Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-02-26
An Essay delivered by A. l.. Brooke,
before the Walnut Township insti.
Lute.

In what 10 educate! mas become QueS-
t.cn of interest. under our liberal system,
as well as how To educate? 1t is not the
idea of our Common School System" to
produce many brilliant authors, or lend
to the sciences many minds versed in all
the laws CT Natures books, from the
ranks of those who are daily marching
up to her temples to gather the clustered
fruits of her branches. But it is her de-
sign to accomplish nobler work in that
she may give back to the Nation a mass
Of true, worthy and intelligent citizens,
fully able to perform all the duties that
may fall to their lot.
The task of disciplining our accomp-
lished professionals, theologians, etc., is
left to the colleges anu universities of our
land. But, whilst this is left to private
Ior sectarian enterprise, the common
school system has an equally arduous
task to perform, and, think. more i'm
portant one. It has been said that homes
ty, patriotism and fidelity of our states
men, depend, aud not to very limited
extent, upon the mothers of the Nation.
But am glad that can truthfully make
the assertion that there is an agency
coming up to their assistance. It's light
is already seen approaching from the east
and not many decades shall pass till all
our fertile valleys, plaias, and even the
m0rrtain sides of our whole country will
be dotted with her temples for the con.
venience of those who may choose to
worship at her shrine, and gather her
golden fruits without money and without
price. These accommodations will be
furnished by the paternal hand of the
Nation; and, as time advances, they will
grow in number and in beauty. But, al
though these educational workshops may
be spread throughout our lovely land
they will stand and uselessly decay un-
less filed with competent corps of in
structors. These Temples of Learning
are only needless expenditure of time
and money. All these accommodations
amount to nothing unless the great army
of instructors are fully competent to i'm.
part, not only mental, but moral instruc.
tions. The hundreds of thousands oil
children who are going daily in search ol
knowledge. must, in time, be the anima
ting substance that fills the channels
leading to the great heart of the Nation
Unless this life-going substance be pure
and healthy, this vital organ cannot help
but be diseased. The internittlng pull
sations of corrupted humanity, destroys
the domestic happiness OF peaceful
homes, and breaks the chains that bin6
kindred hearts together around the fami
ly altar, and thus destroys all the endear
ments that hold US true to our home and
Nation. Nothing but an unbiased educa
ton can overcome these difficulties, anG
secure to us the blessings so dear to ar
American heart. Man is more than 8
mental and physica, being; and true
education must consist in more than 9
mental and a physical development. /
we educate the head alone and not tht
heart, the lAtter must become impaired
and, finally, all moral vitality be crushed
cut. Devote all your energies TO th'
mind alone aud you are only encouraging
nature, perhaps alleady corrupted, t.
acts of violence, made more cruel by be
ing clothed in an educated garb, and NOR
acute BY having the aid OF quickenet
perception. This education OF the mint
alone, Is only constructing forges wher'
false keys will be shaped by which th'
wicked will be enabled to turn the mos
secure bolts, and discover the most sa
cred precincts Of hearth and Zone. I
fills our highways with scienced robbers
1t stations false friend In almost ever,
public coach, who, with his winning