Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-15
Influence Of Woman.


by DANIEL WEBSTER.
1t is by the promulgation Of sound
morals 10 the community, and more es-
pecially by the training and instruction Of
the young, that woman performs her part
towards the preservation Of free govern
ment. 1t is generally admitted that pub
lie liberty, the perpetuity Of n free con-
stitution, rests on the virtue and intelli.
gence Of the community which enjoys IL.
How is that virtue to be inspired, and
how is that intelligence to be communi
Gated? Bonaparte once asked Madame de
Stael in what manner he could most pro-
mote the happiness Of France. Her re-
ply is full Of political wisdom. She
said: "Instruct the mothers of the French
people," Mothers are, indeed, the affcc-
tionate aud effective teachers Of the hu-
man race. The mother begins her process
Of training with the infant in her arms.
II is she who directs, so to speak, its first
mental and spiritual pulsations. She
conducts il along tho impressive years Of
childhood and youth, aud hopes to dcliv-
er IL to the rough contest and tumultuous
scenes Of life, armed by those good prin-
ciplcs which her child has received from
maternal care and love.
If we draw within the circle Of our
contemplation the mothers Of civilized
nation, what do we sce9 We behold so
many nrti6cers working not on frail and
perishable matter, but on the immortal
mind, moulding and fashioning beings
who are TO exist forever. Wo applaud
the artist whose skill and genius present
the mimic man upon the canvas; we ad-
miro the celebrated sculptor who works
out that same image in enduring marble;
but how insignificant aro these achieve.
ments. though the highest and fairost in
oil the departments Of art, In comparison
with the great vocation Of human mothersl
They work, not upon the canvas that shall
fail, or the marble that shall crumble into
dust, but upon mind, upon spirit, which
Is 10 last forever, and which Il 10 bear, for
good or.evil, throughout Its duration, the
impress Of mothers plastic hand.
Our 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 educa.
tion. knowledge does not comprise all
which Is contained In tho larger term Of
education. The feelings arc TO be dis.
eiplined; n profound religious feeling Is
TO be instilled and pure morality inculca.
ted under all circumstances. All this IL
comprised in education. Mothers who arc
faithful TO this great duty, will tell their
children that neither in political nor in
any other concerns Of life can man ever
withdraw himself from the obligations Of
conscience and Of duty; that in every act,
whether public or private, he incurs a just
responsibility; and that in no condition
is hc warranted in trifling with important
rights and obligations. They will i'm.
press upon their children the truth, that
le exercise of the elective franchise is q
social duty Of ns solemn a nature as man
can be called to perform; that a man may
not innocently trine with his vote; that
every free elector is trustee, as we'll for
oil others as himself; and that every man,
and every measure he supports, has an i'm.
portant bearing on the Interest of others
as well as your own. IL is the inclina-
ton Of high and pure morals, such as
those, that, in n free Republic, woman
performs her sacred duty, aud fuldlls her
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