Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1907-01-24
HONORABLE JUDGES, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN

GENTLEMEN
Tonight wish to give
you some few reasons why | do not
think the United States is following
in the footsteps of ancient Rome.
We have entrusted the work of
creating and developing great fed
eral government to the common PEG.
pie and to-day our republic is the
center Of the world with the Occideut
on our right and the Orient on our
left.
OF what does this glory of America
consist? 1t is not in her commerce
and her merchandise; it is not in her
vast extent of territory, nor h e
strength Of her arms; America :
glory and strength consists in the
education Of her masses. Our edu-
cational system i at the root of our
power as nation.
From the landing of the pilgrim
fathers and the dashing cavaliers, the
aim Of America has been to have
none but an educated citizenship.
Her public schools offer opportunitle,
for an education to the very poorest
child. and they not only make the
people intelligent and cap bic of self
government. they make them patriot
ic and liberty loving. They devel-
op in the masse, a sobriety of iudg-
ment which i above all brides and
trichery. In short, the public schools
lift the whole people above party
cries and chicanery and plant in evey
heart a desire for right and love of
liberty.
Our colleges foster ideals and mot
ou.T drill buJ create our Universities
by permitting liberty Of choice. allow
every form Of talent to receive proper
culture. and Of all great institution,
of learning Harvard, Yale and Prin-
ccton. not only offer the regular
courses in mathematics. science and
English. but even are Offering special
courses in diplomacy, ,tatecraft and
insurance.
The United State, too realize, that
1t j. not by forms Of government that
men are made or unmade that it is
Toy the character Of their wive, and
-p3tLer, ana in America generou,
I,.oA = the heritage of every
d. inter Of the republic as well as
Of every son. This higher education
Of woman means higher standard, of
marhood, greater intelligence and
better men.
When the United States assumed
the responsibility of protecting Cuba
she Immediately planted her system
of education there. And note the
result. The Cuban, are far better
educated today than when We began
to educate them in 1899. When We
purchased the Philippines, we i'm
mediately began to educate t h e
people.
Thi, i what the system of Amer
lean education is and has been. Sure
ly then our Republic is not in danger
from the educational standpoint .
WIZ then is the United States fol-
lowing after ancient Rome? The
United States j. not following after
any government toward ruin, but
leading them all toward prosperity.
Rome had not a single public school,
we have hundreds. Only her richest
youths received the advantages Of the
courses of Oratory and Rhetoric
taught IN the few schools of her i'm
perfect system. The Roman girl was
taught only obedience and secluslon;
the American girl i, educated, intel
lgent and accomplished. Rome held
rhe classes which the United States
takes greatest pride in educating,
not only in ignorance and supersti-
ton, but in the letters Of slavery.
All men are now free in the United
States.
You say the United States expands.
Rome expanded and Rome fell, and