The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-07-21

social disorders. How important is
knowledge in order to discover princi.
Piles and laws and apply them to our
social condition. In proportion MS we
lack this knowledge our wants and de.
sires are ungratiGcd, our sufferings
unrelieved. Ignorance is destructive
of our social we'll being and happi-
ness. The necessity of a general diff
fusion Of knowledge to the existence
of such government as ours, is too
plainly evident to need discussion
here. Who can estimate the mis-
chievous results of ignorance in
popular government Who can say
to what extent the text might be ap-
piled to our own country. "The peo-
plo are destroyed for lack Of knowl-
odgo 7" Universal suffrage, without
universal education, is universal an
archy-the utter destruction Of we'll.
regulated liberty.
The praotical inference from the
subject as thus far considered, is, that
the acquisition of knowledge is the
duty and interest of mankind. If
God has given lis a physical nature,
whose wants and sufferings arc provid-
ed for in tho material world, then it
is our duty to satisfy our lawful wants,
and remove our evils. We are bound
to acquire the knowledge requisite,
and apply it according to our ability
aud opportunity.
We are under still stronger obliga-
tions to develop our intellectual and
emotional nature-reason, imagina-
ton, taste, by acquiring all the knowl,
edge of science, philosophy, art, poe.
try, music, SO far as We have the
means, and satisfy our rational aclivi-
ties and desires. We have as much
right to destroy our bodies, as our
minds by starvation. 1t is criminal
to allow either to perish for lack of
knowledge. AS rational creatures it is
criminal to be sati,6ed with food, raj
ment and shcltcr-to live in log
house, and forego all the innocent ro.
finemcnt of civilization, when we have
the means of surrounding ourselves
with the comforts, conyeniences, and
elegancies Of life, which arc fitted to
refine, and elevate our higher nature.
1t is our duty to adorn our dwellings,
with works of art, to bless our homes
with the harmonies of music, which
have more affinity for heaven than
earth: to cultivate and crafty the
Imagination with knowledge of all
that is poetical in nature, history, and
religion. Our Creator never gave us
these faculties, surrounded us with
all that is filled to develop and salts
fly them, to be trampled under the
sensual feet of the world and tho
fesh-of passion and lust. We are
bound to develop the nature we have
to its utmost capacity. AS we have the
means and opportunities of culture,
it is our interest as we'll as our duty.
| AS members of society, it is our
duty to acquire and apply all posi-
bic knowledge essential to promote it's
welfare, The prosperity of society
depends upon the maintenance of all
our civil, educational and religious
institutions, and this depends upon
,veaM. Each member is bound to do
all he can to add to the material wealth
of society for this end. Il is his in
forest as we'll as his duty to make
some personal sacrifice for the public
good. We are bound to do all we
can to secure tho education and eleva.
tion of every member of society, and
to contribute of our time, talents,
money and influence, to esta ablish pub.
lie schools, and support existing insti-
tutions of learning, that all men may
have the means Of acquiring that
knowledge which is essential to their
own welfare, and the well-being of
society. TO the extent that we fail
to fulfil this obligation, we are respon-
sible for the mischieyous consequences
of ignorance to society, and for the
fate OF the people who are "destroyed
for lack of knoledgc."
The Importance of knowledge to
moral and spiritual being may be
argued on two grounds.
|. The intimate connection between
the rational and moral natures---be-
tween the operations of reason and Con-
science. It is the Office of reason to
analyze the facts of our moral nature
the phenomena of conscience, and
generalize code of morals. It is q
function of the reason, also, to deter
mine the occasions and circumstances
to which specific rules are applicable (;
in other words, to examine facts, to
weigh evidence, and ascertain truth
in particular GASES, to do for the con-
science, what lawyers do for the
Jury, in examining Witnesses, and
elioiting evidence. If the evidence
be false, the jury must render false
verdict for they judge not according
to the real facts in tho case, but the
representation, whether true or false.
Thus, if the intellectual faculties do
not elicit the truth from given facts
and circumstances, conscience must
pronounce false judgement. Hence