The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-04-15
HIGH SCHOOL ESSAYS
Those Read By sieSsrs. White and
Simmer at the Commencement.

two of the graduates, MesSrs. Mark
Sherman White and Dean Cook Skinner.
the paper Immediately following being
that of Mr.. White Mr.. Whites essay
was entitled knowledge Is Power. j"
the essayist saying:
knowledge is certain perception: a
term associated with the greatest prob
lens and controversies of philosophy.
1t is the perception of the external or
material world, the nature of belief,
the ultimate analysis of a proposition
or Judgment. All Of these are involved
in the discussion of what is meant by
knowledge. Moreover, we may in con-
nection with this word take up the con-
sideration of thought or intelligence, in
contrast to the feelings and vOlition.
In a still tferent phase of meaning,
we may be led to consider the nature
of science or philosophy, which is a
species OF knowledge distinguished by
the two features of generated, as dis
tinct from individual or particular facts,
and being yer flied or attested by care
full evidence, in contrast to loose asser-
tons which satisfy the ordinary mind of
mankind
The term knowledge also includes the
possession of the mind derived through
its several activities # sense. perception,
understanding, and speculation insofar
as the same relates to truth. 1t should
be distinguished from mere feeling and
IRON OPINION or impression.
knowledge implies the exercise of
discrimination ana comparison IN regard
10 IDEAS, notlng Ihelr agreement and
olSagreeuenL;
L.. =
"nenl. the Ego PefceiFes itself as hay
ing leeHhg, II becomes conscious, and
eHuerSIaiIitg taxes Jhe place OF simple
ieeHhg., lne'ei.fe' we NAV say that
AhoWyIedge lnPlles cohVIcuQn reached
oy IHe perception OF materials ana con
ulIi9hs.
moSt great poets nave been men of
very great knoWiedge; some have
gathered IL irom books, as Spencer and
MLIoh' olnerS from Keen observation of
men ahI Lhef surroundings, as Homer
ana SnakeSpeare'
hnoWledge Is power IS an Old say
ing winch has come down to US through
many generations, and winch though it
mas neen disputed by modern pedagog-
ISIS Is sun true as II was when tlrst
SPOKEN II II were not true then the
Ordinary laborers on our railroads would
possess Lhe same degree OF power as
me president OF the ROAD. Ii knowledge
were not power Ihe private soldiers OF
our army ana the ordinary sailors on
our War-shlPS would compete IaVorably
win Chelf aole commanders.
les, II Kllo"iedge We're not power
oLeIe "ouiu NOT ne Ihe vast ullterence
81 aolllcy between Ihe men ana women
81 inc factories ana mines ana their re-
7pecCING oVerseerS ana PRESIDENTS. but
"lIoWIeuSe Is power therefore, they
must remain as Ordinary Iaborers until
Cney nave obtained sufacIent noWledge
o. Ihe various industries TO be able to
Hoio ttie coiiVrollIig oFlceS.
again, Il KIo"leage We're not power,
Ndpoieoh "ouIq never nave possessed the
treat commanding influence ne obtain
ca oy Ms vast knoWieuge OF men and
warfare mao 1t not oeen Tor the
kthoW!edge the commander OF the
american meet possessed, the result OF
ene Gl35gageiiaehC IN santiago harbor IN %
"oulu nave Deei laf uIl! etenC, out It was
because OF Che conception OF Seamanshlp
ol me american CoIIrlahder and ms
SuD0rdlnaIes, ana inc Iach oft possessed
ny IHS opanlardS OF cahhohadlng that
"gli Inc Victory lVT Us;
~ was george washington knoWl-
~ 10
our Independence IN lt'O' II was Frank
III diplomacy tHat won Tor US the
hiqcn valued diu OF e. rance.
III Iiie war oI iolz II was Ferry on
Lake ERE VINO showed TO the world
CIi@I aithough thlS was young nation
II hau very goou khoW!ecge OF hight
my. Lihe"ise 1t was Lincoln know
ing |haI 10 40 ana When TO 90 1t, that
SaVeo Glle hati0h IN the early sixties. 1t
was Aulillral dewey WIN ms intelligent
experience Vi llaVdI lacIlcS won Tor US
CLe victory over the SpdhlardS IN the
war OF eIgnteeh nuhdred and ninety
elghCi ana IL was hA-ffes. Roosevelt s
k III! OF craftsmanship that kept
tls nation from costly war with Japan
IN hlheIeeh huhdred ana eight
Anu now my lrlehuS. IN summing up
al these Statements, what conclusions
why is it that this country is dotted
from north to south and from east to
west with school house s?' Why is it
that the Government has schools in
which to give the coming generation
greater knowledge of all the essential
branches? Or why it is that millions of
dollars are spent annually for the main
tenance of schools? IL is because of the