Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-07
FaeeclRcULArlNo LIBRARY.
speeches - TN-Pr'sidcnt Cleveland and
Others in New York city.
utv folegrgur 90 tra Disne'rsl


Nrw Yors, March Ga mas meeting tc
.'..aoe the interests OF \ vs. York irc'-
.r.I. Ting library Was held tll- evrlng IA
t... h,.n- liql. one of tho speakers wa,
tr.IIe. .dcnt Grover Cleveland benjamin
!l. fs'd presided aud introduced Mr.
f..r land who Was the second speak
H.l loud applause. Dir Cleveland said.
Nr. Chairman Gud L1j'ee ord Gentlemen:
Tho fow words / shall speak ON this &C.
calun intend rather as "a pledge % my
adherence 10 the cause IN which Won arc
enlisted than ag attempt o. say amy thing
a.w or instructive. l gladly join with tho
Drfi ur'9-u If q new convert ~ the fclcl-
f.t..u OF those who have done noble and
effective work in the establishment and
tn4iutculnce IN our city OF free circu-
} tng library and II seems TO me they
levc abundant cause lOr cougratuhtion M
- reyiew of tho good which has already
been accomplished through their efforts
Gn1 iu the contemplation Of tne further
usefulness which awaits their continued
erifGvor.
lu every enliehtoncd country the value
% popular education is fully recognized,
,.t only as "a direct benefit leo 10 recipients,
hut ls au element of strength and safety in
organized society. Considered in these
s.y ets 10 should nowhere he better APP
trr..ated than JOB Til, land of free iustltu-
t.n- cpusecrated to thcweli-re ana happl-
.e 0; !ts citizens, and deriving lt'
f...t.u and lis power from the people.
N... the character OF the people Is ln-
ul.y impressed upon the Government,
H.t bore our public lie can no more be
..trraud purer than the life of the poo
bold. t.su a stream can rise above lts toun-
.lu. nr Doe purer than the spring IA which
&. ..e Us source.
I..t we have not failed To- realize
tl.e conditions is dcmDuetrat. Il by tho
.,f. u'.stmeut OF free public schools on
.y.r, side. where children arc not only liz
Nt.i hut often obliged to- submit them
elves 10 such instruction aS VIII better
t.-r situation in li. aul tit them TO tako
1863. luteihgcnuy in the conduct OF the
Government.
Thus iu our schools tho young are taught
t0 r4i. and IN this manner the seed IA
gown from which We expect profitable
,cturn 10 the State. when lis bonohclarles
alal repay the cducaH Dl8l advances made
so them ly an Intelligent and patriotic
pui ruauce Of their social and political
duties.
GOOD CITIZEN SHIP.
And vet If we are 10 create good citizen
chip. which is the object of popular edu-
cation. and If we are 20 insure 90 the coun-
iry thc fan benefit OF public instruction,
So. can bv no means consider the work as
completely done m the schOOl-rOom.
While the young gathered there are ntunS
themselves ~ assume in the future their
political Obligations there are others upon
whom these obligations already rest, aud
who now have the welfare and safety of
fhe country in their keeping. our work IS
badly doue ii these are neglected. They
lnvcpGsscd tho school age and have perhaps
uVa,lcd thcluseives If free instruction. but
t1cy. Gg well a. those st.llln school, should
nevertheless have within their reach tho
.relns OF further mental Improvement and
tae opportunity of gaining that addl-
nal knowledge aud information which
o4u only bee secured by acccs5tO useful and
iustru tive books.
Tuehusbandman who expects 70 gain q
profitable return from bis orchards not
only carefully tends and cultyates tho
Young trees in his nurseries as they grow
- maturity. but he generously enrichcs
and Gaze. for those already in bearing and
upan which no must rely for Tipened
iut.
Teaching tho children Of our land TO
read is hut the FIRST step in the scheme OF
creating good citizens by means OF free IN
Y-ruction. We teach the young 20 read so
that both as children and as men and wo-
uru .ley may read. Our teaching must
load 20 the habit and the desire Of reading
SD De useful, and only as this result -
cached can the work IN Our free schools
hr logically supplemented and maze NGiua-
Ole.
Therefore the same wise policy and in
tent which open the doors Of our free
schools 30 our young also suggest the COM
Ilction OF the plan thus entered upon by
placing books IN the hands OF those VINO
.u our schools have been taught TO read.
man or woman who never reads and 10
abandoned 20 unthinking tOrpor, or VINO
allows tho entire mental life e. be bound
ci bv the narrow lines % daily-recurrlng
routine % effort for mere existence. can:
r0t escape d condition OF harrenness OF
mind which not only causes the decay OF
individual contentment and happiness,
but which fails TO yield 20 the State its
Justly expected return Of usefulness IN
valuable service and wholesome political
action.
Another branch Of this question should
not be- overlooked. IL Is not only OF great
importance that our youth and our men
and women should have the ability, the de-
B.re. and the opportunity 20 read, but inc
kind Of books they read - no less i'm.
p0riant. without guidance and without
tie invitation and encouragement 10 resu
publications winch will improve as well as
interest there il danger that our people
viii have ia their hands books whose in
fuence Gsd tendency are Of q negative
sort, II not positively bad and misehieyous.
Lake other good things the ability ana OPP
portuuity 10 read may be 30 used as 10 de-
feat their bonifcent purposes.
The boy who greedily deyours the Vicious
tales If imaginary daring and blood
cuTdlrng adventure which IN these days are
far TOO accessible 10 the young. VIII nave
L. a 90
standards Of manliness which. II they do
not make hum "A mennen 10 peaca and good