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 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 [Extracts from Mie ftroceedings of the Departraeut of Superintendeuce 
 
 of the^ational Ediioatioual Association, at its meetiug iu 
 
 W'ashiDgton, January 27 and 28, 1875.] 
 
 H E M A R K S 
 
 OF 
 
 Hon. J. P. WICKERSHAM, of Pennsylvania; 
 
 Baron von SCHWARZ-SENBORN, Austrian Minister; 
 
 Hon. J. D PHILBRICK, of Boston; 
 
 Hon. a. ABERNETHY, of Iowa; 
 
 Hon. B. G. NORTHROP, of Connecticut; 
 
 Hon. a. C. HOPKINS, of Indiana; 
 
 J^NTD OTHERS. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 government printing office. 
 
 1875. 
 
■ A-t-t) 
 
SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
 DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE. 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 Thursday, January 28, 1875. 
 
 Hon. J. P. Wickersbara, State superintendent of common schools of 
 Pennsylvania, read the following paper : 
 
 AMERICAN EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL EXrOSITION. 
 
 So inncli been published concerning the Centennial Exposition to be held at the city 
 of Philadelphia in 1876, that no statement of its design or account of what is purposed 
 to be done seems now necessary. A brief outline of the progress made in the work of 
 preparation, however, and of the prospects entertained of its successful completion, 
 may be of interest, and will serve as an iutroductiou to the special purpose of this 
 paper, which is, to make some practical suggestions in reference to the representation 
 of the schools and school-systems of the country at the exposition. 
 
 The exposition will be held. Whether it shiU be creditable to the nation or other- 
 wise, we must go on with the work. To stop, to even halt, now, would be to disgrace 
 ourselves in the eyes of the whole world. American energy and pluck have accom- 
 plished marvelous things in the past ; they will not fail us now iu pushing to com- 
 jdetion tliis great enterprise. Much has occurred within the last few months to 
 encourage the friends of the Centennial. Obstacles have given way ; interests threat- 
 ening antagonism have been harmonized; help'^ias come from unexpected quarters, 
 and the indications are that the whole nation will make one united effort to secure 
 success. 
 
 More money will be needed, but the management of the Centennial have now iu 
 hand available funds amounting to nearly !|5,000,000. Of this sum, the State of Penn- 
 sylvania has appropriated $1,000,000 and the city of Philadelphia $1,. 500,000. The 
 balance is made up from subscriptions to the stock-fund. Five millions of dollars will 
 go far toward the erection of the necessary buildings for the Centennial ; but large 
 subscrip'-ions to the stock are still hoped for, and, without doubt, in the end, Congress 
 will make a generous appropriation. 
 
 Fairmount Park, in the city of Philadelphia, contains three thousand acres. Several 
 millions of dollars have been expended in improving and beautifying it. Nothing of 
 the kind in this country is now equal to it, and the day is not far distant when it will 
 compare favorably with the linest parks of the old world. The Lansdowne Plateau, 
 upon which the exposition buildings are now being erected, is an elevated part of 
 Fairmount Park. No better site for them could be chosen. Its advantages are said 
 by competent judges to excel those of the sites of either of the great expositions of 
 Europe. 
 
 The buildings are, first, an art-gallery, covering a space of about one acre and three- 
 quarters, the material being of brick, granite, iron, and glass, the law requiring that 
 it shall be perfectly fire-in'oof. The art-gallery is 365 feet long, 210 feet wide, and 59 
 feet high to the ceiling and 150 feet to the top of the dome. JFor the erection of this 
 building the State of Pennsylvania and the city of Ph.ladelphia have appropriated 
 $1,500,000, The inner walls of the building are now erected up as high as the square, 
 and the granite is being set with marked rapidity. The contract requires its perfect 
 completion six months in advance of the opening of the exhibition. 
 
 The main Exhibition building, covering a space of twenty acres, and to be con- 
 structed mainly of iron and glass, was contracted for some months since ; the founda- 
 tions are now nearly ready, and the material is being produced at the mills and facto- 
 ries. This building is in length \,S^Q feet, in width 464 feet, and in height 70 feet. 
 Height of central towers 120 feet. It will cost about $2,000,000, and will be paid for 
 out of the funds arising from the sale of stock, and is also to be completed six months 
 before the beginning of the celebration. The remaining buildings are the machinery- 
 hall, of twelve acres: agricultural department, of six acres, and a conservatory of two 
 
6 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 and a half acres; all of which witliin a few weeks either have been placet! under con- 
 tract, or are ahout to be. The fiiuda for the machinery-hall and conservatory are fara- 
 ished by the cir.v of Philadelphia. 
 
 TIka contemplated buiidiiiffs are larj^e, but already, it is said, that applications for 
 space liave been received from our own people sufficient, if aceept(ul, to take up nearly 
 the whole of that set apart for the United States. I extract the following summary of 
 what is promised by foreign nations from a recent address on the Centennial to the 
 p-nplc of New York: 
 
