The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-02-07
Fer THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA.

place in the columns of a religious newspa-
per. The whole report is, indeed, far above
the average of such documents. Its high
moral and religious tone, no less than its
marked ability, must commend it to the ap-
prevail of every true friend of education and
of the public good. If by calling attention
to few points, some who might otherwise
neglect it, will be induced to give the whole
report that careful consideration which it
deserves, the object of the writer will be at
tanned.
Let us in the first place turn to where the
author comments on the folly of people
who complain of their poverty, and conse-
quent inability to maintain good system
of education, while they are squandering
ten fold the amount it would require on lux
ury and vice. l quote from page 81:
81 have endeavored to form some esti-
mate of the amount of wealth consumed,
without return, in Virginia, and although
the sources of information fail to furnish
exact figures, the indications are that it does
nog fall short Of $4,000, 900 per annum.
IL is not affirmed that all this expenditure
is improper, but only that it is destruction
of wealth. The annual consumption in
Virginia in alcoholic liquors alone must be
near S19,OOO,OOO The sales of liquors in
the United States during the fiscal year end
ing June Both, 1871, it has been calculated
by Edward Young, the chief of the Bureau
of Statistics, amounted to six hundred mil
lions of dollars. This total is made up as
follows: Sixty million gallons of whiskey, at
six dollars a gallon, retail, $500, 900.
Two and a half million gallons of imported
spirits, at ten dollars gallon, $25, 900, 900.
Ten million seven hundred thousand gallons
of imported wine, at five dollars gallon,
S53,500,000. Six million five hundred
thousand barrels of ale, beer, and porter, at
twenty dollars barrel, 100000. Ma,
tive braudies, wines, and cordials, in un-
known quantities, have been consumed, in
volving, it is estimated, an expenditure of
$31, 100000. These figures, although not
so large as some that have been published,
yet give total that should astonish the
consumers of ardent spirits. They give an
annual consumption of about sixteen dollars
worth of spirits to every man, woman and
child in the United States If the Virginia
people be average consumers, the amount
expended in Virginia is $19,000,000 per
annum. This, of course, includes what is
used for medicine; but probably ninety-nine
one-hundredths of it is used as beverage,
which, in the eye of political economy, is
destruction of that much of the wealth of
the State. If to the loss of wealth directly,
is added the waste of time, neglect of bust
ness, injury to health, disturbance of public
order, and many other individual losses,
what frightful tax it is upon the wealth of
the State.
There are a great many other wasteful
expenditures of less Importance, but which
would present large aggregate, if brought
together. Could we sum up the amounts
which are carried off by theatricals, circuses,
operas, lottery dealers, gift enterprises, jug
glers, and other exhibitors, gamblers, and
swindlers of all sorts, we should no doubt
find that the people of the State are expend-
ing several hundred thousand dollars on
these indulgencies. Add to this what is
spent in confectionery, ornaments, costly
furniture and equipage, expensive apparel,
and the amount would be enlarged by some
hundreds of thousands more. Could we
gather exact statistics on these and other
like expenditures, there is very little doubt
that the grand total would not be less than
$2O,0O0,0OO."
What could be more just than the follow
ing, (among other conclusions deduced from
the foregoing;
GAS long as within a State there is an
nual waste of income in amount far greater
than is wanted for the education of the chill
dren of the State, poverty cannot fairly be
plead as a reason for neglecting that duty.
If, by the diversion into the public treasury
of one-tenth of the capital now annually
going to waste, the education of the whole
population could thereby be provided for,
who can doubt the economy of the opera
tion?"
From what is said under the head of
"moral training" take the following, re-
marking by the way, that "the controversy
about the use of the Bible in the public
schools is to be deprecated, perhaps, in SO
far only as any portion of our citizens have
seen proper to array themselves against such
measure. The paramount authority of
the Bible is acknowledged in all our halls of
legislation and in all our courts of justice;
and furthermore, the religion it contains has
been ruled by our highest courts to be part
of the common law of the land. It's read
ing, without note or comment, therefore, in
every school of the land, would seem to be
a dictate of sound policy, as well as duty
to those who are TO be the future custodians
of the public welfare. This view is con-
frmed by every thing said in the report of
the duty of moral and religious training, for
the author himself would no doubt admit
that there is no morality nor religion worth
the name which has not its source in the
Scriptures.
cit is now generally admitted that the
State cannot properly teach religion. The
reasons against her doing so are conclusive,
but need not now be given. 1t does not fol-
low, however, that all Incidental illusions or
observances of religious character should
be forbidden. Where they can be intro
duced in an edifying and inofensive way they
should not be objected to; but the true the
DRY of civil government forbids the use of
State money or State authority in any way
that contravenes individual rights of con-
science. This whole controversy about the
IL -. 1