The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-06-03

Rockies rear their heads to Kiss the |
skies-everywhere the spirit and purpose
are the same, to arouse the came en-
thusiasm for the same flag, the flag of the
stars and stripes, flag whose stripes
tell the glorious story Of mans emancipa-
ton, of mans freedom and liberty, whose
stars shine forth throughout the world a
hope to the oppressed of every nation,
guiding them to q land where every man
is free and equal, where he will find as
no place else government of the peo-
pie, for the people, by the people"
And it Is this spirit and purpose that
brings us here to-ds y-to make manifest
our love and our devotion to the flag of
our country and to all that that flag
represents. We are to raise alOft and
ding 60 the breeze the emblem of our
country SO that day after day reading in
it's folds the story that it tells us, we may
be ipcited If possible, to q stronger love,
to purer patriotism toward our country
and its institutions. And 1t is well to
place this flag where we do that 1t might
daily foat over this school and ever re-
mind the children being trained there OF
| the manifold blessings they enjoy under
its protection and ever impress upon them
the obligation of. becoming useful. de-
voted citizens of this grand Republic
which we all so fondly love. Next to
our love for our God, should come our
| love for our country.
! And In this nursery Of the youthful
mind, while the children receive the train
ing that will equip them for the battle of
life, at the same time they are thorough
| ly taught in the higher and holier lessons
that tell them of the duties and obliga-
lions they owe toward their God and
toward their country.
And right here 1t may not be amiss TO
state the reasons why as Catholics, we
build coup and support these school for
our childr n. We declare without reser-
walton tha~ we have no quarrel with the
public school system of this country or
ours. We declare that they are doing
most noble work in extending the bene-
ficient influence of secular education to
the mutitudes. Along their own lines,
they stand unequalled in any land under
the broad domain of heaven. But as
Catholics we feel that their work is done
within limited sphere. We feel that
with that mental training, there should
be also religious training.
And it ia because we desire that our
children should have that religious train
,, | ing according to the dictates OF our own
conscience, that we take upon ourselves
the burdens and expenses of erecting and
] maintaining these private schools OF our
: own. In doing this we are but exercis-
= ing our rights and privileges-the rights
and privileges that this government OF
ours grants to the lowest citizen within
l her borders. And in exercising these
rights and privileges, we do not deem IL
: necess 4ry to make apology to any man
= We still pay our propOrtionate share tf
7 the support of the public schools and
asking nothing from the state, we assume
besides the additional burden of support
: ing oar own. And we do this, as hav'
= said, so that our children might have In
= stilled into their youthful minds ant
u hearts the truths and principles Of tina
y religion in which we believe.
= And we can assure you that In no plac
n in this land will you find spot wber
,e the principles of true patriotism, of tru
N love of country are taught continuously
n In season and out of season, more devO
"A edly than in these schools of ours. An
20 the children educated in these schoo
IL are gathered here to-day to make man
]. fest the patriotism that is within thel
% and that has been taught them Their
: They do this by raising alOft the starr
: emblem of their nation, by singing
10 urison the patriotic songs OF their coui
6e try and by asking all to ioin in comne
"a devotion to the Red, White and Blu
"A And especially st this time do they d
no sire to make evident, In no uncerta
- | way. their deep, patriotic love for the
s countrv-at this time when the nigh
N Republic has aroused itself from
~ years of peaceful slumber, when it b
IL again laid aside the Instruments of tf
,se and has armed itseif with the implemen
~ IT war, when it's sons have left the
IA homes of quiet and comfort and Q
81 gathered together around the camp FIR
me- that are burning In every state throug
~ out this broad land. when the young 81
"a the brave and the strong are eager
IN pressing forward to enroll themselves
ba the armies that are marching forth
1ar fight in the cause Of justice and hnma
m ity.
he At this time they Wish TO indulge