The sun., 1901-09-23
PATRIOTIC EDUCATION.

ley memorial HuufeSS neIore tllc Sluuc!itS
at Princeton University. summed up the
lesson OF President McKiney's career as
follows:
First in my thoughts are the lessons
to he learned from the career of William
Mckinley by the young men who MAKE |
up the student body of our university. |
These lessons are not obscure or ditii- |
cult. They teach the value of study altl
mental training. hut they teach more i'm
pressively that the road to usefulness
and to the only success worth having will |
be missed or lost except it is sought AMI |
kept by the light of those qualities of the
heart. which il is sometimes supposed |
may safely he neglected or Subordinated |
in university surroundings. This is Il
great mistake. Study and study hard
hut never let the thought enter your
mind that study alone or the greatest
possible accumulation of learning alone
will lead you to the heights of usefulness
and success. The man who is universally
mourned today achieved the highest dis
tinction which his great country can
confer on any man. and he lived Il uSr
full life. He was not deficient in educa
tiOn, hut with all you will hear of his
grand career and his services to his coul,-
try and to his fellow citizens, you will
not hear that the high plane he reached
or what he accomplished was due entire
ly to his education.
The emphasis of the ex-Presilent':'
admontion is upon the necessity for moral
development and patriotic inspiration.
1t was spoken to IL body of students rep
reSenting the school life Of the future
citizens. In it we find Il suggestion Of
the way out OF the danger which, in the
despondency of grief. appears to serious
ly threaten the life of the Republic
1t is the way of the Schoos-the puhli,
schools. 1t may he set down rs evident
truth that the State is not educating
the children who throng our public
schools for their individual benefit. 1t is
not educating them to merely enahl"
them to earn living. While the primary
effort is to impart knowledge the aim il
to deyelope the power of thought and
furnish the basis of sound Judgment re-
lative to the government and the citizen':;
part in il. That is the highest aim Of ali
secular education. 1t is particularly
within the province of the public schools
TO teach the primary lessons Of political
economy ont Of which come knOwle'lg"
of the origin, purpose and methods If
government 1t is II lamentHblc fact that
a great many intelligent men and good
citizens are really ignorant, or affect ~
be- ignorant of these things. They put
them aside under the plea that they have
no time Or inclination for politics. They
fail to make Il distinction between par.
tisan fcrNor and patriotic devotion: and
failing III TINS, also fail in the perform
ancc Of the duty they owe To the com
mnnwenlth. These men would doubtless
resent MS an insult amy expressed doubt
about their patriotism; and. should oc
casion demand it, would doubtless risk
and lose their lives in the defence IL III,
country and its free Institutions That
1t is true Is the supreme test OF patriot
ism. 1t is not its highest development
The citizens who give Intelligent, devote,
living to tie civic service of the cuuntr,
are better citizens, do more valuable ser
vice. than do those who ignorantly di
for it; il sullicicney Of the latter kind o
patriotism seems To lie assured the nee,
is not there. There is need Of the cxal
tntion of civic idcals--in making civi
service rs apparently patriotic aS that .
the soldier and in Suborlintting the pr1
fit Of public station to the honor Of il
Can this he done? How can it Il
done! 1t can be done us the clillrc
teaches religion. Ii can lie PIT into nj
made dominant in the ideals Of the yont
Of the land. IT. can he put there by til
public schools. This, for these school
for the MASSES of tile people, il the hi=l
er education. The teaching of iii
church that obedience to the Divine la
is the way Of safety. applies here. lii
erty is the product Of LAW: and he vi
would be free he who would prumUt
freedom here and throughout the wur
must uls'y the law. II freedom is to /
ideal the respect for the obedience
til" law must lie ideal. The schools q
cmplify that now. The highest resu
in department are achieved where rcSpc
and affection dominates the relations Ii
tween pupils and teachers. Here then
the beginning. In the public schools Il
pupils are the wards Of the State IN
the teachers its representatives. Th;
fact should he kept in view. Iii even
child's mind that impression should
left The school and the teachers
whom il is indebted for an education n
tllc product Of law. The State lihrrat
il from the slavery of ignorance in q
der that freedom may lie real throul
knowledge Of and willing obedience to Il
law. Right there onght to begin the y
litical education Of the people. Now Il
political teaching Of the people is vei
largely the work Of partisan campaign
In them the muse. the flag and the or
tory means partiSanShip. In the schoo
the music, the flag and the oratory ougl
10 mean an intelligent and respectful pa
riotism. Make it so and anarchy will
suppressed.
There is room and need in this eli
for monuments communicating the gre
virtues and heroic deeds Of America
and Of Delaware's dead heroes. If v
could have more of them it is possib