St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-06-05

tlOU IOBStuClj u SNSi w wa" ~
and public spirited citizens.
We ought to remember that the
bare contact Of pupils with one an
other, calls forth thought and enter
prise. And how true this is in nearly
all the walks OF life; especially is this
the case in the public school, where
this contact inevitably produces EN-.
ulation. and the desire to be equal
to, and as good as any of the rest.
We find no fault with any OF the
excellencies of private schools, but
we know, if we understand anything
OF this question, that thepubllc school
can never become clannlsh, while
there is danger of it with the private
school. AS whole, the American
people are not given to clannishness,
and the main reasons are, first, this
spirit of patriotic contact, and Sec
ond, the knowledge that anything
for the public good is of vastly more
Importance than any private personal
gain. We may say that all schools
are for the public good, and so they
are; but no private or separate school
can ever, in the very nature of things,
equal, or produce the great good to
a nation that the public school can.
And now, for this great public good
we speak of, the American people
desire only one language, one central
patriotic purpose, one national ban.
ner, and one just system of national
education. In short, it is their most
earnest and heartfelt desireto become
one great homogeneous people.
For one, | am tired of seeing and
hearing such vast distinctions among
what ought to be one united people.
| am tired of hearing so much about
our Irish citizens, our French citizens
and our citizens of other national
tiles, with their green flags, their red
flags and perhaps all other kinds of
flags. am tired of hearing about
St. Anne's school, St. Joseph's college
and all other foreign institutions,
even if they are good.
But l shall never be tired when |
can hear it said by all the people and
all the newspapers in the land, This
is my country, this is my flag, and
the public school is my school, God
bless them forever"
Friends: Notwithstanding the
many obstacles lying in our pathway,
| beg of you not to be discouraged
over our country or any of its insti-
tutions, The finger of progress is
certainly pointing in the right direc-
ton. The power that has already
made us strong and great is still at
the helm. The most that we need
for success is the strong hand, the
brave heart and the vigilant mind.
Did any of you ever seriously think
of the beautiful symbol that typiies
the protection and the glory of the
United States? Did any of you ever
think what magnetic influence this
symbol has upon loyal hearts?
That symbol is the Goddess OF
Liberty, who, in grand and sacred
majesty, is our guardian upon land
and sea. To me she is no myth moi
fable. But see her as a grand reality
more beautiful aud more honoreC
than the mind can conceive or thu
tongue can express. And l believ,
for freedoms cause she was frs
mirrored to us upon the walls o
heaven.
And tonight it seems to me that
can see this goddess, standing in TIL
center of this great republic, will
the starry flag waving above he
laurel-crowned head. And as sh
stands there in glory, seem to Sc
at her feet the blood of martyr heroes
and from her hand l see fall beautiful
flowers upon the graves of the dead
And see her with her right arm
raised high toward heaven, and il
her hand is a drawn sword frou
which comes fire and flame, as tn
, symbol of protection to American
| liberty.
: And it is my wish and my praye
5 that every loyal son and daughter c
7 Columbia may stand before her i
reverence, and with pride and jo
count the starry jewels upon he
, national crown.
: And l hear her voice sounding i
e clarion tones. America is my daugt
} ter, patriotism and virtue shall b
:, her reward, education and progress
shall be her protection and her sta
: forever"