The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-06-14

ed law makes no distinction between the
sexes-therefore, neither cline nor race
nor sex should be recognized as a reason
for denying to any part of the human race
an education whose object is the improve,
ment of the soul and whose effects will
last through eternity" The statement
that women are not teachers has ever been
false, and doubly so now since they have
| gained access TO the school room and have
shown marked ability to perform their
duties there. We believe woman's infiu-
ence will be greater soon, for now, at
last, our pulpits being opened for her to
proclaim in voice clear and calm the
way to eternal life. But we would not
limit woman's education and use of edu-
| catlon 10 teaching and preaching only,
| put would that she may, without feeling
| OF lncapacity, seek professors chair or q
seat In the Senate chamber. And now,
the as yet unanswered question of "wo-
| man suffrage" arises. We have opposi-
ton in this form that it is for the good of
the country that woman's status should be
as it is:-such men boldly assume that
which is contrary to reason and common
sense, and since all evidence of history is
In our favor, we repeat most earnestly
with j. G. Jackson, Gin Gods name, in
mans name, in the name of liberty, just
lot for the women of America" that with
the banner of the Prince of Peace float
ing over US, more love and and happiness
may abound, we may sing sweeter songs
than ever before.
GEO. W. CLARKE Of Drakeville, Iowa,
then took the stand and delivered, to our
mind, the best Grafton of the commence
ment, entitled "The Philosophy Of Re-
FORM" Mr.. Clark dealt in questions IA
miliar to all, but none the less of vital
Importance, alike to the individual and
the nation. He is forcible and eloquent
speaker and has the happy faculty of en-
listing the undivided attention of his hear
ers and maintaining it to the last. AS his
remarks were Of more than ordinary inter-
est short synopsis will prove quite sat
isfactory:
THE PHILOSOPHY OF REFORM.
Much is said in these days about the
immortality lof our people. Men every
where are enquiring what are we coming
to? Are we on the road to ruin? 1t seems
that some entertain fears that we will be-
come worse than monarchy, that we will
gradually fall into condition worse than
semi-barbarous Mexico or priest-ridden
and poverty stricken Italy and Ireland.
They point to lovely Greece. "The land
of scholars and the nurse of arms" to
Rome, whose eagles glanced in the rising
and setting sun, and declare unless we
rescue ourselves from the roaring whirl-
pool of iniquity that is about to engulf us,
Columbia, once proud and beautiful, "the
gem of the ocean" will, like them, go
down to rise no more. All this means
something. 1t means that we are not as
good people as we ought to be. 1t by
no means indicates, however, that we are
wicked to such an extent. We have no
disposition to admit anything Of the kind,
or to admit that we are worse than at any
former period of our history, or more cor
rupt than any other nations of the earth
We have made progress in knowledge and
power, and our morals must have imprOv-
ed necessarily. If this is not true the phi
losophy of national prosperity and ad-
vancement is misunderstood and we
would better change our ideas of govern
ment and proceed on the principle that
virtue and national greatness are found in
imbecilitv and ignorance. Our country,
then, is not going to ruin, or if it is the
people have pretty conculsively decided
not to 60 to ruin with it, for they have
learned to confide in themselves and each
other. While we are not ashamed to
speak of our country with pride, we are
not insensible to the fact that we are not
q perfect people, and that there are many
| things in society and in our national life
that need correction and thorough reform
alton. How shall we preserve our nation
al excellence unlmpaired? How shall we
elevate our present standard of morals?
How shall we keep our virtue equal to our
power, are questions that ought to engage
the attention of every earnest man. A
genuine reformatory movement is the
sober, fixed sentiment of a united, Civili-
zed people moving unseen and unheard,
| yet always irresistible. 1t is the never
sleeping, vital force of an almost univer-
sal opinion that acts on governments, leg
islation and laws. Nothing else ever did
or ever can effect a reform.
| A great reformatory movement can new
er be secured directly by political endeav-
or. The attempt of any set of men to
thi ust any measure, however good it may
| be, upon any political party is as hopeless
as it is foolish. These State and national
| reform conventions which attempt to Sc
! cure political action, and spend their time
| in passing good resolutions-never to be
carried out-with regard to temperance, the
Bible in schools. God in the Constitution,
god-fearing men for Office, ETC., although
supported by good men, must forever
prove futile. The public mind is not
ready for such action as they demand.
Any attempt to force people by such ex,
pressions as 1--WE demand, I'VE will
have" "be it resolved that we will not
support, ETC., only challenges their op
position, and is q boomerang to recoil with
oil its force upon the reformers' heads
The question of expediency ought to arise
here. Many claim that it is compromise
with wrong and an apology for it, but il
10 nothing of the kind nor does it ever lool
in that direction. 1t is not only impolitic
but it is down right foolishness, fer any
man to insist on the adoption of AM
measure when 1t is evident that it canno
be secured and that the people are no
ready for it. The first requisite for cor
rect public opinion and harmonious action
is found in love of country: and in orde
to reform in our national life and to pre-
serve our national character there must b,
deep devotion of our whole people Il
our whole country and to national unity
There must be a patriotic sentiment tina
has genuine virtue in it. There must b,
q patriotism that reaches beyond Stat
lines. that can look beyond the snowy
crests of ones native mountains, tina
worships not the East to the exclusion o
the West that knows no North, tina
knows no South, in short patriotism tina
catches its inspiration from the immorta
Cod. The idea that we are nation
that the Constitution is Immortal is tn
grand cardinal doctrine of a sound politi
cal faith. Being free people and en-
ioying q sentiment of universal good vii
there must be universal education of tn,
people, for freedom and the virtue o
patriotism have not security but in know
ledge. There can be no such thing as
republic without intelligence, and its in
telligence must always be the index of it
character. More attention must be givel
| to the true wealth of nations namely edu
Gated mind. A correct universal educa
ton of the masses and mental actiyit
, would lift us up into higher and bet
ter state of existence. ~
, Neither freedom nor virtue nor knowl
. edge has any vigor or immortal hope eS
cept in the principles of the Christia
faith and in the sanctions of the Christia
religion. Education must have in it tn
religious and moral. Christianity is tn
very fountain source of all thorough ant
permanent reformation and is the enl
philosophical basis of it. All measure
outside of it must. fail. National life ca
| only be reformed by the elevation ant
publication of the individual. Christian
ity alone achieves this result. Our patri
otism must be ennobled by it. And sine
we are prefessedly Christian nation, it
, matter of duty as well as of consistenc
that all eur instructions be founded on tn
. basis of the Christian revelation. Int
lectual education cannot have cumplet
success If the culture of the heart is neg
lected. Patriotism, correct educatio
Il and the Christian religion-these thre
, exalt nation. In order that the highe:
results of their excellence shall be realil
ed in the State, the foundation for the
influence must be laid in early life. TIL
status of our moral and political life
directly tracable to the family. The geri
of this evil is found about the firesides Q
America, and if reformation is ever e
. fected right there is where it must begin
: Woman is queen of this realm, and n
where else and in no other way can tn
, woman of the natien organize an influenc
and q power that win tell so beneficientl