Morning Star

EDUCATION.

The following extract contains imperishable truths, which should be engraven with a pen of steel on the heart of every citizen of this republic. "It is the diffusion of knowledge that must save us,"-knowledge among all classes.

The people cannot do right if they know not what is right; and how are they to know right from wrong, without education? It is a lamentable truth that the poor are too often allowed to grow up in ignorance and are led astray by artful and designing demagogues. Universal education and universal suffrage should go together. And unless it is so-unless the poor are educated, the question may well be asked "will our government last?" The ignorant must be enlightened before our nation can have honor.-The Emancipator.

"Will our government last? Will America be happy?" are questions often asked with great solicitude. The warm monarchist confidently answers No, and the warm republican, as confidently Yes. But in my opinion, the result depends on a class rarely mentioned in connexion with politics. It depends on our schoolmasters, on our having enough of them well principled and well qualified; and posted in-their proper citadels, every village school. I repeat it again, it is the diffusion of knowledge that must save us. It is often said that knowledge and education must be the guardians of our Republic. But knowledge where? Education for what class? The land may be full of seminaries and yet the country may fall by pure ignorance. Rome never had brighter geniuses than when she lost her liberties-never had more knowledge.- Cicero, Virgil, Horace--these very names are enough to prove the claims of their country to the highest improvement. But where was this knowledge? It was confined to privileged classes; it was locked up in extensive libraries, it was concealed in noble villas; it was monopolized by the few, only to enable them to crush the many beneath the invisible chains they were preparing for the mind. There cannot be a more favorable opportunity for the overthrow of liberty than this great inequality. If all were ignorant they would stand upon a level, and in the balance of disabilities liberty might be safe. But let the rich be well educated, and the poor neglected, and the fall of freedom is certain. The light will predominate over darkness, the thinkers will rule; and the ignorant will be slaves.

Before I relieve the reader's patience- already too much abused-permit me to make one suggestion more. Why is it that human nature never will be excited in proportion to the magnitude of the object proposed to its attention? Party questions-they set us in a flame, questions of the deepest utility; they put us asleep. It is strange; it is passing strange. We know our own folly, we smile at it, and yet we keep it. Only let some party question start up in our assemblies, from the evening caucus to the floor of Congress, and every tongue is unloosed, and every heart is on fire. Day after day is consumed in the strife; and the whole country is on a blaze in the concern. Yet no permanent good is gained or lost by the victory or defeat. It is a mere contest of passion, as transient as it is violent--raging and passing away." But let some question of permanent utility come up, over which reason watches, but ambition sleeps, and you can hardly command attention enough to investigate the subject The feelings of the orator are not touched. the ear of the community is not opened Ah! human nature is laboring under a great disease. We must seek for a cure.

Wilmington on Common Schools.