The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-11-28


a stronger force than ever, that NOR
intelligence and a far more reaching
knowledge is demanded of cur people
The disturbances in various fields O
enterprise and industry during th'
past year, the feeling OF unrest tina
has shown itself all over our land
prove to US that only an intelligen
public can grapple with such seriou
and momeRtous questions.
What would become of a govern
ment like ours If in times such as thes'
ignorance were to predominate an'
hold sway? The fabric of our govern
ment would be torn TO sbreds and b
made a prey for the tyrant and usurper
II Is the duty of the teachers of on
schools To give more attention 10 th'
qualification of the citizens of the fd
ture. Pupils leave the public schools
with very little knowledge of the gov
ernment and institutions of their eoun
try. They are ignorant of the most
simple questions growing out of ON
government. They leave school pre-
pared for business or some vocation in
life, but are poorly qualified for the r.
sponsibilities of citizenship, response
bilities that are at the foundation of al
business and prosperity. Attention
should be given to the nature OF ouI
government. In = government like
ours, the people are the supreme pow
er, and, they being the supreme pow
er, it i highly essential that they
should be intelligent and well versed
i'm the principles of our government,
As the nature and workings of our
government are taught 10 the pupils,
they can be inspired with greater love
for that which i right and honorable.
Pupils should be inspired with a feel
ing OF patriotism. There are different
forms ofpatriotism. The American boy
takes naturally to patriotism. He
thinks the flag of his country the most
beautiful flag in the world, and he
thinks his country the most glorious
country in the world, and q country
which does not inspire feeling of this
kind must be in deplorable condition
indeed. That feeling, which comes to
one on the contemplation of the flag
of his country is feeling which comes
natural to one. It is the spontaneous
outburst of patriotic feeling. There is
another type, higher type of patriot
ism. The man who stands up for his
country, regardless of right or wrong,
has poor kind Of patriotism. Our
boys and girls should be taught TO de-
spise everything in politics and gov
eanment that is not honorable. These
lines from Lowell is the proper test OF
all patriotism:
loved her old renown,
Her stainless fame,
What better proof than that.
! loathed her shame.
That is Il patriotism of which no
country can have too much, patriot
ism which loathes everything that
b,ings shame 10 the eOuntry's honor OF
to it, reputation before the world \
patriotism of that kind condemns the
political tricksters a. disgraceful to
their country and dishonering its
nane. We need politicians who are
earnest, able men, who have "A COM
pleta knowledge of science and politi-
cal systems of all kinds and times, and
who car put a stop to crazes and delG-
sion> of all kinds by showing from the
teachings of human experience the
impossibility of their success IN practice
In no part Of the world are literally
educated men i'm the true sense of the
word more needed than i'm the United
States. If our schools and colleges
We're II train and educate men OF this
character, We would have a much
higher type of patriotism among our
citizens. Politics would then become
different pursuit from what it gener-
ally is in this country.
There are men high in Office in our
government to-day who do not have
the proper typ, of patriotism. Times
make great changes in a country,
changes in IL industries, it, civiiiza-
ton, its social and economic conditions.
but principles never change; and the
principles upon which our govern
ment was founded are the same to-day.
Those principles should ever be kept
before the minds of the people, for as
sure a. we drift away from the princi-
pies that led our forefathers To found
this government and put it on Il solid
basis - sure VIII We be in danger of
political shipwreck. Let Us then en-
deavor - inStili into the minds of our
pupils greater love for home. greater
love for government, greater love for
country. Les Us teach them to regard
it Institutions with the most tender
feeling AMI To cherish its memories
with tla most sacred trdst. Oar lib
critics AMI blessings OF government
Were lou yht with the sacrifice of prec-
ious lives; they have come to Us a
rich herita e which We shoIld gaard
with the most watchfIl care.
There i noother country the history
Of which, if properly studied, will in
spire greater love of country than
The history OF our c9nntry. 1t Is his
tory 10 which we can point with feel
ngs of pride and admiration, history
hat has revolutionized government
and the world, history the pages of
which Will shine with brighter lustre
II the years - by.
How impoTtlnt then that We build
well; build not only for the present,
SIT for the future. How important
hat the children of the present shall
grow up into intelligent citizens of the
foremost government and country on
.he face of the earth. And, if there
,ver come time in the history of our
,ountry when it shall be in danger
when its institutions shall be threaten
Il with downfall and destruction.
nay it not be due to any neglect on the
part of the teachers of the pIblic
schools, may such crime not be
charged To them. If the teachers were
o be guilty OF such grave neglect of
iuty, methinks | can hear them cry