St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-22
school system. Itwas splendid effort,
and the following is an extract from it !:
Lewis Frankeiss Grafton,

Men are recognizing today the most i'm
pressive anniversary since Rome celebrated
her thousandth yesr-the 400th anniversary
OF the stepping of hemisphere into the
worlds life; four completed centuries of
new social order; the celebration of liberty
and enlightenment organized into civiliza-
ton.
Four hundred years ago this morning the
Pintas gun broke the silence. and announced
the discovery of this hemisphere.
1t was virgin world. Human life hitherto
upon 1t had been without significance. I'M
the old world for thousands of years civil
lied men had been trying experiments in
social order. They had been found wanting
But here was all untouched soil that lay
ready for a new experiment in civilization
All things were ready. New forces had come
to light, full of overturning power in the old
world. In the new world they were to work
together with mighty harmony.
Today we reach our most memorable mile
stone. We look backward and we look for,
ward.
Backward, we see the first mastering of
modern ideas; their long conflict with the
old world theories. which were also trans.
ported hither. We see the stalwart men and.
brave women. one moment on the shore, then
disappearing in dim forests. We hear the
axe. We see the flame of burning cabins and
hear the cry OF the savage. We see the never
ceaslng wagon trains always toiling west
ward We behold log cabins becoming viii
lagos, then cities We watch the growth of
institutions out of little NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
becoming an educational system; meeting
houses leading into orgahlc Christianity ;
town meetings growing to political move
ments; county discussions developing fed
eral governments.
We Look Forward.
We are conscious we are i'll period of
transition. Ideas in education in political
economy, in social science are undergoing
rev1sions. There lisa large uncertainty about
the outcome. But faith i'll the underlying
nrInninaC n nrin In,
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 a more solid provis-
ion for the development of each individual
by the education that meets his need.
As no prophet among our fathers on the
39Oth anniversary of America could have pict-
ured what the new century would do, so no
man can this CAV reach out and grasp the
hundred years upon which the nation is now
entering. On the victorious results of the
completed centuries, the principles OF Amer
1can1Sm will build our fifth century. Its ma
terial 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; Americas fifth century
must be made happy.
One institution more than any other has
wrought out the achievements Of the past
and is today the most trusted for the future
foundations of liberty. fraternity and equal
1ty must be universal education The free
school, therefore, was conceived the corner
stone of the republic. Washington and JEFF
ferson recognized that the education of citi-
zens is not the prerogatlve of church or of
other private interest; that while religious
training belongs to the church, and while
technical and higher culture NAV be given
by private 1nStitutions-tha training of cti-
Zens in the common knowledge and common
Duties of Citizenship
belongs irrevocably to the state We there
FORE on this anniversary of America. present
the public school as the noblest expression
of the principle of enlightenment which Co
lumbus grasped by faith. We uplift the sys-
tenn of free and universal education as the
master force which. under God, has been
informing each of our generations with the
peculiar truths of American1sm. America,
therefore, gathers her sons around the'school
house today as the institution closest to the
people. most characteristic of the people.
and fullest of hope for the people.
Today Americas fifth century begins. The
worlds twententh century will soon be here.
To the Ii, 100000 now in the American schools
the command of the coming years belongs.
We, the youth of America, who today unite
to march as one army under the sacred flag
understand our duty. We pledge ourselves
thai the flag shall not be stained. and that
America shall mean equal opportunity and
justice for every citizen, and brotherhood for
the world.
Miss Emma Fryer recited the Colum-
bian ode, which was written by Edna
Dean Proctor. Maj. Espy made brief
address. Thomas Cochran responded
to the toast 1.-The Banner of the Free"
Rev. E. j. Funk, pastor of the First
German Methodist church, made an ad-
dress, explaining that he had been called
upon to fill the place of Capt. ii. A.
Castle. He spoke briefly and very in
InIi
the entire multitude, and the exercises
were closed by the benedictiOn pro-
nonnced by ME- Ennk