Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-05-05

building by way Of preparation Tor me
duties of soe,ety-bui III main object 81
The free s,hool system is to it The young
for citizenship by teaching The nature Of
your governments, the duties Of the
citizen. and BY enetivating = fervc0i
spirit Of patriotic devotion. This being
tic case. strongly advocate the study
Of Civics in all grades schools, using 3
text book adapted to the laws Of the
state and the grade of school-and |
would take occasion to say that have
read criticisms and hear Of the book on
Civics recently edited by your able In
stitute Director. DR., Foremyn-from
Which | am led 10 believe that the text
is admirably suited to requirements
The boys of today will become the voters
and rulers Of this country in the next
ten or 6fte' years. aud il is in your
power. fellow Teachers to build up such
an army Of honest intelligent and patri-
otto citizens that ne danger can assail
our political institutions Dark and
stormy clouds even now are gathering
on the horizon Of our young republic
and no man can tell where the storm
may break in ruin There are two con-
diuons az the pr sent which | for one
view with apprehension Of alarm as be-
ing the main source of national evil
The heterogeneous character Of the vot-
ing force-the marvellous growth Of the
mOaey pawers with the formation OF
combines aud trust commanding as it
does the main lever Of the political
machinery. Our ouly safeguard lies III
the integrity and loyalty Of the poop e.
and this business mas been entrusted BY
the government especially to yonr care,
10 the education Of the young generation.
Teach your pupils the history and char
acter Of their government and their re-
latienship to it--let them understand
that they must look to the government
for the protection of life, liberty ami
property and that the government de-
pends on them for loya. support against
the Sicked schemes Of jug 1lers and con J
sp;ratOrs. The sovereign authority OF
this government emanates from the peo-
ple-and not from the politicians. Suf-
frage is the highest badge IF freed on
aud he who casts his vote from other
motive than that of honest government.
debases his manhood and like Esan OF
old sells bis heritage for mass of pot
tage. If you attend zealously to these
lessons you will render a much greater
service than the military heroes OF Cuba
or the Phiiippines-and as life draws
to close, whether you have amassed
riches or not, whether you have won
fame or not you will enjoy the satisfac-
ton OF looking back on life well spent
for the good of Others the sweetest solace
of the human breast. Remember that
the Young people of today are TO take
their station in the great army of citizens
and by their hands the honor Of our
country must rise or fall.
Teach them from the first to
revere the Stars and Stripes and to Low
and cherish .he traditions and Instiiu-
tons of their country teach them il you
can the pages of geography or walk the
green fields to love its hills and ,a.ieys,
its rivers and lakes, its mountains and
forests. Rear up with your lands, out
Of these young ones of today. bulwark
citizenship SO strong in patriotism that
no evils can ever assail or destroy the
grand Institutions of our common eoun-
try
Great God we thank thee for this
home
This be4uteous birthiabd Of the tree
Where wanderers FROM afar may come
And breathe the all of liberty
Still may her lowers un'rampled
spring
| Her harvesls wav,. her cities ri,e
| And yet till ime shall fold her wing
Remain Earth's loveiiest Paradise