The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-13

ADDRESSED THE TEACHERS.
President Harrison To the Educstors At
Saratoga.
SARATOGA, N. Y, July President
Harrison's special train arrived here at
1870 o'clock this morning and his private
coach was run upon a siding at the sta
tion. The President was sleeping at the
time, but awoke early this morning and
was In readiness at 7.3o o'clock when
Postmaster Richie arrived with num-
Der of citizens, delegation from
Wheeler Post, q. A. r., and the 22nd Sep
arate Company, headed by the Shelter
Cornet Band, to escort him to Congress
Hall where he rsakfsstsd. Irr
At 0 o'clock the President was escorted
to Congress Spring Park whore the large
Educational Association was assembled
on the lawn at the end OF the hill which
slopes about the music pavilion. After
prayer by Rev. DIR. Angler, DIR. r. II.
Cook, President Of the National Educa-
tional Association, and Hon. A. 8. ORA
Instruction OF New York, made brief ad-
dresses.
President Harrison was received with
down he addressed the convention as
follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies' and Gent ntlemen:
ceive," this is blessed audience; (laugh-
ter and applause) for ] do not know any
class Of our people who give 30 largely in
excess OF their receipts (lsughtsr) AZ In.
structors of the young, and especially
female teachers daughter and applause).
II gives me great pleasure to stand for
few minutes in your presence, and to re-
ceive this cordial expression OF your re-
spect and interest. It ID quite as ap-
propriate, think, that the President of
the United States should review the
teachers OF the land 90 that as he should
review its army or its militia. ZAP
plause).
For sitsr all, tho strength and defence
OF our institutions, not only In peace but
in war, 10 to be found In the young Of the
land who have received from the lips OF
patriotic teachers the story Of tho sacri-
hce which our fathers recorded to estab-
lish our civil institutions, and which
their sons have repeated on hundreds of
The organized army of the United
States, IL we include the militia of the
States, is of Insignificant proportion
when put in contrast with tho armies OF
the other great powers Of the world. Our
strength Is not In these; 1t Ia in that
great reserve to be found in the In
,tructed young Of our land, who come to
Its defence In time Of peril. (Appiause.)
Il was not OF the brawlers; IL was not OF
the frequentcrs of the tavern, of which
our army must be made II any great
smergency Of war again confronts US.
recall battle scene. The line was ad-
vancing against the entrenohed enemy;
from behind strong parapets eight double
lhotted guns hurled their missiles at
Heath into the advancing line; there was
spause that threatened us instant retreat
when stripping soldier, mothers boy,
air and cheered the line on to victory.
Great applaase). The instinct Of patriot
SIN, or moral courage, was triumphant
over mere physical daring in that hour
and 1t always will be. (Applause.)
am not here TO instruct this conven-
lion Of instructors (laughter): IL has
seemed to me that we are taking on in
education some of the developments
which characterized the mechanic arts.
No workman produces q finished prod
act. He gives il little touch and passes
Ii to some one else. / sometimes regret
fully recall the days when the teacher
eft his strong impression upon the
pupil (iaughter), by reason Of long years
Of personal intercourse and Instruction
(laug hter), universities where the pro-
lessor knew the members of his class
(laug hter) and could detect the fraud
whom q dummy was substituted (laugh-
teri.
Now we have the little one for few
months In the kindergarten, then pass
him on to the primary and the graded
system catches him, much as q moving
belt in machine shop, and IL carries him
on until he 10 dumped from one Of these
great universities as "hnished product"
Laughter and applause). Perhaps tho
work Ia so largo and the demand for
economy so great that this system 10 In
svitable. Perhaps IL throws the pupil
somewhat more upon himself and out of
this may come some advantage.
But without discussing the relative
merits of the old way and the new let us
thank God that this great army of in
structors, reinforced by the great body
Of our citizens, 10 marching on to reach
that great result, when there will not be
found an adult citizen of the United
States who 10 not possessed of an elemen-
tary education. (Great applause.)
II gives me great pleasure TO express q
sincere personal interest in and TO COM
mend with Whatever official sanction I
can give to Il the great work In which
you are engaged. ] sympathize with 1t
not only because I see In IL the safety Of
our country, but what 10 more perhaps,
what 10 the same thing, the safety of So
ciety. sympathize with 10 and sppreci-
ate II because love children. daughter
and applause).