The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-19
PECKVILLE.


Following is the address to the grad
uates of the Peckville high school de-
livered by Rev. S. c. Simpkins, pastor
of the First Methodist church, of Peck
vile, upon presentation of diplomas on
Wednesday evening:
1t is with pleasure that | accent the in
vttation TO address few feeble and i'm
perfect words to the faculty and pupils
of our graded school. They are wortny
OF all reverence. On every boy and girl
within the sound of my voice rests great
responsibilities. Our country today con-
tains about seventy millions Oh sous. OF
these at least thirteen millions are pu-
piis in our public school Think of 1t!
Nearly one-fifth of our populations be-
ing educated under the care of the differ
ent states. 1t is more than the entire
population of our country in 1880. No
other nation on earth can present such a
record in siXty-seven years growth.
What responsibility rests upon the 352,-
900 or more school teachers of our land
and upon those in whose hands has been
placed the direction Of these school. My
young friends, fifteen years ago not one
OF you were yet in school. Fifteen years
hence you will be controlling this great
republic. The boys, surely, and who
knows, who will assert, that in that time
women will not also have a voice in the
government, and these girls be called
upon to contribute their share? This is
a nation of free school youths how i'm
portant, therefore, that 1t be impressed
upon them that above all else they be-
come truly and strongly American. How
important that they should learn to be
rot merely moral and intelligent citizens,
but American citizens as well. With all
the emphasis at my command ] express
the hope that not one of you will rest
content until YOU understand thoroughly
the principles on which our system Of
government is based Our grand consti-
tuition which toCay is as substantial and
as satisfactory as it was one hundred
and eight years ago, you should all be
familiar with in order that you may
know your duty and your responsibility.
There is no guide to the future, but the
experience of the past, and past eXperi-
ence has proven that the foundation of
our government is solid ard should be let
alone. 1t should not be altered or added
to, or any part of it taken away to please
the peculiar whims of peculiar people.
No person deserves to be a citizen of this
great republic, participating in its pro-
tecuonS and having right to its posi-
bllites, who does not give every impulse
of his being to its support. This nation
was founded as an esylum for the op-
pressed and her arms are wide open to
and your duty, who will soon follow us,
to see that these refugees frcm oppression
don OF seek to commit our country to
policies far more oppressive than the
oppression from whech they fled. Range
yourselves under the banner of law, JUS
tice and right. Set your hearts against
those who would SOW the seeds of anarchy
here. We have such people among u.s.
and as sure as their cause advances, just
so sure will your liberty depart. We have
another class among us also. Men who
are doing their utmost to cause our great
republic to totter and fall as did the EN-
pire of ancient Rome. Men who aim 10
control the destinies of this land the
result of our elections, the enactments or
our legislatures, by the unholy use of
money. May each soon to be a citizen
now before me resolve in the deep of their
soul and with all the manhood and wo-
manhood that God has or will give them,
that the flag that now waves over a free
and Independent people shall forever wave
over free and Cncorruptible ballot. You,
my young friends, are the hope of this
country. Whatever is worthy of being
perpetuated must be perpetuated by you.
Whatever of new responsibilities are to
be faced must be faced by you. You can
only do so with safety to yourselves and
to the land by entering upon your duties
with high patriotic, honorable, honest
motives. Let our desires be not selfish,
but for the greatest good of the greatest
number Let us prove that our public
school is the hothouse of integrity, NOR
ality, intelligence and patriotism. Let it
be the ambition of every teacher, every
board of education and every parent 10
see that every pupil sent out into the
world from our public school shall so
far as 1t lies in our power be worthy TO
take his or her proper place as true
citizen of this great epublic.
To the honorable board Of education we
have only to say: Gentlemen, the geat
success of the past which have crowned
your efforts in the administration of the
affairs of our public school assures us
that he trust We have reposed in you
will not be betrayed, and to our esteemed
friends, the fonored principal and fac
ulty of our graded school, we have only
words of concentration and respect-you
have done your work we'll and no one
who has the least degree of knowledge
as to what it is to teach children should
give the least murmurings of complaint.
You deserve only words of praise for
your very efficient, patient and persist
ent efforts to train these young minds
and on behalf of our honorable board of
education and as an interested citizen, /
extend to you the heartfelt thanks OF
grateful community.
And now, my young friends, you have
reached a very important period in your
life's history. You are not done. You
have just begun. You are now where yoI
will be able tC step up higher on the
plane of intelligence as you ascend. May
you never forget the untring efforts of
those who have made it possible for you
to rise. 1t is said of that master mind,
Daniel Webster, that on one occasion af-
ter he had delivered one cf his famous adj
dresse in the city of Boston, bouquets of
beautiful flowers were scattered in great
variety upon the stage where he stood.
He very gratefully accepted them with
pleasure and admiration, but as he was
passing one with a friend, little girl
handed him two or three old-fashioned
garden pinks. He took them from the
little outstretched hand and as he looked
upon them his whole frame trembled-a
tear gathered in his eye, and turning to
his friend he said: This was my moth
ers favorite flower" Amid all the great
ness he had attained he did not fail to
remember her who had made 1t possible
for him to become great. So you, my
young friends, as youAascend the ladder
of intelligence and fame, whatever gar
lanos may be wreathed about you by 9TH
ers, never forget tho Sc who have made 1t
possible for you to ascend to the sum
nit. i now present you with your di-
p,omas of graduation, may you ever prove
of the honor you now receive.