Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-10


be successful in either profession. But We
also want educated men in every department
of life. and especially educated mechanics.
In the olden time, when a voyage TO Eu-
rope could be accomplished in six or eight
weeks; when a stage coach might make
five miles an hour when IL took nearly as
long to perform journey from Washington
to Albany. as it now takes to go from Phil
adelphia to San Francisco. and when the mag
netic telegraph would have been pronounced
to be an invention Of the devil and the oper
ators his imps, it can be well understood
that educated men We're not in the greatest
demand But now behold the change Upon
every sea our steamers plough the waters at
great velocity, driv n by engines of marvel
Gus construction; upon land locomotives
sweep, with lighting speed, over a boundless
continuity of iron track, IN suns hlne and IN
storm, by day and by night.
The four corners Of the earth, now brought
together by steam and telegraph, open to
the merchant a magnificent field of opera
ton, while the financial affairs of two cont
merits rivit the gaze of every inancier.
The farmer no longer depends upon the
labor of bis hands, but directs the movement
OF some wonderful machine to gather the
crops which he has planted.
The steamer should be commanded by ed
ucated men.
The engine should be driven BY educated
engineers.
No merchant can comprehend a com
merce which encircles the globe unless he is
educated. An ignorant banker in an absurd
ity, while scientific knowledge in farmer,
will make even 4 barren wilderness to bloom
and blossom ike the rose.
We have heretofore sroken of educated
mechanics.
1t is profound mistake to suppose that a
mechanic should not be an educated man.
Some men labor with their brains alone,
while others work with hands and brafn
Both kinds OF labor are honorable, aud our
country requires both.
The fact is we need skilled mechanics,
and the next generation will condemn US if
we do not see it. that as class these efficient
and hol ored laborers do not disappear al
together
The apprentice system provided an admir-
able method by which the young men were
not only protected from the contauiinating
influence of vice, but educated, not only n
what is called a knowledge of books, out in
thorough and practical acquaintance with
various trades. Ii seems, however, in some
quarters, To be supposed that too many
youths may be instructed, and that thus the
value OF the trades will be destroyed by
creating Unnecessary and dangerous compe
tltIon.
1t those who thus argue will but reflect
upon the growing nature of the popu
iatation, the vast wants OF our large and con
antly Increasing cities, aud of our whole
country, they will see that the demand must
equal the supply, and the supply will in
crease the demand. At any rate, the prin-
eiple is sound which demands good educa
ton for every child, adapted to his or her
peculiar character aud situation in life and
thorough IN every particular.
Having referred to the present need for
educated men, shall now speak in conclu-
sion of their future. This nation is destined
to play a conspicuous par: in the future his
tory OF the world; it seems to have been the
design Of the Almighty to locate this Re
public in geographical position which alone
will insure its greatness.
Our wealth is unbounded, and as it is to
a great extent undeveloped, educated men
must develop it. In a short time our vast
Western domain will be thickly populated.
II the Republic is to live forever, our form
of government must be understood, and
therefore the people and their children must
be taught, while the moral, social. and re-
hgious welfare of all cannot be neg ected
What future field OF labor and of tri
umph does this open to the gaze of educated
men, and where are those who shall sh are
these labors and earn these rewards?
From our schools, here and elsewhere
yes, and from Hts school also-shall they
some.
Parents, ,ich and poor, see to it that your
child is educated he may yet rival in repu-
tation those engineers who tunnel noun
| tainS, span great rivers, and with mary eious
skill surmouut, as by magic and every Diff
III yyt m, 4 f,a
inplishments oftheir designs Perhaps
that child may yet instl into the minds oi
the masses pure principles OF constitution
al liberty, aud thus perpetuate the Govern
ment-a mighty co-laborer with Washing
ton and the founders of the Republic. The
/ child may now be born in this district, who
! shall yet minister to the moral and religious
welfare of tie people, and by acts of pure
| benevolence and Chr stian devotion risa
! the labors and receive the rewards Of the
revered dead those saints of all ages, whose
ceaseless anthems of alteration and praise
roll before the throne.
| The inventativc genius of our countrymer
! has astonished the world. Is it possible thai
/ the utmost limit of invention, investigation
and discovery has been reached? No. Vast
as has been our progress, the century vii
not close before We ourselv es shall be aston
| ished at some new discovery or invention o
genius, which will but add to our nationa
reputation and to the progress of the human
| race.
| Ii is not 10 much too say that to the teach
ers of the United States. and those under
whose advise and control they act, must the
human race look with the profoundest inter
] est 1t cannot be otherwise This land i.
washed by the waters of two oceans, fillec
| with exhaustless material wealth, with ever
variety of climate, aud of production. In
terlocked with ribs of iron and nerves o
wire, the East already embraces the Wesi
in that frasernal concord which indicate;
| boih perpetuity and strength
Soon the shrill whistle of the locomotive
! shall awaken the eastern soitndes of the
Rocky Mountains while the thunder of the
through train shall shake its western slopes
and then the wealth of India, China. ano
Japan are at our feet. What does all that
mean? IF / mistake not, it indicates pow.
er-the power of the nation. Shall 1t be
welded by ignorant men or by the edrca'
! ted
This question can easilv be solved when
/ knowledge in its most comprehensive sense
| shall be as common among the people a:
the iron and coal deposits of this Common
wealth, and the fruits of her fields are
abundant. Ye legislators, be generous, ev.
ermore lend a ready ear to the cause of the