The National tribune., 1895-10-31
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOtes from Departments.
PATRIOTIC TEACHING,

| Finds n Hearing at the Meeting of the
National Council of Women at the
| Cotton States Exposition-Report of the
| Committee on Patriotic Teaching-The
| Troublesome Clark Case Ended.
The National Council of Women held very
interesting sessions for four days at the Cotton
States Exposition, Atlanta, conducted by
Mary Lowe Dickinson President i'll her own
impressive and beautiful manner. The Wo-
mans Relief Corps was not officially repre-
sented, but the work of patriotic teaching,
which they have engrafted upon the Council,
was presented in the following report prepared
by Kate BrowRlss Sherwood, Chairman, Com
mittee on Patriotic Teaching:
REPORT ON PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION.
There is unity in form and unity in feeling.
| But form without feeling is dead, and feeling
| without form is chaos. To secure trner
| union of both form and feeling in the United
| States of America is the animating object OF
the Committee on Patriotic Teaching of the
| National Council of Women.
Common interests have been the cementing
bond of union; diversified interests its greatest
weakness. With millions and millions Of for
| eigners pouring through orr sea- gates and mill
| lions of own people apathetic and discon-
| tented, the bond of union must be steadily
| strengthened or our peace and prosperity ana
progress will be mere and more unstable
| What nobler ambition than to do something
towards unifying and assimilating all our ee.
| ments of nationality into one living, breathing
vitalzing whole? What loftier mission for
any man OF woman than to teach tue principle
of selfgoverpment to those who are in them
selves the rulers and arbtrators OF the dssti-
mics Of a great peoplsr
Recognizing that all reforms must come from
within, and that it is upon the pure, fresh
minds of the children that lasting impressions
are made, the leaders of the great movement
| for patriotic instruction have wisely begun
with the schools.
The great leaders Of patriotic thought in
| America-those who wore the blue and these
who wore the gray in the great conflict of
| generation ago-are as one In this conviction.
Witness the sublime utterances of that brave
Georgia American, Gen. John b. Gordon. W.T.
| ness the words of that true patriot, Henry
Wattersen, on Childrens Day at the World
| Fair, when he depicted the spectacle of a
powerful Nation captured by an army of Llli-
| putians, of embryo men and women, of toddling
BOYS and girls, and tiny elves scarce big
enough to lisp the numbers of the National
| Anthem scarce strong enough to lift the minia-
ture flags that make of arid street and Autumn
wood An embematical garden, to GLADDEN. the
sight and to glorify the Red. White and Blue.
Those indeed are our crown-je wels; the truest
| though inevitable offspring of our civil Gov
4
| yitalized and invigOrated by toll and care; OF
a wemanhood elated and inspired by Liberty
and Education"
| In the hands of these children is the veal or
woe of the Republic. As wives as mothers, as
| women, as patriots, let US teach them of their
glorious Inheritance; that they are little citl-
gems who have holy duties TO perform. Let us
teach them to love the flag Of a united country !;
| to sing the National songs and consecrate their
young lives to high and holy duties one toward
another, their country over all.
The impetus of a school Flag Salute, origi-
mated by Col. George T. Bach for the Children's
Aid Societies of New York City, representing
- nationalities and given late at the World 8
Fair in mod fed form, is now given as part
of their school exercises, by over 100000
children in our schools, public and private, and
may the time come when it will be daily ex-
ercise in every school. The Flag Salute APP
! proved by the Triennial Council meeting NJ
Washington, February last, is given in the
schools generally, and there is no more touch
ing sight than to company of dear little
| bows and girls standing with their eyes turned
| to the flag while they say: I'VE give our heads
and our hearts to our country. One country
one language. one flag"
The vital agencies in patriotic instruction to
which attention is directed are:
l. A Patriotic Primer for the Little Citizen
| compiled by Col. George I. Balcb. Revised
|
apolis, Ind. Furnished to schools at 10 cents
each.
The Patriotic Primer is a sort of child's cate.
chism in free self-government, its duties and
obligations This is followed by the words
and music of James Rodman brakes "Ameri-
can Flag" The Star-Spangled Banner" My
Country, It's of Thee" etc, with their history.
The principles and pledge of the Patriotic
League conclude the Patriotic Primer. 1t will
be found invaluable in school work, and is cor.
daily commended to all interested.
Capt. Foster has also prepared enlarged charts
of the Declaration of Independence for use in
schools.
2. The Patriotic League. To cultivate the
knowledge of American principles, laws. his
tory and progress and to instill American ideas
into the minds and hearts of Americans native
and adopted, of both sexes and Of all ages, sects
and parties.
The President Of the Patriotic League is Mr.
Wilson L. Gill. 230 West Thirteenth street New
York City, and Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson
President of the National Council of Women
is a member of the Executive Board. Th,
Patriotic League has its Headquarters in New
York City.
Education In American citizenship is tn,
anmating purpose of the Patriotic League
} and TO this end monthly periodical, "OuI
Country" is published under its auspices
which is sent free to everyone who sends in hi
or her name with $1.50 mem bership fee.
Believing that membership in the Patriotic
League and reading of the excellent Literature
provided will make better and broader citizens
ouickened with a higher sense of their obliga
tions to their children, TO society and to them
selves, the principles and pledge of the Patri
otto League are herewith given, with unstintet
commendation:
"PRINcIPLEs OF THE PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.
r Owe believe, j. In the principles of the Dec
| laration of Independence-thata all men are ere
sted equal; that they are endowed by thei
! Creator with certain inalienable rights; tina
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit o
, happiness. 81
a2. That good character, intelligence. ant
helpful kindness to all creatures are the basi
: Of true citizenship.
1 "3. That the public, in assuming the educs
I ton of children, becomes responsible TO then
not only for physical, industrial. mental AM
moral culture, but also for special training. /
, | the end that they shall be most happy, useful
= and patriotic while children, and become intel
= ligent and faithful citizens.
"a. That il is our duty to consecrate ouI
u selves to the service of our country; TO stud
c the history and principles OF our Government
n 10 faithfully discharge all obligations of cit
x zenship; to improve our laws and their ad mir
Q istration, and to do all which may fulfill tn
i ideal of the founders of our Republic Cox
| eminent of the people, for the people, and b
h the people; of equal rights for all and specis
4 privileges for none, and TO the maintenance
: such a Government we truthfully pledge to on
= another our lives our fortunes and our sacre
- honor.