National Republican., 1873-06-30
rprcArIoN AT ruH CAPITAL.

During the last Ave OF ak weeks the coll
umns of the REPuHLIoAN have been flled
with the reports Of the annual college and
school exercises 10 an extent hardly ever be-
fore attempted In this city. Looking back 70
the ono or two hundred columns that We have
printed on tho subject covering every point,
from the humble primary schoolto the stately
university, we are abundantly satisfied with
the work, and feel amply compensated for
the labor and the expense to which We have
been put In the knowledge that We have
done q substantial benefit to the cause Of
education In this community. Those of
our readers who have read the interesting
reports which we have printed from day to
day must be convinced that education at the
capital Ia In an extremely nourishlng coudi-
tion that in fact no city In the Union Of Its
size possesses anything like the same cduca-
tlonal facilities. In presenting these faith
full transcripts Of what has been said aud
done, we have aimed at the strlctost impair
TALLY, and II VIC may judge from the numcr-
Gus letters that we have received, We think
we have been cmlnently successful. Pro-
testant and Catholic, public and private,
white and colored institutions We have
treated with the same distinction, presenting
| the best work Of all In as clear light as II
was possible to do IT,
Washington, as we said should feel proud
Of her colleges, academies and schools. Co
lumbar college and the Georgetown uni.
yersity, both 80 rich In historical asso-
Citations and traditions, their foundations
dating back to the earlier days Of the rcDub-
lc are, In every sense, nrst-clr s. Institutions
and compare favorably with the best uuivcr-
stiles In the world. Georgetown college, one
Of the principal Catholic educational cstab-
lishments In the land, has exercised, and
Is undoubtedly destined to exercise In the
future, a very great influence upon the coun-
try. In the ranks Of her alumni are to be
found men eminent not only In private, but
! IN public lifc-at the bar, In the church, In
journalism, In the army and navy. Column
blan college Is no less eminent. Toward an
other of,our great religious parties she occu'
: pies an analogous position to that Of her sis.
! ter college. The recent examinations and
exercises conclusively show that the gentle
men who arc iutrustcd with the direction Of
these institutions arc fully determined to not
only hold them up to the high standard oi
excellence they have thus far maintained, but
to still further increase their usefulness and
! efficiency. The Academy Of the Visitation
may be justly ranked with Georgetown and
Columbian colleges. Enjoying the rcputa'
ton Of one Of the very best female educa.
tional establishments In the country, crowned
with the glory Of nearly three quarters Of :
century, with sweet and fragrant memorie,
and associations Of her own, the Georgetown
academy holds a very near and dear plsc,
, In the affections Of the best women In the
) country.
: But II Is In the public shools, whito and
! colored, that Washington has after all the
, most reason to feel Just pride. The growtl
! Of, comparatively speaking, only a few year,
, they already stand In the froat rank of tn,
public schools Of the country, not inferio- tc
those Of the larger and more prc,outlou,
cities OF the Union. In the face Of opposi
tiou and bitter discouragement they have ld
vanced step by step until to-day they have
} become the proudest ornaments Of the capi
tai, the substantial evidences of Washington
: interest and zeal In the cause OF education
, To the gentlemen who have so steadily ant
pcrsistently labOTed for their advancement
/ and development the present and the genera
tons to come will be forever indebted. Wash
! lngton has been exceedingly generous TO he
public schools; generous when II was hard ;
$ be generous; generous In the face OF the mos
chilling neglect and indifference on the par
3 Of the General Government. But the brea
: she cast upon the waters Is coming back T.
t her with rich return. Ignorance can n,
{ longer be land as charge at the doors Of IN,
+, capital. As community there Is no NOR
{ enlightened or intelligent city In the world
IS The seed sown In the public schools twcnt
N years ago is bearing a rich harvest. Ever,
+ city Is prosperous In exact proportion to 1t
: With our increased advantages and opportr
" mites the Washington Of twenty years +
d conc will surpass the Washington Of to-Ga
h rs much II not more than we excel the back
t ward, half-built city Of n quarter Of ecu
1t tury ago.