American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-01-23

DesL -fnStfuctors are themselves. How
ever lib,ral the appropriations may be, if
these are not seconded by that commen>
dable spirit which impcls the parent to
impress upon the child the necessity of a
sound moial and intellectual training,
yaur representatives are generous, in vain
Every thing depends upon the people
hence the great complaint, preferred hy
the Convention of tcac hiss, of shortncss
OF terms in some districts, of the small
attendance of enrolled seholars, of the
employment of unqualified instructors,
and OF the want of proper school houses,
results unquestionably not so mach from
the indifference Of the State, as from the
negligence of tlose who are invited to
share and to enjoy the blessings of cheap
and admirable system Of popular cduca-
ton. If myfellow citizens will only rec
ollect the difference between the oppor-
tunitics of the present generation and
those of their fathers, and how much ia
to be gained by cultivation of modern
facilities they will require little cxhorta-
tion to the discharge Of duties which re-
late almost exclusively to themselves and
to those nearest and dearest to them.
The impoit; nee of oommoa schools, in
republican government, can never be
fully estimat ed. To educate the people
is the highest public duty. To permit
them to remain in ignorance is incxcusa-
Bile. Every thing, therefore, should be
encouraged that tends TO baild up,
strengthen and elevate our State on the
sure foundation of the education of the
people. Every interest and industrial
pursuit will be aided and p: omoted by its
operations; every man who is educated
is Improved in usefulness, in p . potion
as He is skilled in labor, or intelligent in
the professions, 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 rcbelled against the government.
Pennsylvania should be tho vanguard
In tho great mission of education She
should rem cmbor that as she has been the
mother of States, she should also be the
teacher of States The great problem
of civilization is hox 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
grades Of intelligence and morals shall
always be approaching the higher, and
the higher still rising. A church puri-
fed Of superstition solves part of this
problem, and a good school aystem does
the rest"
THE STATE MILITARY.
Nothing, after the education Of the
people, contributes moro to the security
of State than a thorough military sys-
tcm. The fathers Of the Rapublic, acts
Ing ulon the instinct of preparing for
war in time of peace, embodied this
knowledge among the primary obligations
of the citizen. Yet tho rebellion found
us almost wholly unprcparcd. Our con-
idenco in our institutions was so firm that
the idea of an attack 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 os
arms found us equally undeccived and
unorganized, and we very soon cxpcrien-
ced that the contrivers Of the great slave
conspiracy had MOI only strengthened
themselves by the stolen ships, arms and
Notifications of the government, but had
been for years designedly instructing their
youth in the science of arms; and when
the bloody tempest opened upon us they
were ready to spring at the heart of the
Republic, while the citizens, in whose
bands the government was left, were COM
pelled to protect themselves and their
country as best they could,
When we reflect upon the terrible sac
rificcs we endured to maintain our iibcr-
ties, and anticipate that glorious period
of our country when the whole continent
viii be dedicated tG human freedom, and
when the deepotisms of the earth will
construe our example into a standing
threat against their tyranny, we cannot
disregard the copsideration of this i'm
portant subject.
+, AS before remarked, Pennsylvania con-
tributed over three hundred thousand
troops to the national cause. Deducting
the loss of nearly thirty thousand by
wounds and disc Use incurred in the field,
what an immense army has been left to
circulate among and educate the mass of
our population (! Properly comprehend>