The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-20

our present condition in this respect,
that every ten men are supported by the
exertions of sone one else than them
selves. TO prevent the waste that these
ten consumers are constantly causing,
and keep the d lily running expenses of
mankind to their daily receipts, may or
may not be fanciful speculation; but
we do know that he who creates no
values in community by his industry
or knowledge, does the greatest benefit
to that community when he dies. In
this country, where man is rich to-day
and poor tomorrow; where ruin rushes
over the land like geologic cataclysms,
and tumbles the magnificent merchant
and buncombe banker alike, under the
sliding ice boulders of bankruptcy;
where even the largest estates are
dissipated, almost universally, in
the first generation, it is neces-
sary to carve, or chisel, or ham,
mer, or saw, or build, or plant,
or SOW; and it is necessary to do these
things with active brain and the hand of
skill. The proper element of the times
is restless activity. Labor reaches out
through the morning-red and sets the
dazzling hill-tops all aglow with fires of
industry, covers the earth with a green
and gorgeous mantle of agriculture,
studs it with radiant gems of art, moves
its countless wheels of manufacture,
erects here, there, everywhere the tro-
phies of the mind, and carves out the
imperishable columns of the soul.
Political education is that discipline Of
mind and culture of arts and handicrafts
of which we have been speaking, and
whatever else we may conceive as neces-
sary to fill out the true measure OF
American citizenship. We cannot pause
long, for here again the field is wide, and
its horizon sweeps still outward from the
eye.
BY proper citizen education the sym
metry and perfection of government is
to be attained and perpetuated to future
generations. Private virtues are the
sure guarantees of public morality.
That many men are losing the discipline
and morals of behavior and religion, and
thus failing of the highest education, is
one of the most alarming symptoms Of
the degeneracy of the times. This has
caused more bankruptcies, more defalca-
tions and wider ruin than any one
cause in the whole long list of reasons
assigned. This is the slumbering fire
seed out of which the lighted flame leaps
and clasps in fatal glow the princelJ
business house and the commodiou :
happy home. We are accustomed tt
contemplate with pride the land tina
gave us birth ; but no institutions arr
safe, no empire secure that rests not Oh
the virtue and integrity of the masses
Our growth and resources are the ad
miration of mankind but our athlete j
young, yet, compared with the gray hair
ed centuries of the orient. May W
not prefgure the future, all radian
with horizons of hope, built upon witt
private virtues and public morality
towering up into the high eliminating
point of religion and patriotism, at one
the temple and fortress of our civiliza
ton?
But we would have still further, a
the complement of a symmetrical AM
powerful education here, skill in publ
affairs, and capacity to solve question
of public and general interest and i'm
, portance. Our statesmen, 80 it seems
are not competent to settle many of til
important questions of the times an,
in the living issues that agitate tn
masses, it is according to the genius o
our institutions, and is one of the pecul
lar objects of our organism, that tn
private citizen shall have and exercis
, controlling influence in affairs. w
are a nation of sovereigns who sit il
judgment every day upon the action
of our fellows. DeTocque
vile said over forty years ago, tina
J scarcely any political question arises il
the United States, which is not resolved
sooner or later, into judicial question
Hence all parties are obliged to borroN
in their daily controversies, the idea
and even Language peculiar to iudicia
proceedings. And you will readily se
how the jury box extends this habitud
to all classes, and familiarizes our popu
lations with the spirit and ideas of tn,
laws. And thus the very structure o
our pohty, makes these acquisitions no
merely possible, but facilitates their at