Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/23

MEMOIR ISAIAH THOMAS, LL. D., FOUNDER AND FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. By SAMUEL M. BURN SIDE, Esq. It is a prominent principle in the structure of all free govern- ments, like that of the United States, that their strength and their durability are founded in the intelligence and virtue of the people. In the talents and moral worth of every citizen, then, the government have a deep interest ; an interest, which the public good demands should be cherished and improved, by judicious means, to its utmost extent. There exists consequently, a corresponding obligation in every individual to consider his endowments as the gift of Heaven for the service of his country ; and to be developed with untiring zeal for that purpose, and consecrated with unwavering firmness to that object. It is a prevalent, but most unhappy mistake among the youth of our republic, and too much countenanced, if not encouraged, by their parents and their teachers, that the chief end of education is to furnish facilities for the acquisition of wealth, influence, and power, for their personal gratification, rather than to sustain, perfect, and per- petuate, the institutions of that country, which gave them birth, and insured the means of knowledge and usefulness.