Part 5 (1/2)

But it is infinitely easier for any set of hu in hostility to so else, than in benevolence toward another; for here no sacrifice is required of anyone's self-interest And it is certain, that the subordinate portions of society have coard the occupants of the tracts of fertility and sunshi+ne, the possessors of opulence, splendor, and luxury, with a deep, settled, systematic aversion; with a disposition to conteht than that of a calamity an extensive downfall of the favorites of fortune, when a brooding i as possible; and with but very slight monitions from conscience of the iniquity of the most tumultuary accomplish their oelfare as identified with the stability of the existing social order, they consider it as soreater nu of the nature of a superstition, which had been protracted doard, though progressively attenuated with the lapse of ties into the last century They have quite lost, too, in this disastrous age, that sense of coht have hars with a social economy that would have allowed thereat industry and care Whatever the actual economy may have of wisdoood things, in some parts of its apportionment, they feel that what is allotted tohardshi+p, unreress of tilory, nay, even ”national prosperity and happiness unrivalled” This bitter experience, which inevitably becohts with that frame of society under which they suffer it, will naturally have a far stronger effect on their opinion of that system than all that had ever rendered thes no relief, or pro in the estiainst all that can be said of its ancient establishs in which it may be pretended to have once abounded, or still to abound What were beco, if such experience _could_ leave those who are undergoing its discipline still faithfully attached to the social order on the strength of its consecration by time, and of the former settled opinions in its favor,--however tenacious the iht into habit are admitted to be? And the minds of the people thus thrown loose from their former ties, are not arrested and recovered by any substitutional ones for They are not retained in a temper of patient endurance and adherence, by the bond of principles which a sedulous and deep instruction alone could have enforced on theht havehow a proportion of the evil may have been inevitable, fro that it could not fail to be aggravated by a disregard of prudence in the proceedings in early life a their own class, and that so far it were unjust to impute it to their superiors or to the order of society; of ad that national calament, of which they were to reflect whether they had not deserved a heavy share; of feeling it to be therefore no impertinent or fanatical admonition that should exhort them to repentance and reformation, as an expedient for the amendment of even their te that, at all events, rancor, violence, and disorder, cannot be the way to alleviate any of the evils, but to aggravate them all But, we repeat it, there areisland politically united to it, very many millions, who have received no instruction adequate, in the sree, to counteract the natural effect of the distresses of their condition; or to create a class of ations in prevention of a total hostility of feeling against the established order, after the ancient attachments to it have been worn down by the innovations of opinion, and the pressure of continued distress

Thus uninstructed to apprehend the considerations adapted to impose a ation, there is a large proportion of hu not in vital co at it with ”glooressive towards a fitness to be iainst it with a dreadful shock, in the event of any great convulsion, that should set loose the legion of daring, desperate, and powerful spirits, to fire and lead theexamples to shohat fearful effect this hostility may come into action, in the crisis of the fate of a nation's ancient syste in, have revenged upon it the neglect of their tuition; that neglect which had abandoned thee,” that they really understood no better than to expect their own solid advantage in general havoc and disorder But how bereft of sense the _State_ too row up in a condition of n expedient for their welfare is to be found in spoliation and destruction! It ht easily have comprehended what it was reasonable to expect froth of such of its children as it abandoned to be nursed by the wolf

While this principle of ruin orking on by a steady and natural process, this supposed infatuated State was, it is extre its chief care to maintain the splendor of a court, or to extort thesome object of vain and wicked alory And probably nothing could have appeared to ed persons more idle and ridiculous, or to others of them more offensive and ill-intentioned, than a re of such a consequence The despisers would have been incoreater nuical fortune-telling, to whoever can believe, too, that one day or other the quadrupeds of our stalls and meadows may be suddenly inspirited by soth on us in a s of Actaeon”

Section IV

There may be persons ready tothe people of the lower ordertheir faculties, will really tend to the preservation of good order Would not such iant estimate of their oorth and iance, both in the individuals and the class? Would they not, on the strength of it, be continually assus and claims of their betters, even in the hts, with a troublesome and turbulent pertinacity? Would they not, since their ie and deep, be in just such a half taught state, as would ht upon by all sorts of crafty schemers, fierce declaimers, empirics, and innovators? Is it not, in short, too probable that, since an increase of ood, the results would greatly preponderate on the side of evil?

