Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-09
EDUcA1 1oN-coMoN SCHOOLS.

lat, dinner in Fanueil Hall, recently
tmde the following brief address, pre-
Ipsatory tothe toast given by him, ant
lin reply to one of the regular toasts
which was in the following words:
ellis Excellency the Governor: Bos.
tn is proud to put him forth as sam
ipe of the productofher Free Schools. .
II Mr.. President need not attempt
Il, express my grateful sense Of the
lbnor done me in the last sentiment
II is praise enough for any man to be
regarded by such a company as this as
ding no discredittoth the Boston Schools
liam sure l owe them more than can
Irpay. They were the friends of my
Ifiendless youth and poverty, and gave
Inc better education than had the
means of getting in any other way.
Of the numerous public occasions of
different kinds to which the courtesy
|Faid to my official character calls me,
tbere is none which l attend with great
Ier pleasure than this anniversary.
There is, indeed, none in which, whe-
'ther as parent or citizens, weishould
take stronger interest. Thelmpor-
lance Of schools is certainly not over
Itooked in this community; but it is
not over-valued; it cannot be. Liberal
provision is made for their support, but
not extravagant provision. Noexpense
which any reasonable man would re-
commend for such purpose could be
extarvagant. | mean, in word, that
the object is Of almost inestimable i'm
portance.
Sir, it is manifold, and, may so ex-
press myself, compound Importance
1t is important in and by ths impor-
lance Of almost every great and desira-
bic object in life, towards the attain
ment of which education furnishes the
means. / do not know that this view
of the matter is sufficiently familiar;
that it is enough considered that the
support of the school is not separate
interest, which may be taken up. pro-
vided for, or neglected, and all other
things remain the same. l fear we
may, even in this liberal community,
he disposed to regard it as one only of
the items in the years estimate, light
ing or paving the streets, erecting pub
lie buildings, or bringing pure water
into the city. In reference to all such
objects, the people, of course, have on
ly to consider whether they will or
will not provide for any of them, dis
pensing with or enjoying some or all
Of the rest. Thus, for instance, the
people, if they choose, may spend all
their funds applicable to such objects
in lighting, paving and watching the
streets, leaving them as to width and
staightness as they were left by the
original surveyors-said to be made
By domestic animals ashley came home
fpm pasture, orthey may bestow their
surplus means on public buildings, and
ontent themselves with water as it is
indicated in the laboratory under our
fet-the natural soda, not in all cases
rmarkably sprightly, nor of the best
fhvor.
But to speak with the seriousness
which becomes the topic, it is not so
With education. This is the one liv-
ling fountain, which must water every
part of the social garden, or its beauty
vithers and fades away. OF course, l
mean, sir, moral and religious, as well
as mental education. This is the sim
gle avenue, straight and narrow at
first, but gradually widening, which all
must tread who would arrive at use
fulness and good name. This is the
Temple which all must enter, built
like that which Marcellus erected to
Virtue at Rome, through which lay
the only path to the Temple of Honor.
Its one simple portal stands unbarred
for the mighty company Of emulous
youth, ofiwhateverobject inlife. There
is room for all, and, when they have
entered in, thousand doors fly open
before them, leading to every hall Of
prosperity and virtuous fame. It is
next to religion, the shrine from which
must flow out the issues OF peace to
our firesides, Of activity and enlight-
ened enterprise to our marts of bust.
ness, of wholesome respect to oul
Courts and Senate houses. It is the
elemental fire which mustlighten, warm
cheer us, as men and citizens. Talk
ofpublic buildings, sir! Let the plain
brick scho ol-housesgodown, and, tho
We pile our hill-tops with structures
that surpass the time-defying solidity
Of Egyptian Theber, or the immortal
! rocef,,lness nf Corinth or Athore 4ho,,