The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-06-25
ADDRESS OF JUDGE BREWER, OF
LEAVENWoRTH,
Delivered at EmpOris UP0n the DOdIca-
ton Of the New Normal Building
on the 10th OF June. 1880.

connective, on the borders of that bette nOir
of the pioneer, the fresh American
desert, ct the close of the civil war, a
war the mightiest that ever trOd the
earth with its crimson step or smOte the
heavens with its roar and din. Yet with
a faith which, though small as a mus
tard seed, was strong enough to move
mountains, grand enough to fill the pres
ent with endeavOr and the future with
the splendors of an ever widening and
bountiful success.
To-day we meet beneath the same June
skies, in the same beautiful city of the
southwest, to commemorate, another
epoch in the history of the Normal.
Fifteen years of work done; something
of faith ripened into fruitiOn something
of prophecy become history. We meet
20 dedicate this building, which has
risen, Phoenix-like, from the ashes, to
dedicate it 10 the same high service.
And yet how changed the surroundings,
how different the circumstances under
which we meet. The scars of civil war
are healing. The blue and the gray
sleep beneath the same green sod, and
each recurring May looks lovingly down
on common wreath over their graves.
mo more shall the war cry sever
Or the winding rivers be red;
They Danish our anger forever.
When they laurel the graves OF our dead
Under the sod and the dew
Waiting the Judgment day
Love and tears for the Blue,
Tears and love Tor the Gray"
The State of Kansas, struggling for
liberty In her infancy, finds fulfilled the
voice of prophecy: "Inasmuch as thou
hast been faithful in a few things, l will
make thee ruler over many things" A
handful has become great nation.
This border city is the center of a
mighty people The vanishing heels of
the American desert are evermOre chas-
ing the sunset, and soon it will pass
from fact in geography tota7myth in
history. Across that desert already
ebb and flow the tides of continental
commerce. | hear even now the tread
of that railroad army marching with
iron step beneath the pillar of cloud by
day and pillar of fire by night. a grander
host than that which followed the ap.
pointed leader of Israel during its viii
derness wanderings. pushing westward
like Cortez, the Spaniard, to unfurl its
victorious banner in the halls OF the
| MonteZumas, and then on beyond till
from Pisgah's height on continental
shores it sees across Pacific's blue the
dream of Columbus, the wealth of Ormus
and of Ind.
And now, wherefore this building
Why the Normal? Why the deep inter
est felt by thoughtful men and women
of earnest ones from all parts of the
state? Is it because two or three hun
dred young men and women are annual
~ To receive instruction within thest
walls and thus be better equipped fol
the struggles of life? Is it because o.
its relations 10 and influence upon the
individual. In short is it because thii
is one school and simply one in many
where the young are To be educated?
trOw not Not that the education o
even a single youth Is matter of little
moment or devoid of interest, for whG
can watch with unconcern the growing
powers of the boy slowly unfolding I'm
der the skilled hand sOf the trained in
structor; to-day, wrestling with the sim
plest matters of early study; Tomorrow
moving with majestic ease amid tn
grandest problems of human thought
Is any growth so rich and grand? Tn
farmer may watch with increasing pleas
ure the little green blade growing ant
ripening into the golden grain the hOI
ticulturalist may note with new deligh
t the dawn and spread of rosy blushe
, around the tempting fruit; the stool
f man may look lovingly at the frisk.
, calf moving ON into the stately, massive
and blue-ribboned shorthOrn of iii
} country fair; the mother sees with III
speakable joy the soft limbs of her bah
l grow strong, the short dresses give plac
to the flowing skirts as her little gin
f ripens into the fair and graceful woman
r But what are all these growths compare
e with that by which the feeble forces of
child's thought change into the might
; processes and powers of the strong brazil
\ Within the limits of earth and time VIII
can say how much the one exceeds th
r other, and when the minds eye loOE
q through the lofty doors which swim
0 outward into the mystery beyond u
1 and gazes down the advancing centuriC
. of growing brain and grander power
!. comparison ceases and thought an
n language fail.
Oltll IL Is uOI lIAC lh0lNA0udA ~
growth which give meaning and intere
4 to this occasion: 1t is rath'
the relation which this institutio
q sustains to the state and the generi
q veal. This is more than any OrdinaI
a school, though 1t may not have half Il
y number of the latter's pupils. 1t meal
# more than individual education;
= means the well-being Of all commC
a schools; it signifies the probability of
s permanent and improving public schO
4 system 1t is not the individual, b.
q the state; it is not the present, but Il
d future, which summons us here al
n compels our interest
4 1t has been an accepted truism in ia
I country that, as self-government
a. ponds on the intelligence of the citiZe
N the public school was the necessity Al
:. defence, as well as the glory Of free
n slitutions ! am glad that this has be-
Il so, although it Is so no longer for '
ali know that today the public school
NJ an object OF attack, and must be defen
I ed. Indeed, all formerly accepted trut
I are challenged. The iconOclast as W,
% as the schoOlmaster is abroad. SoT
O doubling Thomas steps up before eve
y dogma and says, Except / put my
y, gers into the prints Of the nails, a
ne thrust my hand into his side, will 4
believe" The heroes of history g
changing into mYths-PocahOntas a
William Tell are vanishing into shs
ows, and ere long, / fear, we shall
compelled to admit that Julius Ces
ur killed Brutus; that Mary, Queen
in Scots, committed suicide; thai GeoE
re Washington did tell lie, and that
at win NJ Stanton was the great erlgiI
es secessionist In the midst of this dOu
1g ing, challenging. nothing will sta
ed which does nO:, by its own ACHE
A. ments, vindicate its right TO be-tra
It. ton, veneration, faith, even love, "
ed not uphold that which does not CA
!" within itself q guarantee Of power q
En- success The public school is no exc
ey ton. Memories of the past are not 6
sc fcient. Lines of attack are reaching
it, against il and from every quarter.
on is Goddess institution" says the Ca
We ole. SEAst out the Bible, or let
Ito school 90 down." cries the liberal Tn
nd Is either too much or too little of
sh Deity. at is an unjust expense" ur
ne the childless taxpayer. HCall il p
Ihe lie purpose TO make me pay 70 educ
lie my neighbours childrenP As well mi
ere me nay for their food and clotnin
we And so, from q growing mob goes
aed he cry, Cruelty IL cruelty itI''
I propose today no defence VI