Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-01-22


lized countries land constitutes the
bulk of all property, yet it is not pro-
perty in the absence of law. What
idea Of property in land has the Co
manche Indian, or the Calmuc Tartar
To him the land is as free for his roam
ing as the air for his breathing or the
water for his drink. The wild Bedouin
will guard as his own his tent, his
camel, his wife ; but his laws are the
keenness of his scimetar, and the fleet
ness of his steed.
To secure property is one of the
paramount objects of government. but
how shall that security be attained
Has government the right to require
that the citizen who is totally ignorant
of the requirements of law, and who
has no means of obtaining a knowledge
of it. shall be punished for violation
of it? The government that assumes
the right TO take the life of human
being for an offense committed in ig-
norance Of law assumes a fearful re-
sponsibility, and yet the State assumes
that no one is ignorant of the law, and
holds every one responsible for its
violation, while she denies to him the
very knowledge she holds him respon-
sible for. The gospel holds the man
guiltless who violates the law in igno-
rance, For as many as have sinned
without law shall also perish without
law. (Rom. IL, 12) Then should not
government place in the hands of the
citizen the means of acquiring knowl-
edge of the law?
There is a moral and intellectual
power In the universal education of
the people which furnishes more secu-
rity for persons and property than can
be attained by the rigorous enforce
ment of law or the sterner mandates
of an overawing soldiery. The sup
port of pauperism and the detection
snd punishment of crime-the legiti-
mate offspring of ignorance-are af-
fected by the taxation of property.
! Would it not be infinitely better to
cut off that eternal drain upon property
by the esta blishment at far less exp xpense
of a system of public instruction. A
system SO universal that the poorest
and humblest may not be left without
the eleyating influence of knowledge.
A system so universal that the wretch
ed outcast may be reclaimed from vice
and crime, and placed upon the the
public high road to morality and vir-
tue. A system SO truly universal In
its aim and means that no over-zeal-
Gus opponent can publicly shame his
manhood by attacking it. A system
so begun in its influence that no carp
ing bigot can deny its goodness moral
| ly, or assail its usefulness. A system
SO symmetrical in its simplicity as to
resemble the. great military roads of
the Romans traversing and consolida-
ting the vast empire. Such system
would win alike the admiration of its
friends and the esteem and confidence
of its foes.
1t should be remembered by the
people Of the proud old commonwealth
Of Tennessee that she has hitherto
held an illustrious position in the sis
terhood of States. 1t should be re-
membered by Patrons of Husbandry
that of her million and quarter peo-
pie nearly one fourth are members of
our noble order. That of her 100000
children between the ages of six and
eighteen large proportion are the
children of grangers.
1t should be remembered that not
withstanding our hitherto unparalleled
success as an order, there has been
but little accomplished, comparatively
speaking, in securing the ultimate OBJ
jects of our organization. 1t should
be remembered that Rome was not
built in a day." That the result of
bringing order out of chaos, cannot be
effected in day, a year, or in ten
years. That the youth of the present
hour must become the actor in the fu-
ture. That ere the sun of our exis-
teuce shall have arisen to his zenith,
we the present actors in the drama
will have passed from the stage Of ac-
ton and our places will be filled by
the youth of the present day who are
to follow US. Is it matter of no So
licitude to us as to how our places are
to be filled? Is it a matter of small
moment to US as to how well these ac-
tors shall be prepared for the respon-
sible duties that shall devolve upon
them? Is it matter of no concern
to us that these very actors are to as
sumo more weighty responsibilities
than those which now devolYe upon
US? That from them, indoctrinated
in the conservative principles of our
order, must come our future legisla-
tors, statesmen and scientists? That
in the progress of its events it becomes
necessary to place the hand upon the
lions name and tame his raging fury
we will need men of unhinching direc-
tive ability? Is it matter of no con-
Germ to US that the very existence OF
our order, its maintenance and pros
perity, depends On the intelligence and
moral integrity of its membership
As an order we can accomplish
nothing without increased intelligence
'KNowLEGE IS Power" and its in.
crease and diffusion through every
grade of society is the best guaranty
. Of the perpetuity of our civil institu'
g tions and of the future increase of oul
, national prosperity. Neglect it, Pa
! irons, and our noble order now freight
. ed with the hopes and destinies of 81
6 many millions Of people will soon b.
numbered among the things that were
Open an avenue through which tn,
sun of knowledge may shed its ferviG
warmth upon the minds OF future gen
6 erations and the precepts of our noble
order will he sustained and its ;nfu