The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-25

tions that the number Of those who be-
come protesting christians do so largely
before reaching their twentieth year, and
that the percentage Of those who become
so later rapidly decreases with the pass
ing years. Since such is clearly seen to
be the influence of childhood upon the
whole of the subsequent life it seems
strange that more attention is not given
to the training Of the plastic mind during
its formative period. It does sometimes
seem as if parents, guardians and teach
ers exercise care and wisdom in the
training Of plants and animals that are
not shown toward the children. While
these are anxiously watched over and
their needs supplied the children are left
to grow up as best they can, pick up
what comes to them, and oftentimes
vastly more attention is given to the
adornments of the body than the furnish
ings of the mind and soul. Assum-
ing then that the life of every man and
woman receives, in a very large measure
at least, its shaping and influence in child
hood, this subject of child life and its de-
velopment ought TO command the at
tention of all.
l. That Of the Politician. I do not
now speak of the ward-healer, or the
man who will periurc his soul for the
price of his vote, But of him who
studies the peace and prosperity of his
country; the statesman, to whose know
ledge, wisdom and skill is committed
the administration of the affairs of gov
ernment; who seeks its best interests in
the choice and use Of all things that tends
in this direction, and the abolition of all
that is injurious.
As the peace, prosperity and perma-
nency of a nation depend, under God,
upon the character of its citizens, it must
be evident that every vicious character
within its domain is to that extent a
menace, and just to the extent the
lawless, the criminal and the vicious in
crease in population is the destruction of
the nation threatened. Such a condition
exists to almost an alarming degree to-
day. True, it is a minorityy the better
element controls. But if such condi-
tions continue and this undesired class
increases in number what the result will
he is not difficult to foretell. Whatsshall
be done with such people is a serious
! question already demanding a solution.
! That they can not be exported nor all
shut up in prisons is evident. And even
| if this were done it would afford only
temporary relief. for new generation is
constantly coming up to take the place of
those who pass away. The only solution
that is practical and permenent is to take
the children and make useful citizens of
them. The slum element of the tene-
ment districts of our cities is nothing
moro nor less than training school for
wicked and desperate characters which
places find counterpart on less extern
sive scale in many smaller towns and
country districts. What could be ex-
pected of children growing up in the
midst of all the misery, squalor and
wickedness of such places Their child
hood ears hear nothing but the low, pro-
fame and vulgar speech of their associates:
their eyes never behold anything but the
| filth and obscenity of their miserable
homes, and their tongues and hands and
\ ltbb hONtl ilONb bdl at lllt liAl DulSt VI Il
depraved nature made worse by its en-
vironment. With the children of such
parentage, growing up under such con-
ditions of early life to hope for better
things from the coming generation is a
vain wish. The question for the politician
of to-day is not so much what to do with
the unscrupulous and vicious class of to-
day, but what shall be done to protect his
children from such influences and to
train them up to be useful citizens.
2. Then this subject should interest
the Philanthropist. His purpose isgthe
alleviation of human suffering. But hu-
man misery and woe arise, in a large
measure, from vice and crime. The
| helpless, homeless, suffering innocents
that call out the sympathy and help of
the heart, whose cry constantly goes up
| to heaven and whose condition must melt
the eye to tears, is the result of the mis-
| directed lives of those who might have
been a blessing and comfort instead of
curse to humanity. Let the charitable
hand of philanthropy be stretched out to
the nurture and direction of child life
and its objects of pity will become less
numerous.
3. This commands the attention of the
! Reformer. This is an age of reform. The
air is full of it. Society is hlled with or
| gapization tending to this end. Reclaim,
reform, are among the most familiar
terms one hears and no one will deny the
need of such work. The inebriate, the
gambler, the criminal; the vicious re-
formed, the sinner reclaimed. To think
for moment of the vast outlay, Of
money, energy and labor the founding
of homes for their maintenance; the
sums spent in various kinds of cures
the labor put forth in order to restore TO
place among men those who have for
| feited this privilege, is enormous. Look
at the church, for instance What ought
! it to be? An organization ON whose rolls
! should be found the name of every adult
at least, aud where each should take his
place and do his work for Christ. But
what are the facts? The church is spend
| ing its energy almost solely in seeking
| to win those who were born within the
4 pale of the church, and who should be
| in it, Let the church and every refurm-
| on and reclaimer Of every sort direct
more energy toward the development of
"A noble, true and pure manhood andawo-