The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-31
mOnAL AND PnYsIoAL EDUoArION.

Much has been said and written of the
necessity of a universal literary education
especially in Republic, where it is as
sumed that the people govern themselves,
and therefore should be properly prepared
for the exercise of that priceless privilege.
No doubt book learning is an excellent
thing, but it viii not, of itself, be sufi-
cient preparation for securing all that is de
sirable to constitute a good free citizen
There must be moral and physical educa-
ton as well as literary. It is a great mis-
take to suppose that universal literary edu-
cation viii produce universal virtue, and
that if all our people could read and write
and cipher, crime would disappear from our
land. Reliable statistics show that the
number of criminals in Prussia, where lit
erary education is more universal than in
any other country of Europe, is smuch greater
than in France, where the mass of the
population can neither read nor write.
Why is thisl Surely not that the French
people are by nature more virtuous than the
Germans! They are more lively, thought
ess and impulsive than their Teutonic
neighbors, and one would suppose they
would be more likely to be led astray and
be guilty of crime. How then shall we ac-
count for this interesting fact in criminal
statisticsg We have no hesitation in say
ing, that we believe the difference is the re-
suit of the moral teaching of the Catholic
clergy of France, and the great and good
influence which they exert over the masses
of the people there. We are no Catholic,
by birth or training, and cannot be sup
posed to have any undue bias towards that
class of Christians. In fact, we arc Pro-
testant to the backbone, but liberal enough
to give all Christian denominations their
proper due. We mention this to show
the importance of moral culture, and
that merely literary education will
not secure an exemption from crime
anywhere. Highly educated people, in book
learning alone, are just as apt to commit
crimes as any others. Witness Eugene
Aram, Dr. Webster, and hundreds that
mightShe mentioned. Without a proper
moraltrainipg, cultivation Of the heart as
well as the hsad, the literary proficiency of
men and women,only enables them TO per
petrate criminal acts with more ease and IA
cIuIy. NnatISve Inuzt. .s.ss,l;.. tiais nauntrv.
at this time, is more universal, moral edu-
cation of all classes To prove what can be
done, without any knowledge Of books, we
would refer te.the rapid improvement OF the
negro race in the South, before the aboli-
ton of slavery, through the oral instruction,
given them by their masters and mistresses,
and the various Christian ministers and sun
day school teachers. There was less crime
then committed By this cllss Of people
than now. The old negro men and women,
who were trained and instructed un-
der this patriarchal system, are the
very best Of this race that we
have among us. The young blacks, Of
both sexes, who have already obtained a
sort Of A B edutssion through the insllu-
mentality Of the Ereedmans Bureau and
the common schools, are about the worst
The moral culture Of the blacks, since their
emancipation. has been neglected. and
hence they are ietrOgrading in manners and
virtue. win the noisy clsmorers for public
schools the year round. reflect on ihisi
Again. there Is not only moral hut ply
sical education needed. Children must be
Taught 10 work. The masses Of all coun-
tries. whether white or black. must work