Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-08
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1870.
Education "a Necessity i'm Popular
Government.

The tendency OF popular governments
is ever toward licentiousness, and they
rush into anarchy and ruin from relaxing
those necessary restraints of law and mo-
rality which o wise sovereign will impose
to retain the political system within iss
proper orbit This tendency cannot be
restrained, except by a clear perception of
the necessity Of established rules, vigor-
Gus perseverance in enforcing them, and
a cheerful obedience in yielding to their
requirements. In Z republican govern
meut these rules ere in Ell. ct self imposed,
and it requires no little intelligence to
perceive those which are essential, and nc
little OF aelfdouying virtue both to create
and regard the necessary restraints. It is
therefore quite obvious, and the idea can
not be too often rePeated. that free insti-
buttons demand for their security and
preservation the prevalence of general in
telligence aud practical virtue among the
mass Of the people Upon them is cast
the high responsibilities Of sovereignty
and they cannot cTe3irably arquit them
selves of the important trust, without un-
dersttnding the nature and scope of the
functions which they exercise, and with,
out the virtue to exercise those functions
prudently and wiaely.
We can we'll conceive that the oondi-
ton OF q people is deplor4ble who
are governed by an ignorant, be-
sotted, Passiouats and caprioious
ruler; but we can we'll understand
that the evils of such 8 government are
nothing TO the mi-eries inflicted by an ig-
norant, debesad, corrupted people who
have all the power Of sovereignty in their
own hands. 1t is the difference betwet
one aud legion of evil spirits; and that
people who haye thus converted their
blessings into curses, is happy If it can
find refugs in the sternest despotism from
the anarchy aud disorder which they have
themselves induced. To avoid the wreck
which has been the fate Of popular gov
ernment-, constant and persevering atten-
tion 10 the education and Information OF
the peope ia Indispensable. They can
neither perform well or wisely the high
functions of sovereignty, unless imbued
with practical intelligence; and hence it
is the first duty of a republic to provide
for the education of its citizens. This IL
q duty of necessity imposed by the great
law Of self preservation.
Unless intellgence.is diffused to the
same extent that power is conferred, ig
norance ia armed with weapons that may
be used in blind but mischievous hostil
ity to the best interests of society. The
elective franchise is q dangerous power in
the hands of ignorance, and as that pow
or has been given 10 the people, the duty |
becomes the more imperative to see thai |
there is comp tratively no ignorance; tha'
the intellectual character of those whr
WELD that power is elevated to such |
standard that they may use it safely and
wisely-for good and not for evil The
early settlers were prob bly, better fitted
to take upon items Ives the responsibility
OF self government than wero any other
people. Their mind We're Allied with the
contempt alton OF high and euuobing ob.
jects. Their grsas purpose was the en-
joymeut Of civil ard religious freedom,
and they wished It 10 Uaacerd az o high
heritage TO the people which should crowd
this continent. Ehay saw that education
was necesesry aseue in the accomplish
ment Of theic purpo,e ard with q rare
wisdom and ralsidtraro 53rcRighr, before
the forests even wer. c'esrcd, made pro-
vision for the education OF their children.
From this mas come oGr system OF
general education, by which successive
generations have boon enlightened, and |
which has been 40 protected and improved |
that it has beaa lara6ca.ly and widely |
diffusea, 1.-THE population OF tho country
had been couhped to The le-caudaots OF
the omigranJ fathers il would have per
haps perpotu.te1 icsejf. But there are
circumstances cnunecg-a with cur po}iti |
cal condition watch demand the exercise |
Of unremittiaE diligence au4 perseveriDg |
effort. Our ir-.ftutiora ala laws hold |
ont iavrt-t.ons to dc H1aneer Ind The
foreigner 10 come pna awoU with us, and
domesncate themselves in the great fam
lily of ,bc Republic, and parasze equally
with MS the benefits OF our free institu
tons Tbo-" who have .m0racei the Of
fer ucc3rdiaE To liza tarma, are Ivy every
principal OF justice and oquify, entitled tt
The fun benefits o., the promised udvan
tages' The rights acquired under then
cannot be justly questioned, and be wh'
would at tins hour OF our history and ez-
PeHenc' "'',nE' 10 7"" J@alousleS "n0
ed oitiz .,.s. or ln5nair iu anv degree the
privileges guaranteed to them would &C,
unwively as welt as uuiustly. All these
different in habits, language and preju,
doss must be imbued with the spirit
e 1900 s...-.,.: .-.- .l.. 49, , =