The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-02
EDUCATIONAL.

[The article ON Education found be-
low is contributed by recent graduate
of the Kenosha High School,
INTELLECTUALLY AND MORALITY
CO-RELATTVE.
Few of us even imagine the close
connection of the intellectual and
moral natures and the reciprocal in
fluence upon each other. They are
like two musical notes, which, though
different, chord with and strengthen
and improve each other. A growth in
mental power is followed almost I'M
exceptionally by an Improvement in
moral quality, which corresponds with
the extent OF that growth; and where
in community the best moral senti-
ment is prevalent, there will be seen
the brightest intellects. Indeed, the
close relation between wisdom and
goodness and the growth of each is
not only to be inferred. but to be read
literally in the writings of the Bible.
1t is God-given instinct peculiar to
human nature that when the mind be.
comes cognizant of the principles and
laws of right there is an invincible
force within which impels the whole
nature toward the right; and accord
ing to the degree of perfectness of that
cognizance will the moral nature ap-
proach the high standard of its per-
lection?
This is not an abstract theory, but a
practical truth induced from eXpe-
rience. 1t was known to the founders
of our government and provided for in
our law. AS result of their wisdom
I'VE have the means of the free enlight-
eminent of our mass es. We cannot APP
preciate the effects of that intellectual
enlightenment on moral improvement,
because of the immense scale of it's
work and our own limited powers of
CON Or ehension; but it will be found
true that in just that degree in which
which we are intellectually improved
we are made morally better.
/; An awakening of the mental powers
through Mathematics leads to acute
thought, subtitle reasoning, and deep
reflection in other things as we'll.
Thus the foundation for moral i'm
proveme Mt is laid, for the nature is
now opened, prone to investigation,
and readily impressed by truths. Then
Natural Science presents its truths and
questions. The comparison which the
mind Institutes between principles and
existences in science is applied to
ethical principles of right and wrong.
of duty and expediency. and there is
conception of the right. Reasoning
from causesto effect and vice versa in
material things induces the same in
spiritual things. The why in science
leads to the why in ethics, and our
moral respon sibility is felt AS in
numbers we obtain a conception of the
relations of unity and plurality, so in
stinctively will the mind be called to
the relations in life between itself and
Others. AS science instills the true, so
art presents and inciteS love of the
beautiful. The sensibilities are quick
ened, the sta ndard of the tastes and
inclinations is raised, and the whole
nat ure is refined and bettered. But so
subtle are the links of union which
join the mental and moral natures
that either great presumption or
superior wisdom would be requisite to
the task of repres enting those relations.
Nevertheless, that such an intimate
relation exists is clearly demonstrable,
and even that a growth in mind occa-
sions a growth in morals is capable of
a complete physical proof, to wit: .
A II things to the mind, metaphysically
considered, are classed as the true, the
beautiful and the good. Intellectual
growth occasions the installation of
much OF the true and beautiful into
the mind, which is organized into
part of the nature. But it IS a well
known principle in mental science
that the true. the beautiful, and the
good are co-existent and inseparable.
sThe beautiful and good cannot exist
apart from the true, and cice 0ersG, nor
the beau tiful and true apart from the
good, and thus in the various combina-
lions. Now, therefore, with the true
and beautiful engrafted into the ma.
sure, the good must also enter the same
nature and in proportionate degree.
But this good must be understood to
be in various degrees. There is no
such entity az that termed the bad"
1t is but lesser good; that is, the so.
called bad is not another thing differ
emit from the good. but is merely the
lack of any great degree of that good.
Thus with the true and the beautiful
in a character in a very slight degree,
the good may be in so slight degree
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