It would be curious to observe how objections so plausible, so decisive in the esteem of those who admire them, would sound if expressed in other terms Let them be put in the forh understanding is to be ht conduct, the less of it they possess theThe duty of a hu has eneral and special considerations, to induce and regulate the performance; it must be well for these to be defined with all possible clearness; and it is also well for the greatthem with any such definiteness It is desirable that the rule, or set of rules, by which the demeanor of the lower orders toward those above them is to be directed, should appear to them _reasonable_ as well as distinctly defined; but let us take the greatest care that their reason shall be in no state of fitness to perceive this rectitude of the rules It would be a noble thing to have a cos to hu is to be retained very nearly in ignorance of all It would be a vast advantage to proceed a hundred degrees on the scale of knowledge; but the advantage is nowhere in the progress; each of the degrees is in itself worth nothing; nay, less than nothing; for unless a man could attain all, he had better stop at two or one, than advance to four, six, or ten Truths support one another; by the conjunction of several each is kept the clearer in the understanding, the more efficient for its proper use, and the norance and delusion; therefore let there be the greatest caution that we do not give to three truths in athe aid of a fourth, or four the aid of a fifth; let the garrison be so die er of excess in shaping into as oes to the depreciation of the desire and use of truth, of all that has been venerated as wisdoe, and of our rational nature itself

If it _be_ a rational nature that the lower ranks possess as well as the superior, one should have iree important that they, as well as their superiors, should habitually ent consideration, instead of going through it mechanically, or with little more than a brute accommodation of what they do to a custohtful way of acting will never prevail a which (generally speaking) e

It were, again, better, one would think, that they should be capable of seeing soradations and unequal distributions in the coard it as all a matter of capricious or iniquitous fortune, to their allotment under which there is no reason for sub by which we are wishi+ng to raise theround where it is placed, will explain to them the best compensations of their condition, will show theradation, and point them to the true respectability which may be obtained in it And even if they _should_ be a little too much elated with the supposed attain possession is yet new, and far froeneral in their class,) what taste would it be in their superiors not to dee than the contented, or rossness of a stupid vulgarity?--as so in a handso than a careless self-exposure in filth and rags

As to their being rendered liable by itators, we may confidently ask, whether it be the natural effect ofto be less suspicious of cajoling professions, less discerning of what is practicable and iant doctrines, and wild theories and scheent poor ue who ht, all reatest plenty? Or if we advert to those of the lower order whom a diminutive freehold or other qualification may entitle to vote for a entthem that is duped by the candidate's professions of kind solicitude for hi equivocal hints that it e than he is aware for a man who has sons to provide for, to have a friend who has access and interest in a certain high quarter? Nor is it a part of the subordinate class, that we shall find persons capable of believing that a coovern it so pleased, be rich and prosperous by other eneral industry in ordinary ereat increase of intelligence a the people would destroy their deference and respectful deportround of this apprehension should be honestly assigned If the clai enforced upon good reasons, it is obvious that improved sense in the people will better appreciate them Especially, if the claiher mental qualifications in the claimants, it will so far be incomparably better understood, and if it _be_ valid, far e, and of the power and practice of thinking, the people would be enabled to form some notion of what it reat deal more of these endowments They would observe and understand the indications of this ampler possession in the reat disparity between themselves and those superiors And since they would value _themselves_ on their coes, (for this is the very point of the objection against their attaining them,) they would be conified by so far surpassing a share of this adnorant populace can understand nothing at all about the reat disparity, nor impression of its importance; so that with therand difference, and can obtain none of the respect which they ainst enlightening the lower classes appears so reht tempt us to suspect a motive not avowed It is just the sort of caveat to be uttered by persons aware that theht happen to betray to the sharpened inspection of a round in the allote for a superior rank of e indeed, if persons coreatthe deference of the subordinate part of the coo for nothing in that claim, and that the required respect should be paid only in reverence of the nuance of their equipage and doements, and perhaps some official capacity, in which many a notorious blockhead has strutted and blustered

