The herald., 1898-02-23

stances of divine intervention In favo
of the country claims our most piou
, gratitude and that they were inevitabl,
lied to acknowledge and adore the grea
arbiter Of the universe by whom empire,
rise and fall"
Congress added its sanction by provid
ing that After the oath shall have beer
administered to the President he, at
tended by the President and tn,
members of the Senate and House o.
| Representatives, proceed to ST. Paul:
Chapel to hear divine services per.
formed by the chaplain of Congress, al.
ready appointed"
Not alone on days of thanksgiving OF
in times of trials should we as a peo.
pie remember and follow the example
thus set by the fathers, but never in ou,
future as a nation should we forget the
great moral religious principles which
they enunciated and defended as theii
most precious heritage.
In an age of great activity of indus
| trial and commercial strife and of per-
picking problems, we should never aban-
don the simple faith in Almighty Goo
as recognized in the name of the Ameri-
can people by Washington and the first
Congress.
But if timely lesson is to be drawn
from the opinions of Washington on his
assuming the office of President, So
also is much practical benefit to be de-
rived from the present application OF
portions of his farewell address, docu-
ment in which Washington laid down
principles which appeared to him "all
important to the performance of your
felicity as a people"
THREE NATIONAL DUTIES
In that address Washington contends
in part Q) for the promotion of institu-
tions of learning; (2) for cherishing the
public credit; (3) for the observance of
good faith and justice toward all ma
tions.
A hundred years ago free schools were
little known in the United States. There
were excellent schools for the well-to-
do and charitable institutions for the in
struction of boys and girls without
means; but the free public school, open
alike to the children of the rich and the
poor and supported by the State awaited
creation and development. The seed
planted by the fathers soon bore fruit
Free schools were the necessary supple
provisions for public instruction by the
fathers, second only in effect to their
struggle for the independence and Gre
alton in the Union, were designed al no
distant date to produce the most Won
derful results AS the country has
grown, education, fostered by the State,
has kept pace with it. Rich as are the
collegiate endowments of the Old World,
Of in IA
gifts made to educational institutions by
the people of the United States and by
their governments in conformity with
that influence which sound learning
has on religion and manners, on govern
ment, liberty and laws"
Adams and Madison. Jefferson and
Hamilton, Sherman and Trumbull, Han
cock, Jay, Marshall, the Clintons and
many others of our early statesmen were
scarcely less earnest and eloquent than
Washington himself in pleading the
cause of sound and liberal education for
the people.
Nor does this seem surprising when
we reflect that the truest aim and worth
lest ambition of education is not finished
scholarship for the favored few, but the
elevation of a high standard of citizen
ship among the many have had pecu-
liar satisfaction in the fact that Wash
ington in those early days. when en-
crossed with mighty governmental
problems, did not forget his contribu-
tions for the education of the poor and
left in his will bequest to be dedicated
to free public instruction. Nothing bet
ter tells the value he placed upon knowl-
edge as an essential to the highest and
best citizenship. How priceless is a lib
eral education! In itself what a rich
endowment! 1t is not impaired by age.
but it's value increases with use. No
one can employ it but its rightful owner.
He alone can illustrate it's worth and
enjoy it's rewards. 1t cannot be inherit
ed or purchased. 1t must be acquired
by individual effort. 1t can be secured
only by perseverance and self-denial.
But it is free as the air we breathe.
Neither race, nor nationality nor sex can
debar the earnest seeker from it's pos
session. 1t is not exclusive, but inclu-
sive in the broadest and best sense. 1t
is within the reach of all who really want
it and are brave enough to struggle for
it. The earnest rich and the worthy poor
are equal and friendly rivals in its pur-
suit and neither is exempted from any
of the sacrifices necessary for it's &C.
QUESTION. The key to it's title is not the
bright allurements of rank and station,
but the simple watchword of work and
study.
a liberal education is the prize of in
dividual industry. 1t is the greatest
blessing that man or woman con enjoy
when supported by virtue, morality and
noble aims.
But the requirement of learning in
our schools and colleges seems so easy
that we are apt to underestimate its
value and let the opportunity to win it
slip by until regretfully we find that the
chance is gone. The rudiments must
be ingrafted in youth or with rare ex-
ceptiOns they are forever lost.
Life to most is a struggle and there
is little time for the contemplation of the
theoretical when the practical is pressing
at every hand Stern duty monopolizes
our time. The command of others con-
trolls our preferences and often defeats
our intentions. BY steadily adherng to
firm purpose amid the activities of life
we may keep in touch with the literature
of the day, but to go back to the classics
or to grapple with the foundations of the
sciences is beyond the power of most
men when they have entered upon their
chosen business or profession.
Ones mental fighting often hand-to-
hand conflict with obstacles and tempta-
| tions is battle of his own, a campaign
whose motive force is individuality ra th-