We must educate！We must educate！or we must perish by our own prosperity.If we do not，short will be our race from the cradle to the grave.If，in our haste to be rich and mighty，we outrun our literary and religious institutions，they will never overtake us；or only come up after the battle of liberty is fought and lost，as spoils to grace the victory，and as resources of inexorable despotism for the perpetuity of our bondage.
But what will become of the West if her prosperity rushes up to such a majesty of power，while those great institutions linger which are necessary to form the mind，and the conscience，and the heart of the vast world？It must not be permitted.And yet what is done must be done quickly；for population will not wait，and commerce will not cast anchor，and manufactures will not shut off the steam，nor shut down the gate，and agriculture，pushed by millions of freemen on their fertile soil，will not withhold her corrupting abundance.
And let no man at the East quiet himself，and dream of liberty，whatever may become of the West.Our alliance of blood，and political institutions，and common interests，is such，that we can not stand aloof in the hour of her calamity，should it ever come.Her destiny is our destiny；and the day that her gallant ship goes down，our little boat sinks in the vortex！
The great experiment is now making，and from its extent and rapid filling up，is making in the West，whether the perpetuity of our republican institutions can be reconciled with universal suffrage.Without the education of the head and heart of the nation，they can not be；and the question to be decided is，can the nation，or the vast balance power of it，be so imbued with intelligence and virtue as to bring out，in laws and their administration，a perpetual self-preserving energy.We know that the work is a vast one，and of great difficulty；and yet we believe it can be done.
I am aware that our ablest patriots are looking out on the deep，vexed with storms，with great forebodings and failings of heart，for fear of the things that are coming upon us；and I perceive a spirit of impatience rising，and distrust in respect to the perpetuity of our republic；and I am sure that these fears are well founded，and am glad that they exist.It is the star of hope in our dark horizon.Fear is what we need，as the ship needs wind on a rocking sea，after a storm，to prevent foundering.But when our fear and our efforts shall correspond with our danger，the danger is past.
For it is not the impossibility of self-preservation which threatens us；nor is it the unwillingness of the nation to pay the price of the preservation，as she has paid the price of the purchase of our liberties.It is inattention and inconsideration，protracted till the crisis is past，and the things which belong to our peace are hid from our eyes.And blessed be God，that the tokens of a national waking up，the harbinger of God's mercy，are multiplying upon us！
We did not，in the darkest hour，believe that God had brought our fathers to this goodly land to lay the foundation of religious liberty，and wrought such wonders in their preservation，and raised their descendants to such heights of civil and religious liberty，only to reverse the analogy of his providence，and abandon his work.
And though there now be clouds，and the sea roaring，and men's hearts failing，we believe there is light behind the cloud，and that the imminence of our danger is intended，under the guidance of Heaven，to call forth and apply a holy，fraternal fellowship between the East and the West，which shall secure our preservation，and make the prosperity of our nation durable as time，and as abundant as the waves of the sea.
I would add，as a motive to immediate action，that if we do fail in our great experiment of self-government，our destruction will be as signal as the birthright abandoned，the mercies abused，and the provocation offered to beneficent Heaven.The descent of desolation will correspond with the past elevation.
No punishments of Heaven are so severe as those for mercies abused；and no instrumentality employed in their infliction is so dreadful as the wrath of man.No spasms are like the spasms of expiring liberty，and no wailing such as her convulsions extort.
It took Rome three hundred years to die；and our death，if we perish，will be as much more terrific as our intelligence and free institutions have given us more bone，sinew，and vitality.May God hide from me the day when the dying agonies of my country shall begin！O thou beloved land，bound together by the ties of brotherhood，and common interest，and perils！live forever——one and undivided！
（Lyman Beecher）
译文 TRANSLATION
我们必须推行教育！我们一定要厉行教育！否则，我们将在浮华中走向衰落。否则，我们的种族将迅速从新生走向灭亡。如果我们吸汲于富强而侵越文学与宗教建制，它们定将永远滞后。或者，只在自由受到攻击并失落后，作为溢美胜利者的战利品或巩固奴役的冷酷专制的资源。
但是，如果西部的财富只是推动了强权，而那些形塑精神、良知与心灵所必需的伟大建制却徘徊不前，那么，未来等待西部的将是什么？绝不能允许这种局面出现。而且必须当机立断，因为那里的人口日益繁盛；贸易不断发展；工厂不停运转；数百万自耕农在肥沃的土壤里收获着腐蚀人的丰饶，推动着农业的发展。
无论西部的未来是什么，都不能让东部的任何人自我麻痹，空想自由。我们的血脉、政体、共同利益紧密地凝结在一起，以致万一西部遭遇灾难，我们绝不可能独善其身。她与我们休戚与共，她的巨轮倾覆时，我们的小舟也将在漩涡中沉没。
在西部，一场伟大的实验正在进行；而这场实验正从范围和迅速扩展的规模两方面检验着普选是否能增强我们共和政体的巩固性。如果不对我们民族的理智与心灵这两方面进行教育，这些建制就不能得以加强。而亟待解决的问题是，作为对这一实验成败起决定作用的力量，我们的民族能否在品德与知性方面获得那样的熏陶以致在法律与行政层面产生自我保护的能力。诚然，这是个艰巨的任务，但我们相信它定将完成。
我意识到我们最干练的爱国者面对这场实验当中涌起的波峰浪谷也带着几分畏葸和不祥的预感，担心将要袭来的危险。并且，我也注意到一种不耐烦的情绪在潜滋暗长，这是对我们共和国长治久安的疑惑，我相信这些恐惧是有理由的，亦因这些恐惧的存在而欣喜。他们是我们黑暗的天边亮起的希望之星。恐惧是我们所需要的，正如暴风雨后在波涛汹涌的海上行驶的轮船需要风来使自己免于沉没。但是，如果我们能以敬畏与勤勉应对危险，则必化险为夷。
因为危险不是那恐吓我们的无力自保；危险也不是我们不愿像换取自由那样为国家付出代价。危险是疏忽、轻率、得过且过，直至和平的景象在我们眼前隐匿不见。承天之佑，民族觉醒的象征、上帝荣宠的征兆都在我们身上显现。
即使最黑暗的时刻，我们也不相信，上帝带我们的祖先到这片美丽的土地来奠定宗教自由的基础，并在这里创造出奇迹，令他们的后裔得以享受高度的民权和宗教自由，而结果却是背弃天道神恩、放弃圣功伟业。
而纵使阴霾漫天，大海呼啸，心儿在瑟缩，我们仍坚信光明在乌云背后，而在上帝的指引下，那迫近的危险只是为召唤而赋予东西部神圣的手足情，以便保卫我们的国家安全，使我们的祖国繁荣昌盛、万古长存，宛如长江大河。
我还要补充一点以激励即将采取的行动。如果我们的自治伟大实验失败了，我们的败绩相当于放弃与生俱来的权利、相当于滥用恩典、相当于挑战仁慈的上天。而我们的萧瑟衰败将与往昔的蒸蒸日上遥相呼应。
上帝对滥用其恩典者的惩罚最为严厉；而最可怕的报复手段亦无过于人之忿怒；没有哪一种痉挛像即将逝去的自由那样痛苦；没有哪一种哀哭堪比国殇。
罗马的衰亡历时三百年；而倘若我们一旦败落，其历程势必更其惨烈，因为我们的智力与自由体制给予我们更强的筋骨与活力。当我的祖国亲历败亡之痛的那一天，唯愿上帝离我而去！啊，我深爱的国度，休戚与共的同胞之谊凝结成你！愿你万世长存，愿你完整、统一、永不分崩离析。
（黎曼·比彻）
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