We think such considerations as the above, opposed to the objection that any very material cultivation of the minds of the common people would destroy their industry in ordinary employments, their contentment with their station, and their respectful deant, disorderly, factious, liable to be caught by wild notions, misled by declai able to understand their duty and interest the better, ought to go far toward convicting that objection of great folly,--not to apply terer i on such arguments, since fortunately there is matter of fact in answer to the objection To the extent of the yet very li the people e and more sense does not tend to disorder and insubordination; does not excite theant claims; does not spoil them for the ordinary business of life, the tasks of duty and necessity; does not make them the dupes of knaves; nor teach them the most profitable use of their improved faculties is to turn knaves themselves E general difference between those bred up in ignorance and rude vulgarity, and those who have been trained through the well-ordered schools for the humble classes, especially when the habits at holy in favor of the latter, who are found not only , but more decorous, more respectful, e the propriety of good regulations, and more disposed to a practical acquiescence in them; far less inclined to ebriety and low company; and more to be depended on in point of honesty In almost any part of the country, where the experiment has been zealously prosecuted for aresident observer can discern a ation of the former brutality of manners, a less frequency of brawls and quarrels, and less tendency to draw together into rude riotous assees There is especially a reat numbers attend public worshi+p, whose forefathers used on that day to congregate for boisterous sport on the common, or even within the inclosure vainly consecrated round the church; [Footnote: We know a church where, within, the remeht anything amiss, for the foot-ball to be struck up within the ”consecrated ground” at the close of the afternoon service of the Sunday] and ould themselves in all probability have followed the same course, but for the tuition which has led them into a better In not a few instances, the children have carried from the schools inesti even their depraved, thoughtless parents into consideration and concern about their most i toils and cares, endured to support theh the period of childhood, and an example of that rare class of phenohter) a superlative beauty arises frohtful statements of the increase, in recent years, of active juvenile depravity, especially in thetestimony in favor of education--at least did so some years since The result of special inquiries, of extensive compass, into the wretched history of juvenile reprobates, has fortified the promoters of schools with evidence that it was not froo out, to exereater aptitude for fraud and mischief No, it was found to have been in very different places of resort, that these wretches had been, almost from their infancy, acco had not taken or needed any assistance from an exercise on literary rudiious and moral poetry, or from an attendance on public worshi+p Indeed, as if Providence had designed that the substantial utility should be accompanied with a special circumstance to confound the cavillers, the children and youth of the schools were found to have beeninto the class of preht the quality of human nature and the immediate pressure of so much temptation, would have ventured to anticipate, upon the moderate estimate of the efficacy of instruction

Experience equally falsifies the notion that knowledge, imparted to the lower orders, beyond what is necessary to the handling of their tools, tends to factious turbulence; to an iation of certain wild theories,) under law and regular government in society The maintainers of which notion should also affirm, that the people of Scotland have been to this day about the most disaffected, tumultuary, revolutionary rabble in Europe; and that the Cornish uished at once by exercised intellect and religion, are incessantly on the point of insurrection, against their employers or the state And we shall be just as ready to believe theularities which have too often disturbed, in particular places, the peace of our country, the clamorous bands or crowds, collected for purposes of intimidation or demolition, have consisted chiefly of the better instructed part of the poorer inhabitants;--yes, or that this class furnished one in twenty or fifty of the nuh , with their faer, which, no less than ”oppression,” may ”make a wise man mad” Many of these, in their desolate abodes, with tears of parents and childrenthemselves to their Father in heaven, at the ti alarh the district, and so confirhborhood, who had vehemently asserted, a few years before, the pernicious tendency of educating the people [Footnote: What proportion were found to have been educated, in the very lowest sense of the term, of the burners of ricks and barns in the south-eastern counties, a few years since? What proportion of the ferocious, fanatical, and sanguinary rout who, the other day, near the centre of the ht into action by the madlishlory of all lands,” ere capable of believing that e, Christ himself, invulnerable, till the fact happened otherwise, and then were confident he would coain? When will the Government adopt some effectualsuch a populace in any part of the country, and especially _such_ a part of it?]

It would be less than what is due to suffering hu, that if a nu under severe, protracted, unated distress, distress on which there appears to them no dawn of hope froement to the value of education, if soe, in coreater nuinations of great sudden changes in the social systeular violent expedients for the removal of insupportable evils It ed the last lesson which education could be expected to teach with practical effect, that one part of the con themselves to a premature mortality, that the others may live in sufficiency and tranquillity Such heroic devoteht not be difficult in the sublime elation of Thermopylae; but it is a very different e, and in thechildren [Footnote: This was almost the desperate condition of numberless families in this country at a period of which they, or the survivors of theht to retain _here_ also that record While thankful for all subsequent aain, Look at Ireland]

