The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-01-27

he not been stunted in his early
growth he himself would add 25O
pounds.
Senator McHale stated that the
legislative committee had come on
business to ascertain the necessities
and requirements of the school, as
representatives of the state. We are
here to carry out the great work be-
gun by our predecessors, work nobly
begun. He had warm place in his
heart for the school, and appreciated
the function which it performed in
the educational system of the state,
of which it is but mere factor. 1t
has been successful. AS county SUI
perintendent for four years he had
observed that on every point Normal
teachers sare almost always superior
to other teachers. AS county attOr-
ney for eight years he had sent a hun
dred criminals to prison, but none of
them had had a common school edu-
cation. He had come to the conclu-
sion that,it was wise policy to vote
any amount of money for education,
the enlightenment of posterity and
the glory of the nation.
Mayor Willard welcomed the visit
ors on behalf of the city most heart
lily. We do not regard this institu-
ton as our personal property, but we
feel deep interest in it's welfare.
We are proud of it in some respects,
but not of it's close quarters and
crowded rooms. He did not think
that the visitors felt that the build
ing was at all adequate. The school
is situated in the center of 20 or 30 of
the richest counties anywhere. The
students come from the surrounding
country, so that the school is not for
the benefit only of Manlato. 1t is as
well located as it could possibly be,
is central, and railroads radiate from
it in seven different directions.
1t is this fact that has
built up the school to overlooking.
For this you are called upon to afford
greater accommodations. This school
is doing vast work, and we hope and
trust that it will meet favor at your
hands.
Judge Severance was the last speak
err He felt his position here today,
at the foot of a long row of orators
who had preceded him. All had
claimed not to be speakers and had
dropped their mantles upon the next
until the whole avalanche had fallen
upon him. He was neither a Cicero
nor Demosthenes. Had he been, he
would not have been here today. He
had attended such occasions as the
the present for some years and after
clim bling up the hill and the stairs
had each time cherished fond expec-
tation that he might die before the
next visitation. There was much
that might be said. The committees
were not created to respond to any
friendship or to listen to a cheap
championship of any locality. That
was not the design of those who ad-
dressed them today. No one would
call on him today to debate the pro-
priety of Normal schools, as that ques-
ton had been settled by legislation
years ago. Neither is there question
as to whether the schools should be
sustained by the state. He was not
sustaining this school because it was
located in MankatO, nor was he OPP
posed to any other school because it
was in another city He was sustain
ing it because it was Normal school.
Intelligence can not be so localized in
this state that it could be subject to
censure or criticism. Wherever school
is it is like fountain, dividing itself
and sendiug its rills in every direction.
The committees are here to learn the
needs Of the institution, and it is their
duty to make a just and true report
between each institution, having just
reference to the ability of the
state and the burdens of
it's people. 1t is nonsense to
talk of legislation following the wish
of any particular person or locality.
These schools were not created to
adorn any locality but to symetriZe
the educational system of the state,
and thus do their part to hold the Re-
public upon it's foundation. The peo-
pie are able to see in their magma
tion every nation rocking on its foun-
dalton, that is not founded on proper
education. A voice comes from every
nook and corner of the whole world
asking the people to rise and join in
giving education the greatest force
and effect. From the Tiber, froms the
shadow of the colosseum, where ignor-
ance and superstition once tried to
blot out the light of civilization, now
comes voice from the leading diplo-
mat who would not use
any force to arrest popular
education on any political or
ra1inio,,c limo IF iC Int N mort of tho