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


Tonight | wish to give
you some few reasons why l do not
think the United States is following
in the footsteps Of ancient Rome
We have entrusted the work Of
creating and developing a great fed
eral government to the common peo-
pie and to-day our republic is the
center Of the world with the Occident
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-
eational system is at the root of our
power as a 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 opportunities
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
ie and liberty loving. They devel-
op in the masses a sobriety of judg-
ment which is above all brlbes and
triekery. In short, the public schools
lift the whole people above party
crles and ehicanery aud plant in evey
heart a desire for right and love Of
liberty.
Our colleges foster ideals andInot
only drill but create; our Universities
by permitting liberty Of choice, allow
every form Of talent to receive proper
culture, and Of all great institutions
of learning. Harvard, Yale and Prin-
ceton, not only offer the regular
courses in mathematics, science and
English, but even are Offering special
courses in diplomacy, statecraft and
insurance.
The United States too realizes that
1t Is not by forms Of government that
men are made or unmade: that it is
by the character Of their wives and
pother' and in America a generous
&c cation 5 the heritage Of every
d. --hter Of the republic as well as
OF every son. This higher education
of woman means higher standard. Of
manhood, 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 Cubans are far better
educated today than when we began
10 educate them in 1899. When We
purchased the Philippines, We i'm
mediately began to educate t h e
people.
This is what the system of Amer
lean education is and has been. Sure
ly then our Republic is not in danger
from the educational standpoint
Why then is the United States fol-
lowing after ancient Rome? The
United States is 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 is educated, intel
ligent and accomplished. Rome held
the 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
why? Because she never dreamed Of
our system Of education. She made