Smyrna times., 1885-07-01

preciate the beneicent sway of laws,
and will of their own accord maintain
them. The public schools are more
effective in protecting property and
enforcing law than the most extensive
police system. SecOnd-It has been
shown to the amaZement of all thinkers
on the subject that popular govern
ment is the strongest of all govern
ments. In the late Civil War, when
every passion was heated and the
greatest interests were in wild warfare,
rending the country in twain, the Re-
public was found to be able to endure
the most violent strains. The people
being educated by public schools to an
intelligence competent to comprehend
the great issues at stake, came
voluntarily to the foot of government
sumed and heavier taxes laid. Third
1t has been established that religi3A
and righteousness may flourish among
a people without a State church. Re-
| ligiOn rests upon an inherent need of
| human nature and has been abundant
| ly provided for in this country by peo-
| pie feeling their need of it. Fourth
| 1t has been shown that public educa-
ton will be provided for by the people
| themselves. We vote more money for
the support of schools and colleges
than is spent in the same direction by
any other nation whatsoever.
Up to this time our career has been
| one of marvellous success, but there
will be new dangers to meet in the fu
ture. We need the best work that the
public schools can do in order to pre-
pare us for such dangers. An enlight-
ened and educated public opinion will
be our only safeguard in the future as
it has been the great bulwark of our
defence in the past. One great danger
of the Republic exists in the work
of the demagOgue The poverty and
ignorance of the masses make them
easy victims to the deceitful state
ments of designing politicians. The
distribution of wealth is very unequal
and the constant tendency is for it to
become even more So. A great enemy
of the public schools is the Roman
Catholic Church. 1t prefers the peO-
pie to remain ignorant Of all save the
Catechism. Unable to accomplish that,
its effort is to establish Wrctched, par
oChial schools, supported by public
money. SeCtarian doctrines must be
kept out Of the public schools, but they
, need not therefore be irreligiOus. A
Christian teacher will take the spirit oi
true religion with him. The greatest
: danger to our free institutions exists in
the growing arstocracy of wealth,
| with all the power, yet feeling none oil
| the responsibility of the aristocracies o.
Europe. Some of our great corpora
ations have become oppressive monop
olies, buying legislatures of sovereign
States like 50 many articles of com
merce; and naming governors and sen
ators as if they were subordinate clerks
u ! What are called ''the best classes" thu
= threaten the welfare of the common
= wealth more than anything else. Uni
: versal suffrage in connection with uni
= versal intelligence must be the saliva
. Vation of our free and beloved iustitu
= tiOns. Because of the flourishng con
u dition of the public school syster
= throughout the country, the outlook
% bright for continued prosperity an
u final triumph. The sun of progress
{ rising in the East looking dow
: upon our land, while the people wit
y uplifted hands and faces hail him wit
! loud acclaim and give him welcome
- The perOratiOn was IL specimen of clC
- quence that delighted and captivate {
. the large audience.
y Next year the graduating class wi
y be expected to read original ESSAYS o
some selected theme, the delivery ,
Il which will form a chief feature of til
- commencement exercises.