After thus referring to matter of fact, for contradiction of the notion, that the ht render theood order, we have to say, in further reply, that we are not heard insisting on the advantages of increased knowledge andthe people, _unconnected with the inculcation of religion_

Undoubtedly, the zealous friends of popular education account knowledge valuable absolutely, as being the apprehension of things as they are; a prevention of delusion; and so far a fitness for right volitions But they consider religion, (besides being itself the prie,) as a principle indispensable for securing the full benefit of all the rest It is desired, and endeavored, that the understandings of these opening minds may be taken possession of by just and sole; that they ht to apprehend it as an awful reality, that they are perpetually under his inspection; and as a certainty, that they ment, and find, in another life, the consequences of what they are in spirit and conduct here It is to be impressed on them, that his will is the supreme law; that his declarations are the most momentous truth known on earth; and his favor and condeood and evil Under an ascendency of this divine wisdoned to be conducted; so that nothing in the mode of their instruction ht in athe relation with it, as far as shall consist with a natural, unforced way of keeping this relation in view Thus it is sought to be secured that, as the pupil's er and multiplies its resources, and he therefore has necessarily , there may be luminously presented to him, as if celestial eyes visibly beamed upon hiht

Such is the disciplinethe subordinate classes to pursue their individual welfare, and act their part as members of the coent eulate the them They are to be exercised to forue, delusive ones

The subjects of these ideas will be, a very considerable number of the most important facts and principles; which are to be presented to their understandings with a patient repetition of efforts to fix theotten By this measure of actual acquire, they will be qualified forfurther attainment in future ti this progress, and in connection with many of its exercises, their duty is to be inculcated on them in the various forht and wrong, in their conduct toward society There will be reiteration of lessons on justice, prudence, inoffensiveness, love of peace, estrangeues of vain and bad men; hatred of disorder and violence, a sense of the necessity of authoritative public institutions to prevent these evils, and respect for them while honestly adht, in many instances directly, in others by reference for confirmation, from the Holy Scriptures, from which authority will also be iion, while its grand concern is with the state of the soul towards God and eternal interests, yet takes every principle and rule of ation and responsibility be towards God, of everything that is a duty with respect to men So that, with the subjects of this education, the sense of _propriety_ shall be _conscience_; the consideration of how they ought to be regulated in their conduct as a part of the community, shall be the recollection that their Master in heaven dictates the laws of that conduct, and will judicially hold them amenable for every part of it

And is not a discipline thus addressed to the purpose of fixing religious principles in ascendency, as far as that difficult object is within the power of discipline, and of infusing a salutary tincture of the up citizens faithful to all that deserves fidelity in the social coe than all this pleading admits and assumes to be indispensable to them, will answer the end For it is but a slender quantity of it that is, in effect, proposed to be iive the the people an education specifically religious; a training to conduct theht before them to descry distant spiritual objects, while shut out froht and left, by fences that tell the that concerns thee, but they are not to be traar feet

Now, e, or infor of a subject? If so, it is but little religious inforeneral nature is withheld

The case is so, partly because, in order to a clear conception of the principal things in the doctrine of religion, the mind wants facts, principles, associations of ideas, and hts, which are to be acquired from the consideration of various other subjects; and partly because, even though it did _not_, and though it _were_ practicable to understand religious truths clearly without the subsidiary ideas, and the disciplined mental habit acquired in attention to other subjects, _it is flatly contrary to the radical disposition of human nature_ that youthful spirits should yield theious discipline It were supposing a reversal of the natural taste and tendency, to expect the, and with such interest, to this one subject, as to be brought to an intelligent apprehension through the al on this!--which is the subject on which they are by their very nature the least of all inclined to think; the subject on which it is the most difficult as well as the most important point in education to induce theive it the ascendency in the instruction of both the lower classes and all others, it requires so ht; and which it is so desirable to co, in order to bring it oftener by such associations into the thoughts, in that secondary manner, which causes somewhat less of recoil

It is curious to see what some persons can believe, or affect to believe, when reduced to a dilemma On the one hand, they cannot endure the idea of any considerable raising of the coeneral sense: that were ruin to social order But then on the other, if it must not be plainly denied, that the said common people are of the very same rational nature as the most elevated divisions of the race; and that their essential worth , which worth is lost to thenorance, it follows that soive thee, unaccoe as would much more attractively invite them to exercise their e their habitual attention to that very subject, almost exclusively, to which the natural taste of the species is peculiarly averse