Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-16
PIONEERS

We are accustomed to think of pi-
Oneer life rs confined to the constant.
ly advancing western frontier of our
land, but in Il country like the United
states, we are all in some sense nion-
GERS
The pioneers mission is to subdue
the wilderness, make it habitable for
mankind, and prepare the way for the
dense population that shall follow.
We think this work done because
block.house forts are replaced by rail-
road dePots, aud scattered frontier
farms 10y towns and cities. But in "a
country of the vast extent and re-
sources aud the, Us yet, scanty popula-
ton of our own, we have in truth, on
Iy entered on secondary stage Of
/ pioneer life.
The contrast between our land ia the
. days of John Sewer, Simon Kenton
and Daniel Boone aud at the present
day, is hardly greater than that which
to-day will present to thefutureor a few
generations hence.
/ England with all her millions does
not greatly differ in size from Tennes-
see. France and Prussia, either of which
has population not greatly differing
in numbers from that of the United
States could both be carved out of our
broad Western expanse of prairie and
mountain without seriously diminish
ing our place on the map of North
/ America. British India alone has a
/ population several times as large As
that of our great Republic.
I We to-day owe a sacred duty to the
millions, who are to occupy the land
in the future. If the pioneer who
bridges the stream and clears the for
est path for the feet of those who fol-
low him, and plants the trees in whose
shade and fruit his chlldren's children
shall rejoice is entitled to the need Of
duty faithfully done, no less is he who
lays deep and broad and sound the
/ foundations OF society in prin-
ciples and institutions which
shall bless his posterity long
after bis earthly work is finished. The
America of generations hence will
bear the impress of the thoughts and
the labors Of the America of to-day.
Is there any cause, save that Of re-
ligion, that will by our care bestow
greater blessings upon our country,
not only at the present but In the gen
erations to come, than the great cause
Of popular education Is there any
which has already yielded richer re-
wards, both in our own and other
nations, or any the neglect of which
has been more keenly and disastrously
felt?
The day has gone by when the sub
ject of the benefit of general education
| need be considered as one needing dis
cussion. Our common schools lie at
the root of our national intelligence,
progress and prosperity. But we need
an increase of zeal in the cause, a una
nimity of action, a fervOr of purpose.
before which opposition shall retire
abashed, and lethargy be shamed into
activity,
On subject of this kind party poll
tics and individual animosities should
alike be unknown. Our community
should be a unit, as if called to reap
together some rich common harvest.
or stay by united effort the flames of a
conflagratiOn that threatened our
homes.
Much is to be done by wise aud lib
eral legislation, much, too, by the
faithful efforts of teachers and school
officers, but all these means will fail of
their full measure of success, unless
supported by Jealous public seuti>
ment.
We should feel that the cause of our
schools is one which closely and deeply
affects each of us as a citizen, a cause
ultimately allied both with the mate.
rial progress and the welfare, social
and moral, of our entire community.
And, feeling thus, we should lose no
opportunity, public or private, of ex-
erting all our influence in its behalf,
and aiding TO promote its efficiency
and success. Let us do so, and we
shall be richly repaid, not only in the
future but in the present.
THERE is evidently large number
Of people in this country who look
with some degree of pleasure, at every
successful attempt to blacken the
character Of Christian minister. Nor
Is this disposition confined exclusively
to " men of the world" as the phrase
goes, Protesting Christians sometimes
look on with i'll concealed complacen.
cy at the mishaps Of ministers, not Of
their sect or creed. II one falls, they
MANTLE "a tligHpafti,,, 10 gnf,, -.