Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-10-21

SPEECH OF HON. y T. wlcKEnsIiAM.
came up here in this county, Ladie.
and Gentlemen, quite as much to pay
a debt as TO attend these exercises =
As Superintendent of Common Schools
/ acknowledge my indebtedness tc
several citizens of this county, and
claim to be one OF class, which fear
Is diminishing in numbers of late, who
like to pay their debts. acknowledge
myself indebted TO Mr.. Mccullough,
who served in tho Legislature two OF
three terms. / acknowledge myself
very deeply indebted to the distin.
guishcd gentleman who has represent
ed this county and district in the Sen
ate of Pennsylvania ever since have
been about Harrisburg. | want to say
here, in presence Of his own people, as
cmphatically as can say it, that /
have not met more studious, more
determined friend of popular education
among the Senators Of Pennsylvania,
for the last nine years, than Senator
Wallace ,oiyourown town. [Applause.
| acknowledge myself also, very
deeply indebted to your distinguished
fellows -citizen, Ex-Gov. Bigler, who, |
hear is on his way here, and trust
will make his appearance in this hall
before the close Of this meeting. Zap
plause.1 The school law of 1854, by
far the most important enactment OF
the Legislature since the adoption OF
the system, was passed under Gov.
Biglers administration. / had some
thing to do in preparing the way for
the passage Of that law. The most
prominent feature of il, was that pro
viding for the election of County Super
intcndents Of Common Schools. II
happened that was the first County
Superintendent elected in the county
of Lancaster. My duties took me very
frequently to Harrisburg, This brought
me in contact with Gov. Bigler, and.I
say to you, knowing what say, that
the friends Of education all over the
State, during the trying times we
passed through in putting the law
in force, ! had warm friend in Gov.
Bigler-and all the friends of education
are very deeply indebted TO him.
know that all these gentlemen of whom
have spoken feel that can pay this
debt in no better way than by helping
on the work of education in their midst
shall be glad of it if | have in the
past. or can in the future, do some
work in the payment of this debt Ia
the good people OF the county of Clear
field.
am glad to be here on this inter-
estine occasion. Ceremonies of this
kind appear to me as peculiarly appro.
pirate. am pleased that the Board
of Education-thc directors-arc here
to present the building; ! am glad that
the people are here TO receive il. 1t is
school of the people--the peoples
school-wbere the peoples children
are to be educated. II is befitting
that the School Board should present
il to the people, and that the people
should receive it. Now, having re.
ceived it by yonr representatives, it is
your duty TO care for il. ! trust you
mean not only to have one Of the finest
school buildings in this section Of coun-
try, but you will put into il one of the
best schools in the State. visited
your school building this AFTERNOON; !
examined il from top to bottom, and
think ] ought to know, for have prob
ably been in more school buildings
than any man in the State, and say
that your school house is well built,
and that it is very beautifully located
the school furniture is the best l have
seen anywhere IN this whole district
1t is a credit to the board, a credit 70
the town, q credit to this part OF the
State especially is tia credit TO the
gentleman to whom reference has been
made this evening, nj Hon. J. Il. Leon
ard-ED, who has been so generous
so liberal, towards IT,
An educational structure, the speak
er said, of that kind means something
beyond its ostensiblo objects and super
fetal purposes. A scholar, in studying
one of the pyramids of antiquity
learns something more than super
fetal obscrvcr---it is 10 him moro than
mass Of bricks or stones lie learns
from il much respecting the govern.
ment of the country, tho manners and
customs Of the people, the state of civ
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