The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-16
OITY INTELLIG ENUR
LTor AdditOnal Citp Intelsccnce Bee FllM Paqe.l

audience assembled at the Musical Fund Hail.
to listen to the exercises of the annual meeting of
the High School Alumni. Mr. Charles Buck
walter made the introductory speech as fol-
lows:-
Ladies and Gentlemen:--The honor devolves
upon me as President of this Association to open
the exercises OF the evening by what we are
pleased to term an introductory address, but
which on this occasion / fear shall be nothing
more than an expression OF few desultory ideas
which seem to me not to be entirely out OF
place. AT this late day, and in this city, distn-
gulshed for its literary culture, imagine no.
thing new could be uttered on the subject of the
Importance of popular education, nothing that
you are not already cognizant OF and thoroughly
impressed with. Yet on this anniversary of the
organization of this association, offspring as il
is OF the great recognized head Of the Public
School system of Pennsylvania, both custom and
circumstance seem to impose upon me the duty
OF saying at least something which is not en-
tnely foreign to this deeply interesting subject
This day one year ago we were just emerging
from the darkness which had enwrapped our
souls in gloom, and there ere gradually break
ing on our vision the welcome rays of the morn.
ing OF peace. Sherman had made his triumphant
march 10 the sea, and sweeping around the
wings Of his army, had penetrated the heart OF
the Carolinas while indomitable Grant, having
"iought 1t out on that line all SUMNER" was
then with sure and steady approach surrounding
the Rebel Capital. Those were the beginning of
the days when we breathed with a freer and
deeper breath, because the shadows were being
lifted up aud the national trbulation was, in
the providence OF God, nearly at an end Since
then, my friends, we have enjoyed almost the
full noontide of peace.
We have tasted once again of the blessing
which for q time had been passed away from us
VIII we heed the lessons of the war; burned into
our very hearts and memories as they have been?
Shall we act more wisely than we did before
Are our hearts pursr, broader, more kindly since
they have been purged in the fire, or are all the
petty animosites OF angered and partisan spirit
still ranking there? VIII we appreciate the
blessings which God showers upon our unworthy
heads, or Will we forget and despise the Source
from whence they so profusely flow? Will we
be better citizens, more faithful abiders by the
law, more jealous guardians of liberty? If we
do not rise to higher place, then has our strife
been altogether in vain.
All the glory of individual greatness which
marks the history OF the past, and "there were
giants in those days." is overshadowed by the
strength and greatness, not of any one man
or class OF men, but of this entire nation. No
system that has yet been devised or suggested
can secure this general education more pei.
fectly-such must be the testimony of every
man who has as all examined it-than that
adopted in this State; and therefore we should, as
scholars and as citizens, frown down and resist
every attempt to undermine or destroy its
power, no matter from what pretended friendly
quarter it may come, or under whatever plausi-
bic preteXt Let u.s. then, believing that IL is a
vital element of the liberty we enjoy, never con-
sent to surrender single branch of II, but pre-.
serving il as the legacy OF our fathers, perform
The annual address was then delivered by
Charles Henry Brock, ESQ.,, on
OUR NEW NATION.
''When good ship has outridden the storm
escaped the shoals, and left the leeshore far
behind her, it is natural even while the sea is
yet running heavily, for passengers and crew,
gathered in groups IN cabin or on deck, to speak
OF past dangers and of future security. Surely,
then, the citizens of great nation, before the
elements of an unequallcd political agitation
have entirely subsidized, may review however
feebly, her conquered perils, and augur, how
ever uncertainty her coming destinies."
Mr. Brock confessed TO having had misgivings
as TO the present propriety of bis subject. While
il, to some extent was hite 1t should not be
partisan. But he would not be understood as
even seeming to apologize for selecting a subject
SO pregnant with the destinies of the Republic.
He had, however, weightler reason for its
selection. whatever ignorance may have said
to the contraIy"-he regarded the Central High
School as the noblest embodiment of republican
intelligence in the land. As such, 1t was legiti-
mate fountain of public sentiment, an organized
centre Of popular wisdom. AS such, it could not
be otherwise than proper tor an institution,
which so thoroughly embodles the genius of the
Republic, to recognize the triumph OF Its national
prototype"
For these reasons he had resisted the fascina'
tions OF literature, the alurements of metaphy'
sics, the waIm fancies and quick humors OF
social PHILOSOPHERS, and presented a subject,
arrayed in no holiday attire, but clad III native
ihreadbare that the audience would turn away
from its batte-grimed garments, and fail to see
beneath, that image Of their counTy's destiny
OUR New NATION
The speaker started with the saying of an
ancient philosopher, that "a civil war leaves nc
cause Tor triumph"
After fine analysis of civil and revolutionary
war, the speaker quired into the character ofoul
great struggle. Could 1t be digni6ed as reuo
luton, or humilated as mere partisan civil war
Candor compelled compromise. "The great
struggle for the America An Union was at once
the most ciul revolutionary war, and the mos
revolutionary civil war which history records
This strikingly original position was supported
by sound logic.
Having powerfully considered the emptiness
OF ideal glory and physical pomp, II by oul
struggle great principles had not been estab
lshed, the speaker proceeded to lay out th
main heaos OF hrs oratiOn as ollows:-Our ma
tlon was new in constitutional genius, in inter
national status, in social organism, in sentiment
and in destiny.
As the efort will probably be published il
pamphlet form, our readers may be content witt
our mere abstract .
The speaker thus dwelt on the past and presen
nature Of our Constitution
'Such National Constitution should not be
mere Kaleidoscope for sectional politics, not
hybrid Of legislation--or a governmental tred
of nature but q conservative and an unchangin
centre OF the common veal, neutral ground o
national interest an intallible oracle of 1ationa
right, supreme tribunal OF national Justice
as certain and as powerful IN action as tn
grandest mechanism ever r1ared by human
genius, it should be at once a masterpiece o
human legislation and reflex OF the eterna
code OF God In the universal arena of ma
tionhlity does all history present grande
spectacle? No longer crouchrg at the feet @
leealiZed barSarism, blushing in her rags O
compromise, shrinking from the libdlnou
touch Of party passion, weeping over her ignC
BILE heritage, and bemoanng her bastardiZe
h1TfhrlOhf tO-QaV