Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-09-27

of their duties. And we cannot hav,
right thinkers unless we have righ
men, unless we have right teachers
and ministers of the gospel, and law
yers and legislators l ask yon to
day, you who teach, you who preach
do you study sufficiently your duty
with reference to the education, the
right education of those under your
care and influence? Some of You re-
member possible those words of Gen
Garfield in his inaugural address on
the 4th of March, 1881, when be
said at is the high privilege and
sacred duty of those now living to ed
ucate their successors, and to fit them
by intelligence and virtue, for the in
heritance which awaits them" Let
them learn a new meaning in the
divine oracle, "and a child shall lead
them" Our children will soon con-
troll the destinies of this Republic.
And what is the inheritance that
awaits these children that are to be
made right thinkers To be rightly
educated. What is this inheritance
that is to come to your child mother,
that is to come to your boy father !?
Why twenty-five years ago men
used to prophesy as to the future of
this country. Well, what is the in
heritance !? Can we picture it? A
land $500 miles in width, and 5000
miles in length, having probably in
ten or fifteen years hence a union of
States numbering fifty. Having to
maintain that with gold and silver,
and coal and oil from the very bowels
of the earth, pouring out from one
well 5000 barrels a day. Having
oceans, great oceans, and great rivers,
upon which can float the navies of the
world. The grandest mountains, and
the deepest canyons, and the greatest
trees that grow on the face of the
earth
These with our fertile soil, and with
electricity which probably in few
years will light our homes and cities,
and run our engines and steamships,
and | cannot name steam's maryels in
the 10Th century. | can speak to my
friend hundred miles away, and l
doubt not, in ten years hence, perhaps,
that my friend in China shall recog-
nize the very tones of my voice. But
[ must hasten to speak especially of
popular education, with reference to
the education of this illiteracy, this 80
per cent. of the voters of this country
who are illiterate. | desire to speak
of popular education in three senses.
First, popular in the sense of being
general. Second, of popular educa-
tion as it is modern of the present
times, and pertains to the highest in
terests of the land. Third, of popular
education as it is represented in the
modern agency with the Chatauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle. l must
be brief on this point. | do not know
how long | am to speak, but if any
body else will speak | will be glad to
take my seat at any moment, but l
want to give you brief statement of
three points.
1st Popular education in the sense
of becoming general, or the common
school is the agency. / remark there
common school education OF the coun-
try in Congress, and out of it, than
there has been for years. Since the
South became liberated from the con-
diton of slavery, the whole country
has been interested in the education of
the youth of the South Many organ
izations under the direction of the
churches have proceeded to this work.
And vet when we look at the illitera-
cy, when perhaps million and a half
of the voters in the South, and it is
probable there are three million chill
dren of school age, in all 5000, 900. 1t
becomes great question it becomes
a national question.
Some of our Legislators have discov-
cred that the national revenue is much
greater than the needs of the nation.
We can meet the interest of our pub
lie debt, we can meet the expenses of
the Government, and vet have a sur
plus revenue. Hence our Congress
men (and | am glad that we are hon.
ored to- day with one of the most dis
tinguished Congressman of our late
Congress), our Congressman have
discovered that they can make an ap-
preparation from this revenue for the
purpose of education in the South and
in the Territories and still have sufii-
cent money to carry on all the inter-
ests of the Government Hence there
are several bills pending. having refer
ence to this appropriation.
The idea is this: that the National
Government is conservative or con-
servator Oook in the dictionary for
that word.)
| Now do not be so very critical about
my pronunciation AN not a college
President. Laughter. When my
friend DR.. Jeffers comes to the stand
why criticise him to your hearts con,
tent Laughter. / say the nation
is conservator in the Interests of the
nation. OF course it is not supposed
that the nation is to carry out the
work of the States. Each State has a
personal responsibility with reference
to the education of the children. We
have in these grand northern States, of
which Pennsylvania is rightly the
Keystone State, common school sys-
TEN that supports itself. We do not
ask the general Government for one
dollar of appropriation The illiteracy
of the northern States is very small
compared with the illiteracy of the
States of the south Our people sup
port our schools in every township and
every county, and this grand school at
Pine Grove will send out this fall it's
hundreds of teachers to instruct this
township, all over this county and ad-
joining counties, all graduates of this
school of Pine Grove. Applause.
And these other grand schools Of north