The Montana post., 1868-10-09
EDUCATIONAL.

caption, and we are pleased 10 learn
from it that our neighbor favors the
progress that has been made in tie
cause of education during the past fif-
teen wears. Great indeed has been that
progress The nation has reason 10 be
proud of it. But where did il originate
" Graded departments. extending from
the infant school of the nursery TO the
University of the State" of which our
neighbor speaks in terms of such high
commendation, commenced in poor old
despised Massachusetts, - that State
which our friend of the Gazette regards
as the source of national evils. As we
agree with him, however, in his views
on the subject of education, we will not
quarrel about a matter so unimportant
as that of the particular portion of our
people who gave it its present progress
sive impulse. A great many of the
grandest moral influences of our nation
first received attention in Massachusetts,,
some of them as long ago as the first
settlement by the Pilgrim Fathers. His
tory is not silent on this subject. While
the Cavaliers who first settled Virginia
were engaged in establishing splendid
estates, laying out hunting grounds,
and fashioning a material condition for
themselves, cOnformed TO the old-timed
customs of England as it was under the
reign of the Stuarts, the poor Pilgrims
of Plymouth were founding schools and
churches for the education
and nurture of the generations
which were To- succeed them.
The expensive habits and customs
adopted by the former, led to the intro-
duction and establishment of African
slavery both as a necessity and luxury,
the frugal and industrious habits of the
other, inculcated feeling of indepen-
dence which abhorred this institution
and rejected it, very soon after its intro
duction But we find no fault with our
neighbor. 1t is true, he advocates the
principles of party, which, in its com
position, in it's action, in all IFS efforts
to obtain power, is opposed to the SIM
plest elements of education. His party
does not wish that the great mass of for
eigners, who generally sympathize with
them, should be educated. An intelli,
gent exercise of opinion by them, of our
governmental necessity he knows would
convert them into enemies to his party
creed. Thoughtful men in these times,
would not be Democrats. Men whose
senses were not deluded by the mere
word Democracy" would not forget
their obligations to a government,
which afforded them protection, equal
rights, and universal suffrage. If the
system of education, which our neighbor
advocates so ably could be generally
adopted, this certainly would not be
the case.
Burke, whom Mr.. Webster styles "the
most consummate orator of modern
times" defines education to be"the cheap
defence of nations" Is it not 30? What
greater boon can be conferred upon the
people than to educate them, discipline
their minds to correct modes of thought,
to instruct them in the history of the
past, and to infuse into their natures a
correct idea of the grand object of exist
ence.
We agree with our neigh Dor, that of
all our facilities, the general diffusion of
educational facilities is the one of which
we most stand in need. In our Govern
irfp e Il. L., IL,
principle of the people. If we were a
Monarchy. honor would control us, and
in Despotism we would be governed
by fear but in a Republic, where the
people themselves are the rulers, if they
lose their virtue they must of necessity
dwindle into Anarchy. Hence the ne.
cessity here, more than any other spot
in the world, for the universal influence
of education. To descend from this
comprehensive view of the subject to
one adapted to our condition, we may
say, that the most important subject
which can to-day be presented to the con-
sideration of the people of Montana is
that of education. Our Territory. in its af-
ter life, will take it's character from it's
early influences-just as New England
was fashioned after the early proclivities
ofthe Plymouth pilgrims, or as the South
ern States received their teachings from
the jamestown settlers. We must have
free schools, graded schools, and schools
accessible to all our population. OF
course we must submit to heavy taxa
tion; but can taxation produce any more