Year: 1863




WAR AND EDUcArroN.-While war is
abroad in the land, compelling us to the
most gigantic endeavors in defence of
our national existnnce, it may seem idle,
if not even unpatriotic, to expect any
ordinary affairs OF the schools. man
date of Divine Providence has ordered
us to the front rank of contending ma
tons, and engaged MS in n conflict which
absorbs into its own terrible channels
almost the entire currents of our in
dusrries and our ideas. A generation
thus called upon to struggle for It's life
and liberties, might well be excused if
forgetrul for a time, of the generations
coming after it.


But the grand march of humanity stops
not in its course even for war. From
the cradle to the coffin, the crowding
columns move on with lockstep through
.thc successive stages Of life. Childhood
cannot halt in its progress for returning
peace to afford leisure for education.
On into the year--to manhood, to citi-
zenship, to destiny-it rusheS, whether
learning lights its path and guides its
steps, or ignorance involves it in error
and conducts it hcadlo1g into vice.
And it in peace the school is needful to
rear our children to an intelligent aud
virtuous manhood, how much create
the need when war, with its inseparable
barbarisms, is drifting the nation from
its onward course of peaceful! ciyiliza-
ton back TO the old realms of darkness
aud of brute force. The high and heroic
aims OF this conflict will doubtless miti-
gate the evils which necessarily attend
an appeal to arms. To say nothing of
the physical health and prowess that
camp life aud military discipline will
develop, the love Of country and love OF
liberty will rise again from mere holt
dny sentiments to the grandeur and
power of national passions, and the
Union, made doubly precious BY the
blood W hich it: maintenance will cost,
will attain strength that no mortal
force can shake or destory. History
will grow heroic again, and humanity
itself will he inspired and glorified
with this fresh viuiicaton of its God
given rights and duties, in this new in
carnation aud triumph Of tho principles
of constitutions! and republican liberty.
The too absorbing love of money,which
has hitherto characterized us. as loos-
.ened somewhat its clutch, and bcen won
20 acts of genuine benevolcnce, at the
sight Of an imperiled country; and the
fiery demon of party sinks away abashed
before the rouscl patriotism which lays
life itself on the altar of liberty. But
with ali this, the barhariSms of war are
too palpable and terrific TO be forgotten
or dis.egarded, and the wise and patrio =
( C Statesman will find in them more
urgent reason for fostering those cVlliz-
ing agencies which nourish the growing
Intelligence and virtue of the people.
Against the ideas and vices engendered
in the camps, and amidst the battle
fields, we must raise still higher tie bull
warks of yirtuous habits and beliefs, in
the children yet at home. We shall
need the utmost stretch of home and
schopl influence to save society and the
state from the terrible domination to
military ideas and military forces, al
ways so dangerous to civil liberty and
free government.--Hon. j. u. Grey
Org, Michigan School Report


CooL.-ln I84S, when the Convention
which nominated General Taylor was in