EDUCATION.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3903, 2 July 1881, Page 2

EDUCATION.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sik, —Some of the reasons that render a free secular State education—the principal object to obtain which the people should combine their exertions and unite their votes —were set forth in my last letter. The industrious classes are not only the bone and marrow of a nation, but are, in tact, when rightly considered, the nation itself. Their industry, moral integrity, and physical health, their ease and independence, make up the wealth and prosperity of a country ; while the great sustaining principle of hope, is sup ported by the intellectual intelligence of its people. Let the people therefore awake and arise to action, as they would save this young and promising colony from the abject pauperism, crime, and bloody convulsions into which the mother country is plunged. As they would reform the crying abuses of unjust land laws and inequality; as they would check the frightful enormities of vice; as they would build up virtue in the human heart, I cherish kindness and humanity in the the human mind ; as they value their owrj and their children's enduring welfare, let them awako to action. Let it be taught in all our schools as a law of nature obvious to our senses, that the internal or external character of all that have life is formed for them, leading to the creation in everyone of a sublime and pure spirit of charity for the convictions, feelings, and conduct of the human race, and thus dispose thorn to be kind to all that has life. Let it be taught that man's highest interest is to acquire an accurate knowledge of those circumstances which produce evil to the human race, and of those which produce good, and to exert all power to remove the former from society and create around it only the latter. Let it be known that this invaluable practical knowledge can be acquired only through a minute and extensive search after truth, by an accurate patient and unprejudiced enquiry into facts as j developed by nature. Let it be clearly understood that permanent happiness can not be attained until trained from birth, by external circumstance, influenced to feel pure charity and sincere affection towards the whole of his species—to speak the truth only on all occasions and to regard mercifully and kindly all that has life. Let it be shewn that this superior kuowledge and dispositiou can be acquired by the whole human race without failure, except in case of organic disease; that, consequently, the contemplation ot nature will create in every mind feelings of high adoration too sublime aud pure to to be expressed in words, for the wonderful and incomprehensible power which acls in and through all nature everlastingly composing, decomposing, and recow posing the material of the universe, producing an endless variety of life, mind, and organised form. Man's highest duties will thus consist in promoting to the utmost of his power, the well-being and happiness of his brethern without regard to sect, party, country, or colour. When the producing labourers and useful artisans eat, and sleep well, live comfortably, think correctly, speak fearlessly, and act uprightly, the nation will be happy, free, and wise. The secret of our political degredation is our variance. This causes the few to ride the many, with cruel impunity, and .supplies explanation of the many tamely allowing thcmselvos to be overridden by the few. Wo are at variance amongst ourselves, and waste in party disputes arid dissenlions the time aud means that should be employed in national improvement. Lycurgus says that the whole business of legislation is resolred into the bringing up of youth. Upon this subject let us nil be muted. Let us demand of any politician soliciting our votes that he should publicly, and in writing, pledge himself to a purely secular compulsoryfree education under a public school roof, and the total abolition of denominational sectarian ones. If he docs not freely and unqualifiedly pledge himself to this in its full and complete integrity, let us unanimously return the candidate who vrill||faithfully carry this most important of. all questions into unmulilated and unrestricted operation.—l am, &c, Bau Ami.