The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-01-12

monotonous. and we cannot apprecl-
ate too highly the freedom we today
enjoy. America was the first to break
the bands and declare for mans fuli
emancipation in all that the word I'M
plies-for intellectual as we'll as per-
sonal liberty.
want to see this flag floating from
the tower of every school house in
this land, and l want to see school
house on every hilltop and in every
valley, because school houses and ig-
norance cannot exist together. / want
to see the last remnant of ignorance
dispelled.
The nations of the world have been
struggling since the dawn Of history
to enslave the masses and keep them
in the bondage of ignorance. But l am
glad to say that very few now, at least
in this country, believe in the bless
ings Of ignorance. There are some
who still say-not to the poor them
that-but in the circle of their own
acquaintance, that going to school
tends to make the poor discontinued
with their lot" 1t does make them
disconnected with their lot, and I for
one rejoice that it does. This discon-
tentment has made the world what it
is. Our progress, the achievement in
art, science, invention and literature
is all owing to this glorious discon-
tent. What man believes that Hitter
acy would be a more blissful state for
himself and the members of his own
household? What man believes that
ignorance is good enough for his own
children? Notwithstanding the facts
on every hand, some who have moth
ing to brag about but the accident of
birth, still sheer at the attempts to
elevate the masses" But with the |
school teacher and printer loose in |!
the land, the world must move on in !
its upward and onward march The |
horrid nightmare of superstition will
lose its hold on the human mind, and |
as long as the printer and school |
teacher are loose the earth will never
again be visited by witches, ghosts or
COLLINS; the devil will cease going to
and fro upon the earth like a roaring
lion in search of innocent victims to
devour; enlightenment will be en-
and charity and love, and
tolerance and peace, like the lumi-
nous rays of the sun, the beauty of the
rainbow and the refreshing sweetness
Of the showers, will fill the whole
earth.
America stands for the people
against tyrants and kings; for democ-
racy against plutocracy, and our ma
ton is the school master to teach the
lesson of political independence to
every people on the earth. have con-
idence in a government "of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people"
have confidence in the wisdom and
patriotism of those men who laid the
foundation of this government and
in the present and future
Of the United States of America. I'll
honor its institutions and | honor its
lag. | enter into the spirit and share
The enthusiasm of the poet who said:
% Ship of STATED
SAIL on, 0 Union, strong and great!
humanity, with all it's fears,
with all the hopes of future years.
IS hanging breathless on thy fate!
we know what master laid thy keel.
what workmen wrought thy ribs of i
steel,
Who made each mast and sail and
rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers
beat,
In what forge and what a heat
were shaped the anchors of thy hope.
Fear not each sudden sound and
shock,
lis OF the wave and not the rock:
lis but the tapping of the sail,
And not rent made by the gale.
IN spite OF rock and tempest roar,
IN spite of false lights on the shore.
sail on, nor fear to breast the sea.
Our hearts, our hopes are all with
thee;
Our hearts. our hopes, our prayers.
our tears,
our faith triumphant DER our fears.
are all with thee-are all with theei"