49 Philosophers and statesmen have ever recognized the truth that universal education is the basis of true national prosperity and real greatness. "The fair fabric of Justice raised by Numa," says Plutarch, passed rapidly away because it was not founded upon education." No truer reason can be given for the decay of everything good in a State. No nation will ever realize its full possibilities which does not build upon the education of the whole people, upon the enlightenment of the masses. Every consideration of public safety points to the wisdom of emancipating the people from the slavery of ignorance. Might alone has made the struggle for greatness and has failed. War, with all its horrors, has proved powerless to make nations great. Rome, great as she was, and leader of the world, fell, not because she lacked brave generals and great rulers, but because her plan of education did not reach to the foundations of her national life and character. In a republic like ours, the system of education, to realize its highest aim, must reach the common people, the "plain people," as Lincoln loved to call them. It is the highest province of the State to determine the character and the quality of the education which will best prepare them for their life work as individuals, and as citizens of the republic.- Charles R. Skinner, from the President's Address, delivered before the National Educational Association of the United States, at Milwaukee, Wis., July 6, 1897. Our fathers, in their wisdom, knew that the foundations of liberty, fraternity and equality must be universal education. The free school, therefore, was conceived the corner-stone of the Republic. Washington and Jefferson recognized that while religious training belongs to the church, and while technical and higher culture may be given by private institutions, the training of citizens in the common knowledge and in the common duties of citizenship belongs irrevocably to the State. We, therefore, uplift the system of free and universal education as the master force which, under God, has been informing each of our generations with the peculiar truths of Americanism.- Charles R. Skinner, from address before New York State Teachers' Association, 1897. 4 FREE SCHOOLS INSPIRE LOYALTY TO COUNTRY. (From the last interview of General Horry with General Marion in 1795.) Israel of old, you know, was destroyed for lack of knowledge; and all nations, all individuals, have come to naught from the same cause; what signifies then even this government, divine as it is, if it be not known and prized as it deserves? This is best done by free schools. Men will always fight for their government according to their sense of its value. To value it aright, they must understand it. This they cannot do, without education, and, as a large portion of the citizens are poor, and can never attain that inestimable blessing without the aid of government, it is plainly the first duty of government to bestow it freely upon them. The more perfect the government, the greater the duty to make it well known. * * God knows, a good government can hardly be half anxious enough to give its citizens a thorough knowledge of its own excellencies. For as some of the most valuable truths, for lack of careful promulgation, have been lost, so the best government on earth, if not duly known and prized, may be subverted. Ambitious demagogues will rise, and the people, through ignorance and love of change, will follow them. Look at the people of New England. From Britain their fathers had fled to America for religion's sake. Religion had taught them that God created men to be happy; that to be happy they must have virtue; that virtue is not to be attained without knowledge, nor knowledge without instruction, nor public instruction without free schools, nor free schools without legislative order. Among a free people who fear God, the knowledge of duty is the same as doing it. With minds well informed of their rights, and hearts glowing with love for themselves and posterity, when the war broke out they rose up against the enemy, firm and united, and gave glorious proof how men will fight when they know that their all is at stake.-Francis Marion. - THE CAPITOL. AVE you ever been in the city of Washington, the capital of your country? If you have, I am sure you never can forget the noble " Capitol " building, at one end of Pennsylvania avenue, while at the other end stands the famous "White House," the home of the President of the United States. To the Capitol the approach is very beautiful and the first sight of the great building very inspiring. Within its walls the laws which govern our country are made by United States Senators two from each state in the Union- and Representatives from all the states,- the number from each state being based upon population. Here indeed, from the loftiest peak of the "Capitol," should our dear flag fly. For the flag is the emblem of that justice which the laws of this country must grant to every citizen, no matter how poor or humble he may be. In this building also sit the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. It is their duty to see that the laws are right, that justice is done between man and man, and that respect and obedience are shown to these just laws. Washington is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is in the District of Columbia, so-called. This district is really a territory of the United States, and as such is under the exclusive care and government of Congress. No finer historical program for the Capitol could be devised than to have pupils read about the men and the events that have made Washington, the Capitol, and the District of Columbia, the home of the Capitol-so famous. Then let them mould their reading into short essays, to be read, compared and contrasted as to knowledge of historical perspective shown and real "composing " power. (51) SELECTIONS. A few Sundays ago I stood on a hill in Washington. My heart thrilled as I looked on the towering marble of my country's Capitol, and a mist gathered in my eyes as, standing there, I thought of its tremendous significance and the powers there assembled, and the responsibilities there centered-its president, its congress, its courts, its gathered treasure, its army, its navy, and its 60,000,000 of citizens. It seemed to me the best and mightiest sight that the sun could find in its wheeling course this majestic home of a Republic that has taught the world its best lessons of liberty - and I felt that if wisdom, and justice, and honor abided therein, the world would stand indebted to this temple on which my eyes rested, and in which the ark of my covenant was lodged for its final uplifting and regeneration.— Henry W. Grady. With each succeeding year, new interest is added to this spot. It becomes connected with all the historical associations of our country, with her statesmen and her orators; and alas! its cemetery is annually enriched with the ashes of her chosen sons. Before is the broad and beautiful river, separating two of the original thirteen states, and which a late President, a man of determined purpose and inflexible will, but patriotic heart, desired to span with arches of ever-enduring granite, symbolical of the firmly cemented union of the North and South. On its banks repose the ashes of the Father of His Country; and at our side, by a singular felicity of position, overlooking the city which he designed, and which bears his name, rises to his memory the marble column, sublime in its simple grandeur, and fitly intended to reach a loftier height than any similar structure on the surface of the whole earth. Let the votive offering of his grateful countrymen be freely contributed to carry higher and still higher this monument. May I say, as on another occasion: Let it rise! Let it rise, till it shall meet the sun in his coming. Let the earliest light of the morning gild it, and parting day linger and play on its summit.— Daniel Webster. |