Milford chronicle., 1892-10-21


M !. .: !. 8. !: .. !: 6: ). !: !:
nation, and witt
them the people are gathering around
the school house.
Men are recognizing today the mos'
impressive anniversary since Rome cele
brated her thousandth year-the 4UOIl
anniversary Of the stepping OF henn
sphere into the worlds life; four com
pleted centuries Of a new social order
the celebration OF liberty and enighteh'
ment organized into a civilization.
And while during these hours tne
ederal government Of these Unitee
d. ses strikes the keynote Of this great
The day that gives hssolto the
hipd, ,-s,e7- insti q OF which
seqhe1 neFe that we,
violent fo5e school that en-
OF pne 4lcan principle Of uni
in the tenment and equality, the
This cteristic product Of the four
Hssrt. y American life.
ptctur p Ntndred years ago this morning
xande, it and mUTsa " broke the silence and
fous known. TheySts. thv'ery Of this henri
70 work. Pneumonia NWas
snemy. Men were strongS~~ feanman lIe
healthy in the morning, and when eEysPt sig
ing came with it was the physician eor thou
5he next day the undertaken. ? had been
commOdations fit to be called social order.
and men after-ld wanting. But
work in the mines werOuehed soil that lay
IN that frosted an experiment in civiliza-
they Id things were ready. New
lev. 7. .IIad come to light full Of over
.nng power in the Old World. In
the New World they were to work to-
gether with a mighty harmony.
Il was for Columbus, propelled by this
fresh life, to reveal the land where these
new forces were to be given space for de-
velopment, 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
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.
Uo hardy man xuith fl7kauoa ooT,-
victions graphing. struggling, often
amid battle smekey and, some idea char
acteristie Of the New World always
tFiumphing. 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 un-
dreamed Of wealth, making the millions
members one Of another as sentiment
could never bind. And under it all, and
through it all. we fasten on certain
principles ever operating and regnant-
the leadership Of manhood; equal rights
for every soul; universal enlightenment
rs the source Of progress. These last
ara the principles that have shaped
America; these principles are the true
Americanism.
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 a large uncertainty about the
outcome. But faith in the underlying
principles Of Americanism 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
g greater care for the rights Of the
weak and make a more solid provision
for the development of each individual
BY the education that meets his need.
As no prophet among our fathers on
the 30Oth anniversary Of America could
have pictured what the new century
would do, so no man can this day reach
put and grasp the 100 years upon which
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 ia 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 present the public school as
the proudest expression Of the principle
OF enlightenment which Columbus
Rrasped by faith. We uplift the system
Of free and universal education as the
master force which under God has been
Informing each Of our generations with
the peculiar truths Of Americanism.
America therefore gathers her sons
AROUND the school house today as the in |
stitution closest to the people, most char
acteristic Of the people and fullest Of |
hope for the people.
Today Americas fifth century begins.
The worlds twentieth century viii soon
be here. To the thirteen millions now in
the American schools the command Of |
the coming years belongs. We, the youth /
Of Aws,ari,.., who k,1axv s,s&a -, ,,,srof