The Forrest City times., 1898-02-25

excellent schools for the well-to-do and char
liable institutions for the iuSi ruction Of boys
ana girls without means but the free public
school open alike to the child of the rich and
the poor. ana supported by the state. awaited
creation. and ueVclOpcment. The seed planted
by the fathers soon bore fruit Free schools
Wete the necessary supplement of free men. The
wise and liberal provision for public instruction
by the fathers. second only in effect to
their struggle for the independence and creation
OF the Union, were destined at no distant date
to produce the most wonderful results As the
country has grown, education, fostered by the
state, has kept apace with it, Rich as are the
collegiate endowments OF the old world, none OF
them excel in muniicenee the gifts made to
educational institutions by the people of the
United States, and by their governments in
conformity with the influence which sound
learning has on religion and manners, on gov
ernment, liberty and laws"
Adams and Madison Jefferson and Hamilton,
sherman and 1rumbull Hancock, Jay, Marshal,
the Clintons and many others OF our early
statesmen we're scarcely less earnest and elo-
| quent 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 true>t aim and worthieSt ambition of
education is not finished scholarship for the IA
| Vored few, but the elevation of high standard
! OF cltlzenShip among the many l have had
| peculiar satisfaction in the fact that Washing
| ton, in those early days. when engrossed with
mighty governmental problems, did not forge
| his contributions for the education OF the poor
ana ieft In his Will bequest to be dedicated to
| Tree public instruction. Nothing better tells
the value placed upon knowledge as an essen
t1al to the highest and best citizenshiD How
| priceless IS liberal education. In itself what
/ rich endowment 1t is not impaired by age
Out It's value increases with No one
| can employ it but its rightful owner. He
alone can Illustrate its worth and enjoy
| ltS rewards. 1t can not be inherited
| or purchased. 1t must be acquired by ind-
Vldual effort 1t can ne secured only by per-
| severance AMI sclf-d-nal But it is free as
| the air we breathe. Neither race, nor nation
| ality. nor sex, debar the earnest seeker
its rom its possession 1t is not exclusive, but in
| elusive, 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 ana the worthy poor are equal and
| friendly rivals In Its pursuit, and neither is
exempted from any OF tne sacrifices necessary
| Tor lts acquisition. The key to its title Is not
tne bright ailurementS OF rank and station, but
| the simple watchword OF work and study.
| a liberal edu alton is the prize of individual
INDUSTRY. IL Is the greatest blessing that a
/ man or woman can enjoy when supported by
| virtue, morality AMI noble aim.
| But the requirement OF learning in our schools
ana colleges seems 50 easy that are apt to
| underestimate its value and let the opportunity
| TO win 1t slip by until regretfully we find that
| the chance IS gone. The rudiments must be in
grated in youth. or, with rare exceptions. 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 al every hand.
| stern duty monopoliZes our time The COM
mand OF others coatros our preferences and
| often defeats our intentions BY steadily ad-
| herring 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
| grape with the foundations OF the sciences is
| beyond the power of most men when they have
| entered upon their chosen business or profess
| sion.
Ones mental fighting, often a hand-to hand
| conflict with obSta les and temptations Is u
! battle OF his own, campaign whose motive
| force is individuality rather than circumstances
/ or luck Work IN the mental world is asreal as
| tnat IN the physical world NoE has any pre-
| scription yet been found to take the place ~ xI-
plication and self-denial and personal strRS1fss
which have gwen To the world its greatest lead
| e 5 and noblest achievements.
| Cherish the public credit" How much both
| of reflection and instruction is combined in this
| simple admonitlon of tine father of his coun-
| try. The United States emerged from the Bit
| ter and prolonged struggle of the revolutionary
war exhausted financially, and with a hundred
existing perpleXltleS and difficulties which re-
| manned 10 Dc solved before the financial credit
| OF the new nation could be established at home
and demonstrated abroad.
But Washington knew how to gather around
him and place In positions OF the greatest trust
| the abler nnanclerS and economists whose
names the country still Venerate and whose
great work 1t still enjoys Hamilton and Nor
| riS ana Gallatin ana others were successful in
| establishing the treasury and inaugurating the
| financial operations OF this government upon
| principles which recognized that the most en-
| during basis Of national credit was national
| honor, and that whatever other assets we might
| have or acquire. that was indispensable, first,
| last and all the time, If we would cherish the
| public credit. We have been fully rewarded
| all along our history by adhering to the prln-
| ciples OF washington in keeping the public
| faith. Before ha!f d century had passed we had
paid on our national debt and had balance in
| the treasury. Another debt the greatest in our
| history. was incurred in the civil war for the
| preservation OF the Union. But this did not
| exceed the resources or discourage the inten-
| tions of the American people There were those
who suggested reputation, but the people
| repudiated them, and went on unchecked, dis
| charging the Obligations of the government in
| the coin OF honor.
| From the day our flag was unfured to the
/ fanS Stafn Of inc f.af.f tf,.Y,,
! lated has yet tarnshed the American name.
| This must. and viii be- as true in the future as
| ii has been in the past. There will be prophets
| of evil and false teachers. Some part of the
| column may waVer and wander away from the
| standard but there will ever rally around it a
nightly majority to preserve it stainless and in
| honor,
AT no point in his administration does Wash
| lngton appear IN grander proportions than when
he enunciateS his ideas in regard to the foreign
policy of the government:
| Observe good faith and justice toward all
nations cultivate peace and harmony with all;
religion and morality enlOin this conduct Can
il be that good policy does not equally enjoin ltg
1t will be worthy Of free enlightened. aud at
no no distant period, a great nation, to give to
mankind the magnanimouS and too novel ex-
| ample of people always guided by an exalted
justice and beneyolence.
To-day nearly century from Washington's
death we turn reverentially to study theleadlng
principles of that comprehensive chart for the
guidance of the people. IL was his unfiinching,
unmovable devotion TO these perceptions of
duty which, more than anything else made him
what he was and contributed so directly to
make US what we are. Following the precepts
of Washington we can not err.
The wise lessons in government which he left
US it will be profitable to heed.
He seems TO have grasped all possible condi-
tions and pointed the way safely to meet them
He has established danger signals all along the
pathway OF the nation ) march. He has warned
US against false lights. lie ha taught us the
true philosophy OF "a perfect union" and
shown US the graphic dangers from sectional
ism and wild and unreasonable party spirit
He has emphasized the necessity at all times
for the exercise OF sober and diSpassionate
judgment. Such a judgment my fellow-eiti-
Zens. is the best safeguard in calm and tran
quill events. and rises superior and triumphant
above the storms OF woe and peril
We have every incentive to cherish the mem
Ory and teachings OF Washington. His wisdom
and foresight have been confirmed and vindi-
Gated after more than century Of experience
His best eulogy Is the work he wrought, his
highest tribute is the great republic which he
and his compatriOts founded. From four mil
lions we have grown to more to than seventy
millions of people, while our progress in indus
tx learning and the arts has been the wonder
NJ the world. What the future will be depends
Tup0n ourselves; and that that future win bring
still greater blessings TO a free people
/ can not doubt With education and morality
in their homes, loyalty to the underlying prln-
ciDles of free government in their hearts. and