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the disastrous influence of the other, the glorious destiny of
the cultivated intellect sanctified by divine grace, and the
fearful future misery of the other, it is amazing that good
men, men of cultivated minds, men who are good citizens
and well-wishers of human society, who we might presume
would exult in the triumph of virtue, intelligence and reli-
gion, should be found arrayed against the cause of education.
It may be alleged by those that it is not the cause of educa-
tion which they oppose, but the system inaugurated amongst
us. If such be the case, let them suggest modifications aad
improvements, and if found worthy, they will certainly be
incorporated in the law. It seems however, but too evident
that in most cases it is not the system adopted, but the mon-
ey which it costs, that constitutes the real ground of opposi-
tion. It is true, a cheaper system might be devised, but it
would not prove equally efficient; and no money is spent to
better purpose or should be more cheerfully given, than that
which promotes the general good of society. In such a mo-
mentous work as that of popular education, dollars and cents
ought not to constitute the paramount consideration. While
it is the obvious duty of legislators to have a due regard to
economy in the provisions of the school law, the cost should
not be permitted to impair the efficiency of the system. The
State of Maryland has unquestionably one of the most excel-
lent school systems that has ever been devised, and yet it is
not much more expensive than other greatly inferior ones;
and we are fully persuaded that if intelligent men will do us
the favor to visit our schools occasionally, to hear the child-
ren recite their lessons, and observe the mode of instruction
which our teachers practice, they will be constrained to ad-
mit the vast superiority of the schools now in operation to
those of former periods. The examination to which teachers
must submit, and the frequent visitations of the District
Commissioaers and of the President of the Board, exert a
very happy influence upon the children, while these visits
render it impossible for a school to be conducted improperly
for any length of time. Formerly a teacher might secure a
school upon the recommendation of friends, and as there was
no one appointed to visit his school and examine his pupils,
he might, if he was incompetent and destitute of integrity,
waste the precious time of the youth committed to his charge,
and do them a positive injury, by imperfect or radically
wrong instruction. This could not now happen.

During our visits through the County and intercourse with
leading citizens, we are thoroughly convinced of the fast, that
the two dominant elements in the opposition now manifested
to our school system, are of a political and pecuniary charac-
ter. This is all wroag. Politics should never be allowed to
enter the Sanctuary or the School, and those who exercise
control over religious or educational institutions, commit a