Year: 1865

en- hundred teachers and Sabbath echool officers
atan early hoofih Lafayette Square,
whence they. marched past the residence of
President johnson, corner Of Fifteenth and 81
streets. The President appeared at the door Of
his residence and was greeted by the children
as they passed. While marching by they sang
patriotic hymn, Victory at last" The .hstsl-
hge1eer says: SThe President was frequently
cheered, and was the recipient Of large num-
Der Of boquets, which were thrown. into his hat
until it was 50 full that basket was brought
forth to contain the floral gifts. After The chill
dren had marched past the residences of the
President they marched down Fifteenth street,
and thence to the White House, where, after
ter they had assembled, the President took DO
sition in front Of the outside railing and deliv-
cred an address, just before he began to spesk.
a number Of little girls were placed upon the
stand beside and all around him, and he seem
ed much pleased to be surrounded by the chill
dren."


WHAT TIE President SAID TO THk CHILDREN.


The President said, if he understood the de-
sign of the exhibition, it was intended, in part





gether in good schools. This was their annual
celebration, and they had come by what was
generally known as the Executive Mansion in
order, he supposed. to manifest their regard for
the chief executive officer of the nation And
this respect was offered now to one who knew
well how TO appreciate the condition of poor or
obscure children. He had always opposed the
idea of treating persons beyond their due, and
what they justly merited, and be would lay
that down as general proposition in his ad-
dress to the little boys and girls who had done
him the honor to call upon him He was op-
posed to deifying or canonizing anything that is
mortal; but there should always be lust and
proper appreciation OF true merit whether it be-
longs to the Christian, the statesman, or the
philanthrOpist. This was the foundation of his
creed, if he had any: that all things should be
done with the approval of Him Whoscontrols
the events and destinies Of the world. Tothese
children-he might say his little sons and
daughters-he would say he desired them to
appreciate the difference between merit and de-
merit, and be would address his remarks 20
those who were in better, as well as those who
were in humber circumstances. To those who
had superior advantages he would say, do not
become foolish and silly because your parents
can afford to dress you little better, OF to ed
ucate you better. They should feel and know
that their parents and teachers cannot Of them
sselve educate them. No one would ever be
educated unless he educated himself Wheth-
er you have superior advantages or not, you
must educate yourselves. Parents, teachers
and advantages given are simply the means
placed in your hands from which YOU must
mould and shape your own course through life.
But never feel that you are superior 10 your
more humble companions and comrades. In
stead of trying TO humble them and make their
condition lower, yOar pride should be to elevate
them to the standard you occupy. Sometimes
one may come IN. rags and begrimmed with
dirt; but beneath the rags aud dirt a jewel
may be found as bright sz any yet discovered,
and the humble Individual may develop that
which would prove as bright an ornament as
the Jewels of any crowned head. All should
understand this, and that even those who have
no means can at least make an effort to be good
and great. In this matter he (the speaker) was
an agrarlan-such an agrarian as would elevate
and estimate all in proportion to their virtue
and merit. Intrinsic merit should be the base
upon which all should stand. He would pull
none down, but would elevate all-level up
wards, not level downvards. His notion had
always been that the great mass of the Amsri-
can people could be elevated. If all viii be sI-
evated, we may become the greatest and most
exalted nation on the earth. 3 -


My little daughters and sons (said the speak
er), give me your attention while say, hon.
estly and truly, that if I could inform you of
something, and put that into immediate effect,
which would tend to the elevation of you all
would be prouder of it than to be President
forty times. tApplause1 Here is the Execu-
tive Mansion, and yOnder is the Capitol of
great nation, and you look to those who maks
and execute the laws as persons sublime and
grand. But Just think for a moment You are
the crop behind Us. All those buildings, and
all OF this government, viii one day pass under
your control and become your property, and you
Will have to put in force and control the prin-
clples Of government, of religion and humanity.
And let all boys consider-every mothers son
OF them-l laughter that each one is born a can
didate for the Presidency. TLangter and ap-
plause.1 Why not, then, commence at once 70
educate yourselves for the PresidencyH And
he would say to the little girls, that whilethey
could not be Presidents they are born capdi-
dates for the wives of Presidents. Laughter.
While each little boy may feel he is candidste
for the Presidency, each little girl should feel
that she Is n Candidate for Presidents wife:
and each should commence at once to qualify
himself and herself morally, intellectually and
socially for such high positions. While upon
this subject he would say that teachers occupy
most responsible positions. It is the teacher
who fashions to a great degree, the mind
of the child, and, consequently, the great
Importance OF having good teachers, especially
for the very young, In order to instil in their
minds the foundation of good education.


With regard to religion, the speaker said the
time had come when the first inquiry ahould be
whether one is good man or good woman =
Ii they are good 1t matters little to what sect or
church they belong There can be no greatness
without goodness and all should remember
with Pope, that


"Hon0r and fame from no condition rise;


Act well your part-tbsrs all the honor lies"


Under such institutions as ours, he who per-
forms his part well, performs all his obligations
will sooner or later be properly estimated and
rewarded by his friends, his neighbors and the
nation.


Iu looking upon the children, and upon the
grown persons too the speaker said he could
not but think Of the heavy task and response
bility devolying upon those Sho rear children,
and especially upon the mothers. The speaker
then eloquently referred to the ancient Roman
mothers who ever took pride in infusing prop.
er ideas into the minds Of those who afterwards
became distinguished in life. So, with them,
each mother of to-day should feel that her chill
dren are her greatest jewels. They should be
reared with a view to future usefulness; for
much depends upon how they ars educated in
youth. The daughters should be raised to fit
them for the high and exalted duties Of wives
and mothers. And much in this world depends
upon woman. Her mind properly prepared
and cultivated, she has an almost omnipotent
power. Drop, then, into the minds Of your
daughters germs that viii expand and grow.
and fit them to occupy any position to which
they may be called in life.


When welOok at these boys and girls-at the
banners which they carry-at the flags, with
stars and stripes Upon them, which they bear
aloft; when we look upon the brave men and
gallant officers around us and remember what
they have been eontending for-we feel thatwe
can best preserve this government if we rear up
our people properly, and make this. as we can,
the most intelligent portion Of Gods habitable
globe. The stars and stripes is not an unmean-
ing symbol when We look back through the din
of battle and see what it has cost to perpetuats
this government; and should We not, then, use
every effort to bring up properly thesechildren,
L. IL - b,kk - Il h1k tbo of fnnV lar-