Daily Republican., 1890-02-24
FLAG PRESENTED.
PATRIOTIC ePEgCHEs AND
pATRloric SONGS.
Eureka Council Tenders tho National
Colors to tho High school-lnter-
esting Ceremonies Last Sat
urday Afternoon.

set BY Eureka Council, No. l, Jr. o. U.
A. NJ, for presenting an American flag
10 the HiGh School, aud long before the
time appointed for the ceremonies people
were hocking TO the school building. The
nag procured by this patriotic order 10 10
feet long with the full complement of
stars, and will float from stat 80 feet
some time ago by the Board of Educa-
tion and all that remained was the trans
fer and formal ceremonies. 1t was the
intention of the members Of the order TO
have . grand parade In the afternoon, IN
which the members Of the various Or
ganixations Of this city were invited to
participate, but owing TO uni0rseen cir
cumstsnces this was abandoned and the
council marched 70 the school headed BY
Hyatt's Military Band.
When they reached the building the
asse mbly room was well allied, about 900
persops being present. The wells were
handsomely decorated, that In the rear
OF the stage being covered with fags,
draped 20 ~ to show nne crayon Ior-
trait Of George Washingt0p. There was
q miniature tent and stand OF arms ON the
stsge, and over one Of the windows
Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism" the
motto Of the order.
The members Of the Board Of Eduoa-
tion, President OF City Council John q.
FarrA, City Councilman +. b. ColtoD,
Superintendent Of Public Schools d. q.
Harlan, High School Principal A. Il.
Berlin, the Rev. L. e. Barrett, pastor Of
st. Paul's N. H. Church, ex- Mayor G. b.
Rhoads. Z. I. Taylor and others we're on
the stage.
The meeting was called 70 order At 8
o'clock by s. redmond Smith, Esq, of
the Board Of Educstion, who presided
and conducted the exercises. Hyatt's
Band WAS stationed In the corridor and
after several patriotic airs had been rem.
dered, the Rev. L. Z. Barrett, Of 81.
Paul's NJ. z. Church, offered prayer. :
Henry G. Conrad, Esq, was then In.
tIoduced and spoke ON .',Ths Advantages
Of Our Public Schools."
He said one hundred and hity-eight
years ago . man was born who Was
destined to become the greatest OF all
Americans. Nearly one hundred years
ago that man was laid to rest, but the
name OF Washington continues to live,
and will live 40 long a the world shall
stand. Therefore, 1t 10 but right and
proper that the anniversary OF his birth
day should be observed, and especially In
. public school. In examining the pages
oi history We find that there was co
| YORQlhE VI oAuS8ttp1 Az hnu 0atiy
time, and no provision made for edu.
eating the masses. Some Of the ancient
nations had excellent schools, but they
were private ONES, and could only be
, enjoyed by those poesassed OF ample
meAns. At tine commencement Of the
Chri4tlan era the bishops and priestl
established schools and interested them
selves in the education Of the people, bu
religion was 80 mixed up In tho tuitior
that II is probable these schools closely
rrsembled the Sunday schools OF to-day
Martin Luther Understood the Importance
of education, and over three hundred
, years ago he wrote that the question Wal
D grave one and worthy OF con.
sideration, as 1t affected the Kingdom oi
Christ.
Two years later be wrote: 1.-THE gov
ernmsnt Ia the natural guardian Of the
young, and has right to compel people
to support schools. This was the key.
note OF tho public school system, and on
} that principle the paeltc schools are
based. Throughout this entire country
tax 10 laid on all property for the pur.
pose Of forming common school fund,
which is used for the education OF the
young. In this system there are NO
classes, and all persons aie bsnsiitted
alike.
Prussia was the first country to pro.
vide . popular system OF education, but
the system WAS not really perfected until
the early part OF the present century.
Scotland, through the efforts OF JOHN
Knox, followed. Tue idea Of the public
school system OF this country originated
with the Puritans They were convinced
of the necessity Of universal education,
and the first thing they did after build.
ing rude houses for shelter was to build
churches and schools. 1t 10 an open
question whether the nrst free school was
built in Massachusetts or Connecticut.
Tho New England system required the
teaching OF the rudimsnts Of an Euglish
education and required that school
should be In every district. Beginning
with one rude school house and one
teacher the system grew until to-day 1t is
unexcelled. 1t would be useless to offer
any elaborate arguments In favor Of tho
system. In no place could so large an
audience be collected without the ma
jority being In favor OF the syeten.. The
system 10 q necessity where the people
govern. Blot out all the public schools
and in short time the law could not be
enforced.
In the public school system Whining.
ton Is abreast OF the times, and our
schools will compare favorably with
tuOse OF Any phft vi tuS Sounty. Ancio
were but four school houses In this city
thirty years ago with thirty teachers and
fifteen hundred scliolars. Now there are
twenty 6ve school houses, one hundred
and seyenty-five teachers, aud over nine
thousand scholars.
In the last fife n y. ari there have been
100000 spent for new schoolbouses In
this city, and last year there was Sl20,-
029 81 used for school purposes. There
is no theme more deterving of interest
than our public schools. "ln looking
back think II ever learned anything it
was in tho public schools. They take
the children aud train them regularly
that they mny be better equipped Tor the
battles OF Lille; that they may bet er take
care OF their pecunlary Affairs; that they
may live better than their parents were
able to do, and also that they may be
able TO take some part in directing the
Affairs OF gov rnment, for every Amerl-
can may be called upon TO do 50. The
perpetuity OF this government depends
on knowledge and 1t Is the duty OF the
government to d!fluse that Knowledge.
Living in these days We have much to be
thankful for. We have our country, we
have our npg and we must direct every
effort to support our common school
system, which 10 the foundation OF our
goverl ment."
When Mr.. Conrad closed C. B. Rhoads,
with the pupils Of the High school, sang
the "atar &, rlnglld Banner" aud tue
entire audience Joined in the chorus.
| asJoctIops we've then piyt II bv uyatts