The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-21

AN EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT,
The Ballot as an Educator Of Mankind
The Ennobling Tendency of the Elec-
tive Franchise--Its Effect on the Condi-
tiOn of Women.

ton OF women.
Education is not the mere acquisition
of facts. 1t is not synonymous with
intelligence, nor can it be impaired by
instruction. That was once the popu-
lar notion; but a better philosophy of
mind has corrected our definition. Edu-
cation, according to our most advanced
thought, is the development OF the
whole being, and in subjective sense
has reference to the training and disci-
pline OF the intellect, the sensibilities
and the will.
Now, it follows, OF course, that the
sentient subject does not receive all his
education in the school-room.. The
true teacher seeks to arouse the dor
mant mind, and to put it in receptive
state. He supplies the datum, gives
the individual implements by which he
can work, puts the powers into harness
and applies the goad. This is all he
can do He knows that, il the true ed
ucation ever comes, it will come in the
experience and lifetime struggles of
the Ego. Under this view, the world
becomes school-room, and life one
continued school term.
The Jews were we'll educated peo-
pic. They we're subjected to peculiar
methods of instruction. They were to
be fitted for certain mission. God
gave them pictorial religion. His
miracles were object lessons. This was
the most effectual way of teaching an
infant race. 1t is well for us to study
the problems OF the Jewish economy.
The visual impressions of their gor-
geous ritual passed away; but the les
sons of that ritual became interviewer
into their very being. So we may
establish such institutions as will tend
to develop in America a valuable ma
tional character and prepare us as a
people for our great mission on earth;
and maintain that among the many
instrumentalities that might be en-
plOyed for this result, the ballot stands
pre-eminent.
The powers Of the mind, when pas
sive, are called capacities; when active,
faculties; and the faculties may be d.
vided into mental and moral We
make this distinction because some
may think our subject has no ethical
side to it; but the soul is unity, and
must be developed as a whole. There
can be no successful education Of the
head without the heart; so whatever
strengthens, regulates and guides the
emotional nature is an educational fac
tor.
/. In the very nature Of things. the
ballot will constrain to independent
thought The one who votes must OF
necessity take into consideration men
and measures. This will promote re-
search and discussion, and call up his
torical "reminiscences, and bring into
contemplation the problem OF political
economy. The important questions Of
administration are often submitted to
the decision of the people. A people
so appealed to must of necessity become
more or less versed in the science O
government In exercising the elective
franchise, the intellect will be called or
to deal with the facts of currency, in
terstate and international commerce
relation OF labor to capital, and many
intricate and abstruse questions, ant
the intellect will be called upon tt
master the problems of our moral in
terest. We must consider the condi
ton Of the poor, and food supply, san
itary law, public instruction, and al
the diseases that affect the social or
gansm. This will tend not only tt
stimulate the intellect, but also tt
humanize the heart; for all the facul
ties, mental and moral, grow with theil
exercise
2. The elective franchise recognizes
the nobility of our nature, and this will
tend to make us nobler. Treat chile
as If he were bad. and he will be bad
treat man with respect, and you viii
increase his self-respect. God gave
man reason and conscience. By hi.
conscience he recognizes the mora
quality of acts His reason approve!
and directs, and his conscience urge.
him to faithful performance. So MAJ
is capable of giving himself law. (H'
is law to himself.) To subject hin
to the will of another, to make hin
obey the law which he has no voice il
creating, is to degrade him. 1t place
him in the catalogue of minors and i'm
beetles.
8. The ballot will educate the will
The will is the finest part of our being
Somehow the intellect and sensibility
are connected with the organism. bu
the will is pure spirit. The person VIII,
has the most will power is the creates
character. In training the will power
we can not but see the Incompetence
of the school-room. Here we live tn
life of thoughts; but not till the life q
action begins will the finest part OF GU
being be energized. II the life OF &C
ton never begins, the individual sink
down to supineness, and becomes
mental cast-away. The intellect an
emotions exist for the sake OF the will
God will not Judge us for what W
know or what we feel, but what we dc
But how shall we awake in man liy
ing faith in his powersP How shall W
impel him to the performance Of tn
moral task? We must approach hii
through the emotions; but even thi
will fail il he feels there is any tramms