108 Extracts from the Journals. [Jan., 



rating influence of literature and science. It has been said, and 

 truly, that " Learning ever has been, is now, and ever will be, 

 the grand conservative principle of civilization, of tiuth, virtue, 

 liberty, religion and good government." In no country have the 

 minds of the people been imbued with a taste for literature and 

 thoroBgh scholarship, but that their feelings were liberalized, their 

 moral sentiments elevated, and themselves better fitted for useful 

 citizenship. No nation has ever reached an exalied state in the 

 arts and sciences, in laws and morals, but was essentially a na- 

 tion of learning. 



If, then, a marked deficiency in social virtue and political mo- 

 rality — destructive alike of the objects of human happiness in each 

 relation — is found to be the consequence of a want of learning 

 among the people, is it not our imperious duty to employ the 

 means necessary to attain this important end? But what are 

 those means'? Clearly the building up and sustaining institutions 

 of learning. In this manner alone can the blessings of education 

 be diffused throughout society. And to accomplish this, there 

 must be a correspondence of action by government and people: 

 our legislatures must liberally endow, and our citizens cordially 

 patronize these institutions. None of the states are so poor but 

 that even a modicum' of their means, appropriated to this wise 

 and beneficent purpose, would in a few years, develope itself in 

 results alike honorable and useful. There are hundreds and 

 thousands of our citizens, a tithe of whose ample means, directed 

 into this channel, would procure the blessings of a liberal educa- 

 tion to their own sons and daughters, and to those of a score of 

 their indigent neighbors. But the public spirit, the generous 

 and humane spirit, is wanting alike in the members of our legis- 

 latures and in our citizens. The spirit of demagogueism rules 

 the foi-mer ; while the spirit oi money -making rules the latter. 

 The former are studious of the arts, and earnest in the advocacy 

 of measures best adapted to the sentiments and feelings of the 

 " dear people," while the sentiments and feelings of the " dear 

 people " are much more intent upon accumulating the goods of 

 earth, than upon paying taxes, educating children, and enhancing 

 the happiness of mankind. This, I deeply regret, is found to be 

 generally true; — that there are many honorable exceptions I 

 am proud to know. A ditteront state of things must be brought 

 about. The people must learn that their true interests consist, 

 above all other things, in patronizing institutions of learning; 

 and they must choose such legislators as will truly and faithfully 

 represent those interests. 



I speak not of the higher institutions only: the inferior class 

 of academies and common schools are all important to be sus- 

 tained for the diffusion among the people of the elements of 



