Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-10

the school house.
Men are recognizing today the most
impressive anniversary since Rome cele-
brated her thousandth year-the 4O0th
anniversary Of the stepping Of herni-
sphere into the worlds life; four COM
pleted centuries Of new social order;
the celebration of liberty and enlighten-
ment organized into civilization.
And while during these hours the
federal government of these United
States strikes the keynote Of this great
American day that gives honor to the
common American institution which
unites us all, we assemble here that we,
too. may exalt the free school that en-
bodies the American principle of uni
versal enlightenment and equality, the
most characteristic product of the four
centuries of American life.
Four hundred years ago this morning
the Pinta's gun broke the silence and
announced the discovery Of this hemi-
sphere.
1t was a virgin world. Human life
hitherto upon it had been without sig
nificance. In the Old World for thou
sands of years civilized men had been
trying experiments in social order.
They had been found wanting. But
here was an untouched soil that lay
ready for a new experiment in civiliza-
ton. All things were ready. New
forces had come to light full of over
turning power in the Old World. In
the New World they were to work to-
gether with mighty harmony.
1t was for Columbus, propelled by this
fresh life, to reveal the land where these
new forces were to be given space for de-
velopnent, and where the awaited trial
of the new civilization was to be made.
Today we reach our most memorable
milestone We look backward and we
look forward.
Backward we see the first mastering
of modern ideas; their long conflict with
Old World theories, which were also
transported hither We see stalwart
men and brave women one moment on
the shore, then disappearing in dim for
ests We hear the AK. We see the
fame of burning cabins and hear the cry
of the savage. We see the never ceasing
wagon trains always toiling westward.
We behold log cabins becoming villages,
then cities. We watch the growth Of
institutions out of little beginnings-
schools becoming an educational system;
meeting houses leading into organic
Christianity; town meetings growing to
political movements; county discussions
developing federal governments.
We see hardy men with intense con-
victions graphing. struggling, often
amid battle smoke, and some idea char
acteristic of the New World always
triumphing We see settlements knit
ting together into a nation with single
ness of purpose. We note the birth of
the modern system of industry and COM
merce and its striking forth into IN
dreamed Of wealth, making the millions
mem bers one Of another as sentiment
could never bind. And under it all, and
through it all, we fasten on certain
principles ever operating and regnantr-
the leadership of manhood; equal rights
for every SOUL universal enlightenment
as the source of progress. These last
are the principles that have shaped
America; these principles are the true
Americanisn
We look forward. We are conscious
we are in period of transition. Ideas
in education, in political economy, in
social science are undergoing revisions.
There is large uncertainty about the
outcome. But faith in the underlying
principles of Arnericanism and in Gods
destiny for the republic makes firm
ground of hope. The coming century
promises to be more than ever the age
Of the people-an age that shall develop
greater care for the rights Of the
weak and make more solid provision
for the development of each individual
by the education that meets his need.
As no prophet among our fathers on
the Booth anniversary of America could
have pictured what the new century
would do so no man can this day reach
o,,1 II, ,,
the nation is now entering. On the vic
torious results of the completed centuries
the principles of Americanism will build
our fifth century. Its material progress
is beyond our conception, but we may
be sure that in the social relations Of
men with men the most triumphant
gains are to be expected. Americas
fourth century has been glorious; Amer
ica's fifth century must be made happy.
One institution more than another has
wrought out the achievement of the
past, and is today most trusted for the
future. Our fathers in their wisdom
knew that the foundations of liberty,
fraternity and equality must be univer.
sal education. The free school there
fore was conceived the cornerstone OF
the republic. Washington and Jeffer
son recognized that the education OF
citizens is not the prerogative of church
or of other private interest; that while
religious training belongs to the church,
and while technical and higher culture
may be given by private institutions,
the training of citizens in the common
knowledge and the common duties of
citizenship belongs irrevocably to the
state.
We therefore on this anniversary Of
America Iresenf the nuhIic school rs