The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-21
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
The EducatIon OF the masses.

The Education of the Masses.
We published some days ago series
OF reasons by n certain DIR. Fosgate, OF
New York, in regard to the increase OF
crime, one of them being the tendencies
of the common school system. We took
occasion to express our dissent. and
surprise, and remarked that we were
unable to see the force of his logic. We
observe that Lord John Russell, from
whom such sentiments might more
properly have emanated than from a
literally educated American, has re-
Gently been making a speech on the
education of the working classes, in
the course of which he expresses views
and feelings much more befitting the
age In which we live than those put
forth by DIR. Fosgate. We quote as fol-
lows from his speech:
81 am very proud of the honor OF
having been elected President OF these
schools, more particularly as it is an
establishment having for its object the
providing of education for class that
cannot perhaps we'll provide 1t for
themselves. 1t seems to me that what
ever we may do in Parliament with
reference to-the comforting upon vast
numbers of the working and
the small householders the right of vo-
ting, we ought 10 takO care to do what
we hitherto have not done-that is, we
ought to see that those persons are toll
erably educated, that they go to school
in early life, and that they at least
know something of the three RS
reading, writing, and arithmetic
ILaughter.l lido not think that II is too
much to ask that this should be done.
[Hear.l Certainly hitherto that task
mas not been satisfactorily performed.
Hear, hear.l For my own part, en-
these schools to my futher's friend
sixty years ago he became a
friend and patron of the system of
education started by Joseph Lancas.
ter, and one of my earliest recOllections
is, when boy, putting on Joseph Lam
CASTERS broad hat and mimtcking his
manner of salutation. A Taught 1
must say that from that time to this l
have never changed my mind regard
ing these schools. The education of
those who cannot well afford to pay for
it, Is, consider, very serious matter,
so serious a matter that should not
like to dilate upon 1t at any length Just
now. II has always seemed to me a
very great injustice that we mako our
laws fall SO heavily upon those who
commit offences, while we do not teach
them in early youth the way in which
they may avoid the committal of these
offences. = Hear, hear. Ii seems 10 me
to be a great injustice that, in this coun-
try, where we have the means for open
ing schools, we employ all the rigors
of imprisonment against those who
break through the laws, and not give
them the knowledge whereby they may
be enabled to avoid those offences.
Such being the case, 7 have al
ways been in favor OF the British
schools, because they are schools
for all, asWilliam Allen used to say.
II was absolutely necessary that these
schools should be in their nature secu-
lar, but they should also be religious.
The religious teaching given them in
these schools should not, however, be
OF the sectarian character. LHear,
hear.l It was, no doubt, desired that
the children. should learn that particu-
lar form of doctrine to which their
parents were attached, and which was
most consistent with their feelings; but
while they are young boys and girls at
school, they ought TO be made to know
what Christ has taught and what the
Apostles have preached, for by these
preeepts will they be'enabled to proper
ly guide their conduct through life.
Hear, heard Ladies' and gentle
men, l trust the schools opened
to-day may flourish. 1 trust that
no very great deal OF time will
slapse before the children attending
them may learn much; that the instruc-
tIon received here may benefit them
through life; and that after fitting them
selves forthose pursuits to which they
may be called, they may have the time
and the inclination to further
themprovel themselves. IApplAuse.l
Fam sorry to be obliged TO have to say
that there are many countries in Eu-
rope in which public instruction has
been better provided for than in this,
but We have in England what trust
we shall never part with. In this
country these boys and girls who. re-
celve education in such Institutions as
this are fully at liberty to follow their
conscientious convictions, and to speak
and write without fear OF pun
ishment what they believe to
be true and good, / am happy that
such excellent schools as these are es-
.tablished in this neighborhood, and
ITust that those who have charge of
them Will attend as much to the health
OF the children as 10 their Intellectual
instruction. UH- a.s .lf575- nj ~