that love of