Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11

oullos II ucio btCu Tie NOhuOi VI AA-iiA
tary writer's from that day to this. The
loss of the British army, including
their general, was $500 in killed and
wounded; the loss of Jackson's men was
eight killed and thirteen wounded. No
battle that has ever been fought be-
tween men of the white race is compar-
able to this, and as it marks our last
military contest with the British power,
for that reason alone should it be cele-
brated as is the battle of Lexington.
The life of General Jackson will appeal
to the youth of our country in way
that no other character in American
history will, and l would celebrate the
day of his victory.
The next character that would rec
ommend to the youth of our country IS
that of Benjamin Franklin. His birth
day occurs upon the 18th day Of Janu-
airy, the same day of the year on which
the battle of Cowpens was fought, and
both events could be celebrated to-
gether. Even in this industrial age the
life of Franklin in his rise through the
stages Of life of printer, writer, inven-
tor. philosopher, Giplomatist, states
man, offers as much to the humblest
boy as the life of any man in any coun-
try can. Mirabeau characterized him
as the man whom the history of en-
pires and the history of science alike
contend for, the genius which gave free
dom to America and rayed forth tor
rents Of light upon Europe. Antiquity"
said he, would have erected affairs to
this great and powerful genius, who, to
promote the welfare of mankind, COM
pretending both the heavens and the
earth in the range of his thought, could
at once snatch the bolt from the cloud
and the scepter from tyrants."
The next character I woul offer for
the consideration of the youth of our
country is that of Abraham Lincoln.
His career as boatman, soldier, lawyer
orator, statesman, President, and which
ended with that CONFUSION which was
the second birth of the republic. fills
half a century crowded with events
that were as powerful in shaping the
destinies of three races Of mankind as
any since man began TO record his own
history. In this century the wild In
dian and his subsistence, the buffalo,
have practically disappeared from the
face Of the earth. In this century the
negro. the servant of the white man
since the building of the pyramids. and
we don't know how long before, has
/ been set upon his feet, and has been told
to take care of himself. And the white
man. who has perhaps received more
immediate benefit from the freedom Of
the negro than the negro himself, has
substituted for human labor and ami
NAL power the stores Of fossil fuel Of
the earth. the coal, the oil, the gas, and
has hidden steam and electricity hence
forth to do his work. Nor is that all.
This spirit of universal freedom and
the recognition Of the dignity of labor
which belongs to the times of Abraham
Lincoln has infected the most stolid ma
lions of the earth and has hidden the
grounding to look up and to ask OF
what clay is his master made?
The fourth day that l would recon-
mend to be celebrated in all the schools
is the birthday of George Washington.
Lord Brougham, an Englishman. said
of him: It will be the duty Of the his
torian and the sage in all ages to let no
occasion pass of commemorating this
ilustrious man; and until time shall be
no more will test of the progress
which our race has made in wisdom and
in virtue be derived from the yeneration
paid to the immortal name of Washing
ton. In his farewell address Washing
ton said: Promote, then, as an OBJ
iect of primary Importance, institutions
for the diffusion of knowledge. In pro-
portion as the structure of a govern
ment gives force to public opinion, 1t is
fllustrious man; and until time shall be
enlightened" But" said General Ma
rion. what signifies even this govern
ment. divine as it is, if it be not known
and priced as it deserves? This is best
done by public schools. Men will al
WAYS fight for their government, ac-
cording to their sense of its value. To
value it Alright, they must understand it.
This they cannot do without educa-
ton" Every glorious fact in the ma
tons history should be emphasized and
lovingly dwelt upon, and patriotism
should be one of the positive lessons
taught in every school. Hence no
school should pass a year without Civ
ing one day at least to exercises in
which the smallest child might take a
part in learning and reciting the won
derfuI history of George Washington.
The last name that I would offer as
being practicable for celebration in the
schools is that of Thomas jefferson, the
writer of the Declaration of Independ-
eDce the author of the first law ever
nassed by any government securing for
its people perfect religious freedom,
and the author of the first bill for es-