Popular Education [pp. 88-93]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
encourages the growth of those benevolent affections
whose gratification rests on prospective good. In the
constitution of the mind experience shows the striking
fact (and it pleads forcibly in favor of the general diffusion of Education among the people) that the growth of
the malevolent affections is nurtured by ignorance, and
that of the benevolent by knowledge. The former are
more truly the instinctive affections and generally operate under immediate stimuli. The latter may be ternmed the rational affections, for their stimuli are often
remote and chiefly felt by the mind, which traces the
relations of things and sees the intimate connexion of
virtue with individual and general happiness.
The diffusion of Education will heighten and extend
the pleasures of social intercourse, pleasures which truly
"exalt, embellish, and render life delightful." Regard
for a moment the condition of the savage in that intercourse with his fellows, where sensual indulgences and
rude exultation in the slaughter of his enemies, constitute the chief of that happiness whceli their society affords. Think of the aged and infirm parent falling
under the parricidal hand, because forsooth his limbs
are no longier active in the chase, his arm no longer
nerved to deal thle deadly blow to an insulting adversary. Think of the sick and afflicted, deserted in their
last moments and left to expire without the hand of
friendship to close the dying eye. Think of woman,
formed to soothe, to polish and refine our ruder natures,
doomed to a degrading servitude, and thought worthy
only to minister to the passions of their haughty lords.
From this rude society turn to that of civilized life.
Benevolence spreads her arms to embrace the huiman
race. Sympathy awakens at the notes of woe. Charity
forgets not her work of love, but visits the habitation
of poverty and wretchedness, and with a generous hand
relieves want and soothes the wounds of adversity.
Filial piety softens the pillow of declinintg age. Whilst
friendship and affection wait upon the couch of sickness,
forgetful of fatigue, contagion and death. In scenes of
health and prosperity, peace and joy reign-mutual
confidence and endearment characterize domestic liferational enjoyment marks the social circle, nurturing
feelings which strengthen the bonds imposed upon mankind by mutual w ants and mutual depenrdance. Lovely
woman holds her just ascendancy-shines alike in everv
relation of life-a voluntary homage paid to her charms
-her smile encouraging to virtuous enterprise and rnoble acliievemeut-her frown chilling the ardor of even
hardy Insolence and impious daring. Does this contrast
result firom difference iii mental cultivation? History
presents it as the primary cause. Ignorance and barbarisin, as applied to nations, may in fact be considered
as convertible terms. But if in reference to social intercourse, such effects as those which civilized society
presents, are the results of the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among the comparatively small portion of
mankind who enjoy its immediate advantages, what
might we not expect fiom the general spread of information among the w hole body of the people?
Turning fr'om society to the individual in his solitary
moments, knowledge is no less the friend of human
happiness. It affords materials from which the activity
of the mind weaves a pleasing entertainment, when
friends are no longer present to cheer with their social
converse, and when the appetites revolt by reason of
satiety from sensual indulgences. A book may beguile
the tedium of a gloomy day, draw the mind abroad,
and prevent its dwelling on imaginary ills that more
truly destroy happiness than real misfortunes. The
mind must have its excitement; and if it is not endued
with that degree of knowledge necessary to stimulate
inquiry, and afford a relish for books, it is liable to seek
for this excitement in the brutalizing indulgences of the
sensual appetites or in the uncontrolled movements of
the passionis. By furnishing the minds of the people
with the due degree of elementary instruction, the best
security will be afforded of their minds being usefully
or innocently employed, instead of being perverted to
their own misery and the disturbance of the public
tranquillity.
Such are some of the moral effects of Education. Its
diffusion among the people tends to improve their individual and social happiness. It is likewise the great
instrument of improvement in the arts and sciences.
Discoveries and inventions are said to be the product of
the age in which they are made, rather than of the individuals who are immediately instrumental in bringing
them forward. But are they not dependant more on
the spread of knowledge aniong the people at large,
than on any unusual advancement in learning among
philosophers themselves? Speculative philosophy has
done much in promoting useful inventions and discoveries. But on the other hand, how much that is really
useful do we not owve to the active minds of those engaged in the ordinary vocations of life, and who never
had the advantages of instruction in the higher branches
ofscience? It would be a curious and interesting inquiry
to trace out the numerous inmprovements in the arts and
sciences, for which we are indebted to geniuses rising
superior to the disadvantages of fo)rtune and early education. The list of such names as Ferguson, Watt,
Scheele, would be found to swell the catalogue of those
whose exertions have contributed to enlarge the field of
science, and extend the power of man over the physical
creation. Genius is confined to no rank-it is to be
found in all the grades of society. Spread elemientary
instruction among the people, extend to them the means
of improvement, and superior minds wherever fi)rtune
may have placed them, will not long remain in obscurity. Their inherent vigor will break through difficullties, surmount obstacles, and supply the deficiences
occasioned by the want of a collegiate education. In
order too that profit be derived from the improvements
of scientific men, the minds of the people must be sufficiently imbued with information to appreciate their
labors, and to throw off prejudices and break through
established customs so far as to adopt in practice what
speculation teaches will be useful. Many important
discoveries made in preceding ages, when the nmass of
the people were sunk in ignorance, have been lost to
us, because there was not that diffusion of information
necessary for preserving and handing tiem down. It
may be said that science has nothing to fear from such
a state of things for the futuore, since the press and other
means of diffusing information preclude all danger of
any of its discoveries being lost. We readily admit
the great advantages afforded by the press and the extensive intercourse between different parts of the world
in preserving and transmitting knowledge. But how
many disceveries which contained the germs of future
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