Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-14

DistributIon OF Medals and Premiums
speech OF Secretary Harlan.
The distribution Of medals and premiums
to the pupils Of the Fourth District schools
took place yesterday afternoon at the new
Foundry Church, corner Fourteenth and @
streets. Mayor WALLACE presented the re-
wards. The church was crowded by the
parents and friends of the pupils. Most Of
the members of the School Board were
present, and number of our city authori.
ties.
After prayer by the Rev. WV. W. HAMrL.
TON, Mayor wALLAcH arose and introduced
the Hon. Secretary HARLAN, who spoke sub.
stantially as follows: ......-
SECRETARY HARLAS's srEEcH
| regret my young friends on your account
that have to appear here to-day as do. II Is
not ,lg .ault, however, Of those who were kind
enous to invite me, for they did give me notice
several days ago. Nor Is II altogether my fault,
for have been 40 busy in looking after the In
terests OF the Indians, applicants for pensions,
and others, as to be unable to say much OF mat
ters interesting to you.
will hrst address myself to parents, and I
may say the present generation will be held re
sponsible for the men and women now growing
up. IL Is our province, as adults, to Impress cur
character ou the minds Of our children. We are
responsible for their character In tho future. In
a short time they will hold In their hands the
reins Of pal aud national government. We
are responsible for their physical, moral, aud
mental training. In a country like ours, where
we have q healthy atmosphere and all things to
add to health, there is nothing to prevent us
from having a good phi " steal development. How
ever delightful n book may be at first, Its perusd
becomes irksome II we do not study to under
stand the spirit Of its contents.
So with children. Their beautiful, happy faces
do not prove that they will possess attractive
characters, unless we labor for their proper de-
velopment The obligationSof parents are i'm
measurable, and deep rs the love Of offspring
should be the sense Of duty TO educate and mould
the mind and heart The majority Of citizens
are not men Of means, and the wealthy and oul-
tiyated should be ever ready to do all in their
power to furnish all the children OF the land
with the advantages Of schools. II lis q sad truth
that ignorance aud vice are twin sisters, and an
ignorant community Is always criminal one.
In every community agreat majority Of the
citizens are not men OF means. Those who are
wealthy and cultivated will look after the vel
fare Of their own children, but good citizens II
Is our duty to take an interest In the coming gen
Grafton, and we should feel q deep interest in
their future welfare aud happiness d.
The safety Of life and property depends upon
the community being well educated for where
there Is ignorance, vice aud wickedness are sure
to exist. The wealthy and the Intelligent are
directly interested in the welfare OF the children
around them Of less means.
II has been stated by persons who have care
fully calculated It, that 1t costs less to educate
| community than TO support poorhOuses, Jails
penitentiaries and houses ofrefuge Which, then
will you sustain-sehOol- houses or jails, Acade.
mics or houses Of refuge, colleges or Penitentia'
riesH Hence, as q question OF economy, we SCI
| It Is cheaper to educate community than t.
| support criminal courts, Jails, &c.
| dtgiF n
| the men and women Of the country; and II you
| desire to occupy high positions-to be loved aud
rcspected-and to be happy, you must apply
| yourselves faithfully to your studies; and n
you progress In them, they will become NOR,
| and more a source Of pleasure.
| You ought to know how to read and write oui
| language, to compute and cast up accounts, sC
| thai every one may attend to his or her owr
business, and know how to buy and sell. You
| should know well your geography. Would 4
not be well to know Us much about all the river
| In the world us you do about the beautiful Poto
| macp You should become acquainted with tn,
animal creation you should know your gra mma
| we'll understand punctuation well, so as to know
| how to separate one word from another, and un
| derstand what q writer intends TO convey. WOult
| It not be well to know the names and classify al
| the flowers OF the earth to know the names ant
classify the pebblesi These studies are called
| botony and geology. You should know natura
| philosophy well and understand what causes tn,
rain, the frost, the dew, nc Would you not like
to be able to calculate the size Of the sun aud the
moon to know when au eclipseal2uld take placs
| without referring to an almanacf Would you
| not like to know how the engineer navigatcs the
| sea by means Of lines laid down on little piece
| Of paper2 Would you not like to understand
| yourself and know the laws Of nature; to com.
| pare yourself with the men and women around
| you aud know II you were inferior to theml
/ cannot to-day, however, dwell on these
| things | have alluded to them merely 10 give
these small boys and girls an idea Of what they
| are to do in order to secure their wei fare aud
| happiness. You go through this probation in
the attainment Of knowledge, and at tho same
time dcvelope your own manhood,
These premiums have been presented by the
city authorities as marks Of honor, and do You
not delight to receive them , Then be assured
that additional effort will secure higher honors
and greater pleasure
Much has been done by the authorities, but
learn by the able report Of your school trustee,
that out Of is, 900 children in the city OF Wash
| ington the Public Schools are only sufficient Il
accommodate 1900. The schools should b,
patroniEed and made popular, and probably the
| National Treasury will aid the school authori
ties. It Is the duty OF parents to patroniZe The
schools by not only paying the tax but by send
| ing their sons and daughters to the schools
| and so let people know you have an interest II
| the Public Schools.
Let this mater be presented to Congress, which
has contributed so largely TO other schools ant
college,, and see II help may not be obtained
| there. In my opinion, there should be here IL
the capital Of the nation the model public school
| Of Onr country.
Max 1t so that our public schools may compar
fayor,bly with the public schools of all nation
and all parts Of the country.
| Hoping in the future to be able to lend m
feeble aid in bringing about these results, than
you for your attention, and bid you adieu.
Secretary HARLAN spoke forty minutes
and was listened to with much interest. Tn
distribution then took place, q report o