The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-05

down, when it was resolved. unanimously
resolved, rs one Of your citizens said at Il
meeting called soon alter the fire to give
up, to postpone? No one thought of such n
thing, but that that building must rise again.
so rs to induce Us to do more in all its de-
sign. That resolution touched not ONLY the
patriotism OF your people but their pockets.
The truth, is the relation between patriotism
and pocket is SO intimate that | doubt the
patriotism Of a man who cannot, in the hour
OF lls cuuntry's need, or when education is
needed, feel that he has some evidence there
which will certify 10 the extent of his desire
to honor the call and one of Uncle Sam 5
greenbacks is very valuable certificate to
the extent of that patriotism, and believe
many of YOU bad it, and all to the extent of
their ability were ready to produce that GER
tfcatc
And to-day, in obedience to their request,
am here to unite with you to dedicate this
| building to your interests. Although | do
| not know you, as | lOo.' upon your smiling
i"N'9 tHi0 "''o"'. .""", aud cannot ...
your names, | have "a deep, and have for
years had, very deep sympathy and inter
est in every thing that pertains to your bOr-
ough and to the county of Columbia. Years
ago ! sat upon the bench OF your court here,
and endeavOre1 to administer Justice with
some of my friends that | see in this audi
ence this afternoon, who sat at my side |
| had the pleasure of meeting many of the
| gentlemen of the bar there, and others, and
| never forgot my pleasant sensations on that
| occasion. | know your hearts, the interest
| you have in the cause of education and it
| is because you feel that interest that YOU
have crowded this room this afternoon.
| We are here to dedicate, to dedicate what!
Not temple to some heather God not anon
| ument to some man great as the world calls
| greatness, who has written his life and his.
tory in blood, but to that which is peacetul.
| honorable and ever to be esteemed the cause
of education, that great principle of de.
| Vehement that makes and marks true man
hood. And, if there is ANYTHING in this
world of ours to which we are debtor for
| what we dub Americanism for our free
| institutions, for everything that pertaius ia
| liberty and right in this land of n hundred
| wears, Centennial burstiup unon us ma.
| lion free, and. thank God forever to remain
| fee, if We will remember this. free thouyht
irce schools, a free and open Bible, the re.
cogntion OF the grand and eternal truth
contained in that book which is the Guide
and the textbook of the child and the
statesman now and forever Applause We
owe it to education, we owe it to this de-
vclopment, to the grand fact that here we
have what we call our tree schools, our com.
mon school system as we sometimes term il.
Now let me here explain. We apply the
term common to our schools not because tbey
are inierior-n0, by no means, not inferior
schools, but in the sense of free, open to all.
| Every child in the nation upon whose brow
| God has enstamped the image of manhood
! invited to come and enter and drink of the
| tuuntain-iree AS the atmosphere we breathe
| lite and health erywhere-iree in the sense
Of the sunlight, which this afternoon falls
! in silent evidence of power upon the earth
oh how silent yet powerful! a few months
ago and all YOUR rivers were bound in ice
zee Qce threatened year before last y
terror III every heart /; every appli-
ahce that man could use 10y the way of
grinding ana removing the mountains of ice
mat mad lolmed in that dark winter; all is
aiead IN the ihture; men stood aghast, fear
IN thelr laces, powercss III that presence of
me deadly ice-king, silent but powerful. In
that moment OF terror, one OF yonder little
suhbtahs came out flashing IN silence, and
struck upon the ice 1t felt and realized its
power; 1t passed and melted away; the riv-
trS were unbound and mankind's terror re-
lleyed. Education, powerful in its nature,
makes, moulds, and forms the character and
the man moves onward IN all the great works
OF human life, which may God grant will be
periolmed, and consecrate all this great
bullulhg on the NIL to such uses. The com
mon school system Is iree-iree, open, not
lhlerl"r; never let that idea into Your head
lhat 10 send your child to the common
sGhool Is TO degrade lt--no, IT Is an American
luca' ana ! nope Inc gay VIII come when to