Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-09-13
pRoiIlBrTIoN.
Popular sdusatiOn Better.

Popular Education Better.
To the Chronicle:
The question of intemperanee Is
perhaps exciting, more attention in
the public mind than at any previ-
ous period of our history. Every
philanthropic emotion, appears to
have been quickened in the hearts
of the true and the coed for the sup
preston or Limitation Of the national
incubus that hangs over Us and
threatens. the domestic, happiness Of
the sacred hearthstone OF both high
and low. Manifesting its blighting
influence In our Congressional and
State legislative halls and too often
insinuating its subtle poison into
the very sanctuary OF t he church Of
God. The momentus question is,
or should be, What is the cause and
what ths'rernedy for this frightful
evil ? ~ - - .-.l, 81.
Prohibitionists appear to attribute
the cause to the. mere existence OF
alcohol itself. This must be an er-
ror, as the vegetable and mineral
kingdoms abound with deadly pois-
ons, which, like alcohol, are ineff-
cient to produce harm unless so ap-
propriated by mans diction.. Man
is a free moral agent and can abstain
from its use as from other deadly
poisons and no evil consequences
would result, but he chooees not to
do so. Why? because his, moral
faculties are deseiened Ior snculiiva-
ted. tt is generally concsded by
theologisns and moral philosophers
that the office or the moral faculty,
under healthy action, is to approve
the right and condemn the wrong,
and that our Judgments are formed
by the action Of the moral faculty );
what 1t approves the judgment con-
firms. The judgment and actions
of men are controlled by their NOR
al sensibilities, and the character Of
their moral sensibiIities depends on
the nature OF their culture.
Hence we are persuaded that the
vice OF intemperance depends not
ON the presence Of alcohol In our
country, but on an ,uncnltivated or
an improperly cultivated moral fac
ulty. The individual with a morbid
or uncultiyated moral faculty, like
the dumb brute, follows the dictates
OF his appetite, he delights in vice
and crime, his moral faculties being
dead in illiteracy. Therefore in H.
literacy, especially OF the moral
sensibilities, may be found the true
cause Of inteInperance with its long
train of vices and crimes. A woeful
neglect OF the moral faculties OF the
rising generation is too apparent to |
be overlooked as the foundation |
stone of intemperance. ,A
Prizes are offered for the highest |
mental attainmentsin in all our schools |
and colleges. but no reward sisa ever |
offered (ttat wesare aWhfeoD for a |
high standard OF moral attainment. |
The tender moral sensibilitiee OF |
youth in orr best schools are too Of
ten left like drift wood In high wa
ter, to be carried by the turbulent |
stream OF immortality into the |
whirlpool of intemperance
and crime. e'11 rao ea
Our mental faculties will admit
Of very high degree of culture
illuminating The iriorsI fac
lty, which may be often observed
n men of extensive mental culture
purity of heart. The most
deliberate, notwithstanding
,rimes that can blacken the pages
,f the history of every age are per-
)etrated by men Of high mental
The most criminal
iebauchps of our towns and cities,
ike the poisonous upas. extending
Is deadly influence in every direc-
ion, are men and women OF mental
with an entirely neglected
moral faculty. Hence the import
Ince of a more rigid cultivation of
he moral susceptibilities OF youth.
rhe morl faculties, unlike the intel
ectual, cannot be cultivated with
'ut giving vigOr, strength and illu-
nination to the mental powers,
herefore, the cultivation Of the
should be OF primary consid:
ration instead Of leaving them to
heir own development, surrounded
8 they are by the seductive snares
Il vice and dissipation.
: When dissipation and Its long
atalOgue OF vices and crimes are
My the effects resulting from n
eglcct of our moral natures, which
egal restraint can mover remedy,
ne case being u radical defect OF
he creature, the remedy should be
Dr. the healing of the moral defec-
ion, in connection with the refining
t the intellect. A higher standard
I not only mental but moral edu-
alton of the poor would greatly re-
eve our country of dissipation and {
he many gross petty crimes pecu- {
ar to that unfortunate class. The
cry illiterate have an Unsuitable I
hirst for intoxicating drinks, their |
loral and mental understanding
eing both benighted they consider
OF the consequences, but go head
)ng into ruin, like swine to the
will.
Illiteracy engenders more intem. |
erance OF a british nature, more {
rime of a grOsser character, more
of degraded class and
lcurs heavier expense 10 our gov
and people, than any evil
( which we are aware. 1t was said
y Mr.. Ingsdale, that the neglect OF !,
he Junk family in New York ere
llted in a marvellous multiplicity ,
f criminals and paupers. From !