The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-12


1 A few months since, on a beautiful .um,..
day, many ladies and gentlemen were see.
vending their way to a church, to listen TO IN.
graduating exercises Of class Of young men
who were then and there to bid farewell 10 ,h.;,
Alma Mater the oldest university in our land
Before the appointed hour, the building WA.
filled, to its utmost capacity, with eager and in
tsllisent auditors With unwesriei attention.
hour after hour, the immense multitude listened
to the classical addresses which attestsd. at one
the unsurpassed advantages enjoyed in tina,
time-honored university, and tho fidelity and
diligence Of the young men, who for the prsc..
ding four years, had enjoyed those advantages
All felt that it was a proud day for Harvard
that she was pronouncing her bensdiciion On ,
noble band, and sending forth into the world
representatives, Of whom she need pevs, n.
ashamed.
Among those who engaged in the exercise. Of
the occasion, no one was listened to with desos,
interest than the young man, to whom the clio.
sing address, the most honorable part, had besn
assigned. When he stepped upon the stag.
every eye was fastened upon him, and a. s.n-
tence aftsf sentence, fell from his lips. rich in
thought, and beautiful In form, the hsarts NJ
the audience were drawn towards him in pr,d,
and affection, as the heart Of one man. Tn.
dew of early morn rested in all its FRESHNESS.
upon his mind, and yet that mind seemed IN
have reached the maturity Of age.
, Who was the young student, who, thus CON.
D fsrred honor the university, which honOr,d
herself in honoring hint Whence came n. +,
| From home Of wealth From the circle, of
favor and fashion Had he enjoyed privat. in
, structisn and the means Of rapid mental dey.I.
( opmsns, which afiluence may afford No, hs
belonged to an humble condition. Unknown IN
the world and fame, are his parents, and the on
ly educational privileges enjoyed by him, were
such as are offered to every child Of his native
+, city, the privileges Of common schools Itwasiua
a common sehooIin Boston, that his education com
r menced IN Q common school was il continued
till he was prepared to enter University, which
f certainly, in scholarship, yields to none in our
land. Ii was the mental discipline acouirsd
in a common school and the thorough knovl-
edge obtained there. which enabled him, while
connected with that university, 10 engage in
- honorable composition with the most favored
sons Of opulence, and, "primus inter psres," to
bear of her proudest honors.
To many in our State, where unfortunately.
ideas Of inferiority and social degradation are
connected with public schools, such facts as W.
: have presented will seem strange, almost in
u credible They will be ready TO exclaim that
II the common schools, which produce such re-
suits, must be very uncommon schools. They
} are uncommon, il is true, uncommon in their
. sIcellence, for scarcely private school in the
. Union can compare with them for thorough
,. ness Of instruction, and yet they are, in the
"a strietest sense, common schools. They are open
!. to all. They make education free as the air Of
q Heaven In them the humbest laborer's child
stands on an equality of privilege with the son
Of the millionaire.
Y We must confess that our admiration Of the
common school system amounts almost to en-
- thusiasm. As Americans, as republicans, as
christians. as men. We feel the deepest interest
in it. As Americans, for in common with all
: our fellow-citiIens, we regard our country
i with pride and indulge in many fond aspiration.
. for her welfare and glory.
u We yield to none in the spirit of national
ambition, for We would gladly have our eoun-
= try stand first among the countries Of the world
e first, not in military fame, but in true dstine-
D. ton, as the home Of the best educated, most
n virtuous, ha2Piest population Of earth. Here
h We would, if possible, have society present its
IlOyslsest faafnras a IA p,ilx- .nI f..u.I..
d where no unhappy inequalities and painful
= alterations are known, but where the weakest,
Is humblest child may feel that he enjoys every
privilege and is object Of tenderest solicitude
e Let common schools be every where established.
= let them offer opportunities Of mental improve
d ment to every child, and this happy result will,
= in great degree, be obtained, and every Ameri-
II can heart, as the image Of its native land rises
before 1t, will throb with reverence and fila,
love.
" As republicans, we desire the universal es-
!, Enlistment Of common schools, for in them
S and in them alone can Dissatisfaction. and
o their miserable attendants Of pride and aliena-
ton, be done away with. There children, as in
freedom they meet from day to day, uncon-
!. sciousy learn the lesson, which should be the
first lesson of every American, the lesson Of
social equality and Social responsibilities, q
equal rights and equal duties. Upon the sstab-
lishment or Observation-Disclosures Of common
schools depends. in our opinion. the solution Of
!. our great national problem. Universal sduca-
T. ton alone can render universal suffrage safe
st desirable.
y As christians, We love the common schoO
system, for the light of our religion shines, in
o. full brilliancy, only on minds rradiatsd with in
9, tslligence. 1t is by the union Of the rays o.
I'd spiritual and intellectual light, that the flame
n, produced, whose briliancy dispels all darkness
4. and illumines the earth with the pure radianc'
IN Of Heaven.
n As men, we desire the establishment Of tn,
4. common school system, for, regarding all mel
:. as children Of the same Father, our brothers
We would discern in every brothers form
brothers mind, and that brothers mind ",
would have developed in intelligence, We
= would have his heart developed in love-