The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-15
rnnusnss Or women.
BY DANIEL WEBSTER.

It is by the PRONUNCIATION Of sound morals
in the community, and more especially by
the training and instruction Of the young,
that woman performs her part toward the
preservation of free government II IL
generally admitted that public liberty, the
perpetuity of free constitution, rests on the
virtue and intelligence Of the community
which enjoys il. How is that virtue to be
inspired, and how is that intelligence to be
conmunicated2 Bonapartc once asked
Madame de Stael in what manner he could
most promote The happiness of France. Her
reply ia full of political wisdom. She said:
"lnstrnct the mothers ofthe French people,
Mothers are. indeed, the affectionate and ef-
fectiye teachers of the human race. The
mo.ner oeelns ner process Of teaching with
the infant ia her arms. 1t is she who directs,
so to speak, its first mental and spiritual pull
ss,iona. She conducts it along the impressi-
Bile years OF childhood and youtn, and hopes
10 deliver il to the rough contests and tufhalt.
nous scenes of life, armed By those good
principles which her child has received from
maternal care aud love.
If we draw within the circle of contempla-
ton the mothers Of civilized nation, what do
we see? We behold so many artihcers work
ing, not on frail and perishable matter, but
on the immortal mind, moulding aud fashion
ing beings who are to exist forever. We ap-
plaud the artist whose skill and genius pre-
sent the mimic man upon the canvass; we ad-
mire the celebrated sculptor who works ont
that same image in enduring marble; but
how insignificant are these achievements,
though the highest and fairest IN all the de-
partments of art, in comparison with the
great vocation of human mothers They
work, not upon the canvass that shall fail, or
the marble that shall crumble into dust, but
upon mind, upon spirit, which is to last for
ever, and which is to bear for good or evil.
throughout its duration, the impress of a
mothers plastic hand.
1 Oar security for the duration Of the free
institutions which bless our country depends
upon the habits of virtue and the prevalence
of knowledge and Of education. knowledge
does not comprise all which is contained in
the larger term of education. The feelings
are TO be disciplined; a profound religious
feeling is TO be instlled, and pure morality
sinculcated under all circumstances. All this
is Comprised in education. Mothers who are
faithful to this great dGty, will tell their chill
dren that neither in political nor in any other
concerns of life can man ever withdraw him
self from the perpetual obligations OF con
science and of duty that in every act,
whether public or private. he incurs o just
responsibility and that in no condition is he
warranted in trfine with important rights
and obligations. They will impress upon
their children the truth, that the exercise Of
the elective franchise is social duty, Of Is
aolemn a nature as man can be called to per
form that a man may not innocently trihe
with his vote; that every free elector is a
trustee. as well for all others ashimself; and
that every man, and every Measure as sup>
ports has an important bearing on the inter
ests of others as we'll as his own. 1t is the
inclination of high and pure morals, such Is
these, that, in a free republic, woman per
forms her sacred duty, and fal6lls her des-