Middletown transcript., 1891-07-09
E. R. COCHRAN. JR.'s ADDRESS:
DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF
THE PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG
TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BIZ
THE JR. o. U. A. NJ. ON
JULY 4TH, 1891.

THE JR. o. u. A. M. ON
JULY 4TH, 1891.
Fellow-citizens of Middletown,
Ladies and Gentlemen :
appreciate very much the honor
conferred upon me by the Jr. Order
of American Mechanics in being
called upon to deliver this address.
That while it's my maiden effort |
appreciate more than words can ex-
press the responsibility to which they
have 80 kindly entrusted to me in
being enabled to, 1st present myself to
the people Of this my native town,
who have been my friends and as
sociates from my.childhood days And
Iassure I you my friends and fellow
citizens that 1T affords me great
pleasure to be with you on this
glorious 4th day of July, the birthday
of this great and glorious nation
which is second 70 none on the face OF
the globe.
You are here with US to-day to as
sist in celebrating in manner fitting
to the occasion, the 10th Anniversary
Of American independence, the birth
day of our nation, and we see that
this nation of so recent origin, now
amosg the most considerable and
powerful nations of the globe and
spreading over the continent from
sea to sea and from shore to shore.
On the day of the Declaration OF
Independence, the 4th of July, l776
the representatives of the United
States Of America, in Congress as.
sembled, declared that these United
States are, and of right ought to be,
free and Independent States. This
declaration made by the most patriotic
and resolute men, trusting in. the
Justice oftheir cause, and yet made
not without deep solicitude and
anxiety has now stood for over one
hundred years. and still stands. II
has met dangers sud overcome them,
it has had enemies and conquered
them, it has had detractors and abash-
ed them all. it has had doubling
friends, but it has cleared all doubts
away, and now to-day raising its
August form higher than the Clouds
many millions Of people contemplate
it with hallowed love and the world
beholds it and the consequences which
have followed from it with profound
admiration. This grand anniversary
animates and gladdens and unites all
American hearts. On other days of
the year we may be party men in.
dulging in controversies more or less
important to the public good. We
may have likes and dislikes,
and we may maintain our political
differences often with warm and some
times angry feelings. But to-day, we
are all Americans and all nothing
but Americans; all unpleasant feelings
and political differences should be sci
aside and the associations connected
with this day disperse all cloudy and
sullen weather in the minds and feel
| ings Of the Americans. Every mans
heart should swell within him and
every mans port and bearing becomes
somewhat more proud and lofty as he
remembers that over a hundred years
have rolled away and that the greal
inheritance of liberty is still his; hi
undiminished and unimpaired, his tc
enjoy and protect and transmit te
future generations.
In a country SO extensive as ours
and a country making such rapid
strides in all directions, it is necessary
that our public schools should form
one Of the chief corner-stones of this
American Republic. The growth
and prosperity which have character
ICED the first century of our nations
existence, have excited the wonder
and admiration of the whole world
What shall be written of her at the
| end of another century will depend to
a great extent upon the manner in
| which our public schools fulfil theil
| mission. No other nation since the
world began has had q history such as
ours due in great degree to oul
public 81 hools which are the grea'
assimilating power in this country.
We find in them children of al
| nationalities who pass out of the
school house.
The time has come when tht
pupils of our public schools must b
taught the love Of country. ThaI
means that the children of this natior
must learn to love their native land.
To whom shall we look for the in
culcation of those patriotic sentiments
which should inspire the heart o
every American citizen, but to thu
teachers of our public schools. Eel
low citizens, the Junior Order o
United American Mechanics have
achieved worthy and enduring worl
in directing the attention Of all oul
people to the vital Importance O
patriotic training in our public
schools. Through their instrumen
tality the emblem of our nations
glory which has hitherto been un-
furled only in times of bloody conflict
or holiday occasion, is now seen float.
ing peacefully in the genial sunlight
over many Of the buildings dedicated
| tn the nation q vouth.
And here to-day this order of Jr.
A. M. is to inaugurate this custom BY
the presentation of the American flag
to our own public school, where the
children viii see it every day and
learn to love and cherish it as the
emblem Of all that is great and good.
1t will represent to US and to all the
world in new and peculiar manner
the great fundamental truth that the
bulwark of our liberties is in the edu-