Iron County register., 1898-03-03
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.

his heroic purpose the power of his magnif-
cent personality his glorious achievements for
mankind. and his stalwart and unfiching de-
vot1on TO independence, liberty and
union Those can not be TOO often told or be
too familiary known. A Shareholder himself he
yet hated slavery, and provided in his will for
the emancipation of his slav6sS. Not a college
friend of liberal education. He used on every
suitable occasion to impress Upon congress and
the country the importance OF high standard
OF general education, and CHARACTERIZED the diff
fusion of knowledge as the most essential ele-
ment of strength in the system OF free govern
ment. That learning should gp with liberty,
and that liberty Is never endanaered so lonx as
it is in the keeping Of intelligent citizens, was
the ideal civic code which his frequent utter
anceS never failed to enforce
And how reverent always was this great man,
how prompt and generous his recognition of
tabliShing and controlling the destinieS of the
colonies and the republic. Again and again
in his talks in his letters, in his state papers,
and federal addresSeS-he reveals this side of
his character the force of which we still feel
and trust we always will.
At the very height Of his success and reward,
as he emerged from the revolution receiving,
by unanimous acclaim, the plauditS Of the peo-
pie. and commanding the respect and admira-
that his first official act as president
should be fervent suppIication to the Almighty
Being who rules the universe. It IS He who
preSides in the councils of nations. and whose
proVtdential aid can supply every human de-
feet. 1t is His benediction which we most
want, and which can, and will conSVcrate the
liberties and happiness of the peopse of the
United States With His help the Instruments
of the citizens employed to carry out their pur-
poses will succeed in the functions allotted to
But Washington. on this occasion. went fur
ther, and spoke for the people, assuming that he
but voiced the sentiment of the young nation
in thus making faith in Almighty God
and reliance upon His favor and career one
of the strong foundations of the goverrment
then inaugurated. And. proceeding Washing
ton states the reason for his belief in language
SO exalted that 1t should be craven deep upon
the mind OF every patriot: No people can be
bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible
hand which conducts the affairs of man more
than the people of the United States
Every step by which they have advanced to
the character of an Independent nation seems
providential agency; and, in the important
revolution just accomplished in the system of
their united government, the tranquil delibera-
tions and voluntary consents of so many dis
tinct communities from which the events re-
suited can not be compared with
ments have been established without
some return of piouS gratitude, along with an
humble anticipation of the future blessings
which the same seems to pressage. The refec-
tions arising out of tie present crisis have
forced themselves strongly upon my mind. You
are none under the influence of which the pro-
ceedings OF new and free government are most
auSpiciouSly commenced
The senate of the United States made fitting
response OF its appreciation OF this portion Of
the presidents inaugural address when its
members declared that "A review of the many
signal instances of Divine intervention in favor
of the country claims our most pious gratitude"
and that they were inevitably led to acknowl-
edge and adore the Great Arbiter of the univ
erseby whom empires rise and fall.
Congress added its sanction by providing that
latter the oath shall have been administered
to the president, he, attended by the vice-pres-
ident and the members of the senate and house
of representatives, proceed to st. Paul'S chap
ell to hear Divine services performed by the
chaplain of congress, already appointed"
Not alone upon days Of thanksgiving Or in
times OF trial should we, as people. remember
and follow the example thus set by the fathers,
but never in our future. a nation. should we
forget the great moral and religious principles
which they enunciated and defended as their
most precious heritage.
In an age of great activity of industrial and
commercial strife and of perplexing problems.
we should never abandon the simple faith in
Almighty God as recognized in the name of the
American people by Washington and the first
But if a 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 derived from the present applca-
tion of portions of his farewell address, docu-
ment in which Washington laid down princi-
pies which appeared to him all important to
the permanence of our felicity people.
In that address Washington coIten Is in part
IN for the promotion of institutions OF learn
ing; (2) for cherishing the public credit; (3) for
the observance OF good faith and justice toward
One hundred years ago free schools were lit
tie known in the United States There were
excellent schools for the well-to-do, and char
liable institutions for the instruction Of boys
and girls without means, but the free public
school, open alike to the child 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 supplement- OF free men, The
wise and liberal provision for public instruction
by the fathers, second only in effect to
their struggle for the indepeudence 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 are the
collegiate endowments of the old world, none of
them excel in munthcence 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 Trumbull, Hancock, Jay, Marshal,
the Clintons and many others OF our early
statesmen were 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 truest aim and worthiest ambition of
vored few but the elevation OF high standard
OF citizenship among the manv. 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 ths education of the poor
and left in his will bequest to be dedicated to
free public instruction. Nothing better tells
the value placed upon knowledge as an essen
tial to the highest and best citizenship. How
priceless is a liberal education In itself what
a rich endowment 1t Is not impaired BY age,
but its value increases with use No one
alone can illustrate its worth and enjoy
it's rewards. 1t can not be inherited
or purchased 1t must be acquired by indi-
vidual effort. 1t can lie secured only by per-
severance and self-d-nial But it Is free as
the air we breathe. Neither race nor nation
aIity nor sex, can debar the earnest seeker
from its possession. 1t is not exclusive, but IN
elusive in the broadcast and best sense II IS
within the reach of all who really want 1t, and
are brave enough to struggle for 1t Ihe
earnest rich and the worthy poor are equal ana
friendly rivals in its pursuit, and neither is
exempted from any OF the SacrIhceS necessary
for its acquisition. The key to its title Is not
the bright allurementS of rank and station, ouG
the simple watchword of work and study.
a liberal edu satioa is the prize or Individual
industry. 1t is the greatest blessing that a
man or woman can enjoy when supported Dy
virtue, morality and noble aim
But the requirement of learning IN our ScnooIS
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 IN
grated in youth, or, with rare exceptions, they
are forever lost
Life to most is q 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 controls our preferences and
often defeats our intentions. by steadily ad-
herlng to firm purpose, amid the activities OF
life, we may keep in touch with the literature
OF the day. but u go back to the classics or
grappse with the foundations of the sciences is
DeEOLrl Lhs poHeS Of most men when they have