may purify their spirit or contribute to their sta
bility. The founders of the Republic have there
fore wisely recommended that which alone can
insure its permanency—a general republican sys
tem of education. They know' that if the laws
were to be, dictated by the intelligence and exe
cuted by the spirit of the people; it was essential
to purify at once the source of power, to qualify
the youth of the country for the rich inheritance
of its freedom, and to communicate those early
impressions which gave the government of our
native country so commanding an authority over
our effections as well as duties. They felt that if
the slavery of a country be always caused or fol
lowed by its ignorance, it is not less true that no
country, whose inhabitants arc enlightened, can
long submit to arbitrary power, a foreign violence
might hazard the existence of a free government,
or domestic dissensions might modify its forms,
but the buoyant spirit of an intelligent educated
people would soon survive these disasters . ; nor
can the total overthrow of freedom be ever ac
complished but by the decay of virtue and the
corruption of public sentiment.
The advantages of education are, however, by
no means confided to the security of the govern
ment ; it confirms the industrious habits, it puri
fies the morals and increases the resources of
every part of the community. To give to the
citizens education is, in fact, to give them health,
because it supplies the means of acquiring riches,
and more than wealth, because it teaches the
means of enjoying them. Without such instruc . -
tion, moreover, many of the political advantages
of the Constitution cannot be extended to the peo
ple."
'This report presents to the people in a most
striking way the benefits to be derived from a
thorough system of popular education. To-day,
as we dedicate this building, may agencies be de
veloped which shall hasten rhe time when a pub
lic system of education in Pennsylvania shall ex
tend from the primary through the graded
school to the public university. Large sums are
annually expended for the advantages derived
from university education. All concede its ser
vice. By reason of its cost it is given to but a
few to enjoy. If it avails so much to those who
THE FREE LANCE.
are able to pay for it and contributes so largely to
public prosperity, then it becomes the duty of the
State, by proper aid, to bring it within the reach
of all. As a Commonwealth we cannot plead
poverty. Heaven has blessed us in abundance.
Out of our storehouse we can well afford aid in
this direction. The students in the private uni
versities and colleges of the country will not
exceed one hundred thousand. On the
other hand the public graded schools contain
more than twelve millions. By giving to those
in our public schools an opportunity to gratify
their thirst for knowledge in a more extended
course, we would be encouraging the benefits of a
higher education, which would ultimately end in
untold blessings to the country. I might contin
ue, but my time is already exhausted. I must
apologize to the speakers who are to follow me.
As our great founder believed in man's capacity
for self-government, and our institutions are de
pendent upon this principle, our government will
be intelligent and vigorous in proportion as
knowledge is disseminated. We never were so
dependent upon the educational interests in our
land as we are to-day. Let then, from this as
semblage, go out that influence which shall be ex
erted in the establishment of a higher public sys
tem of education to the end that freedom and
knowledge and morals and religion, as they are,
our birthright, may be the birthright of our child
ren to the end of time.' "
AN APPEAL FOR THE SILVER MINER
[Although the Silver Repeal Bill has become a law, the
question is still in the minds of all, and wo print the fol.
lowing article as sent us by Mr. C. K. Cartwright, a former
student of this institution. Mr. Cartwright is not the au
thor but is without doubt of the same sentiment as the
following.]
There is a belt of country extending from the
British Passessions on the north to the Rio
Grande on the south, comprising over one mil
lion square miles or one third of the area of the
nited States inhabited by over two million peo
ple who depend almost entirely upon the produc
tion of silver for the means of subsistence. A . belt
which has given more money to the age than any
other section of the globe. A land that has had
a history stirring and unique, that has inspired
poets, and has furnished novelists with characters
and scenes.
This territory that has done so much to stimu
late commerce, and enrich the nation, that has
built and beautified our cities, has been condemn
ed by the cities it has made and the country it