 The iudications as to tlie display from foreign countries at this date, a year and a 
 half in advance of the beginning, are far more favorable than had been anticipated by 
 the managers. The following-named countries have taken action, to wit . tlu; German 
 Empire has accepted the invitation of the President ; France has acceprod, and has 
 appointed commissioners-resident in Philadelphia and New York: Svved(;n and Norway 
 have appointed a commissioner, and have gone so far as to provide for defraying the 
 cost of transportation of goods of their subjects to the exhibition and return. Eng- 
 land's acceptance of the invitation has been connnunicated by telegraph, but the par- 
 ticulars are not known. In several of the British colonies, especially in Canada, Aus- 
 tralia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and others of the Australasian Islands, exhibitions of 
 unusual completeness and interest have been prepared. In Austria a large number of 
 manufacturers and artisans have solicited space in the exhibition buildings. The 
 governments of Central America and South America have nninifested special interest 
 in the exhibition, and the I'resident's invitation has been accei)ted by Peru, United 
 States of Colombia, Nicaragua, tlie Argentine Confederation, Hrazil. Venezuela, Ecua- 
 dor, Chili, Guatemala, and Salvador, and f(H- these countries commissioners have been 
 appointed and money appropriated for their expenses. Mexico, IJoiuluras, aud Hayti 
 have also accepted the invitation. Prazil and other Soutli American nations havt; 
 made application for space. In addition, the Netherlands, Belgium, Lib(!ria, the Sand- 
 Avich Islands, China, Japan, and Switzerland have accepted the invitation. Spain has 
 accepted, and appointed Senor Emilio Castelar, the eminent republican statesnum, to 
 be lier k .sident commissioner at the American Exposition. 
 
 Philadt'lphia is uow well supplied with hotel accommodations. Projects are now 
 on foot to increase these very largely. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of boarding- 
 houses will be opened. And if all these be insufficient to accommodate the great 
 throng of strangers, the railroads centering at Philadeli)hia have agreed to provide ex- 
 cursion-trains, to run at rapid speed and cheap rates, to all the neigliboring cities and 
 towns, and to New York. Thi^se trains will run directly to the exhibition buildings, 
 so that visitors coming in this way can enter them without the payment of carriage- 
 hire, and under cover. 
 
 One of the most encouraging events in the interest of the Centennial was the mes- 
 sage of the President of the United States, sent last week to Congress, accompanied 
 by a report from the board, composed of one person named by the head of each Exec- 
 utive Department of the General Government, to secure materials proper for represent- 
 ation at the Centennial. The several ])ei)artments of the General Government are pre- 
 jiared, it seems, to enter heartily into the work of putting in shape for exhibition the 
 long lists of interesting articles they have to show. The expense of this part of the 
 exhibition is estimated at $971,000, not including the cost of erecting a suitable build- 
 ing for the special use of the General Government. Tiie President recommends that 
 an ai)propnatiou be made for the purjiise of meeting these expenses, and it is thouHit 
 inib:;'.'c !'nt f'Mii-re^^ viM ,n:ik-' if. But what shall bo done to secure the proper 
 lepresentation of tlie sehool-interests of the country, and how shall they be repre- 
 sented ? A gentleman prominently connected with the management of the Centen- 
 nial writes me within a few days: "The educational department is, in my humble 
 judgment, one of the most important to be presented by our Government.'' This is 
 th<' universal s<-ntiment. ^Ve have been boasting of our systems of free schools so 
 hnig. that our own ])eople have come to think them the best in the whole world. Thev 
 wdl demand there full representation. Failure here will, I am satisfied, briu" severe 
 censure down upon the heads of the Centennial managemcTit, ami prove deeply ininri- 
 ous to school-interests of the country. More strangers, too, from foreign countries, 
 will visit the exposition for the purpose of witnessing our .school- work, juid acquaint- 
 ing themselves with our school-systems, than for anv other object, possibly than foi- 
 all other objects i)ut together. The American school-house at thp great French Expo- 
 sition is said to Inive attracted more attention than all else from'America on exliibi- 
 :ion. The test will be a severe one, I admit; but there is now no shrinkiu<r from it 
 Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, Belgium. Holland, will eoiue, doubt- 
 less, prepared to submit their systems of public instruction to a comparison with our 
 ■ »wn, and we must be ready to meet them with the best we have. It was easy to sav 
 It I'aris, at London, at Vienna, that we left our best at home ; but at Philadelnhia we 
 
 Vill h : ■(( 'i ■ :\.'. '■ 
 
 1 have no doubt that a proper place and ample room will bo allowed by the mana'^e- 
 mont at Philadelphia for tlie display of material relating to education.' What then 
 diould be done ? Wiiat should we do ? ' ' 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 7 
 
 A begiuniiig was made here at our mcetinj^ a year ago. General Eaton, cbairuian of 
 a committee on tbe subject, presented the following outline of plan of procedure, which 
 ■Was adopted with great unanimity : 
 
 1 . That each State and Territory be invited to prepare a representation of its educa- 
 tional condition for tbe Centennial. 
 
 2. That each State and Territory also be invited to prei)are an historical record of its 
 educational progress for the same purpose. 
 
 3. That each city be invited to act with tbe State authorities in preparing such 
 records, and that it present an exhibit of its own educational growth and condition. 
 
 4. That each educational institution be invited to iiarticipate in the same way. 
 T). That a census be taken in 1875. 
 
 6. That the Commissioner of Education be requested, on behalf of the educators of 
 this country, to correspond with the prominent educators of the world, and invite 
 their co-operation in the matter of the Centennial. 
 
 ?. Tliat an international congress be held in connection with tbe Centennial. 
 
 Ihifi id an admirable plan. I approved it then; I approve it now. But to carry it 
 out there must be a great amount of bard work done, and there will be needed a con- 
 siderable sum of money. Who is to do the work, and where is the money to come 
 fr(nu ? 
 
 In my judgment the head of tbe United States commission on the subject of edu- 
 cation at the Centennial can be no other than the head of the United States Bureau 
 of Education in Washington. He is already a commissioner to the Centennial, ap- 
 pointed by the President. Through him, and in no other way, can character, system, 
 and unity be given to the work, and all these are absolutely essential to success. The 
 educational part of the exposition must not be a mass of ill-assorted fragments, with- 
 out order or relation. Foreign commissioners, too, will give attention to an officer rep- 
 resenting the United States, rather than to those representing States and cities. 
 
 The appointment of General Eaton as chief commissioner will no doubt be cheerfully 
 concurred in by the management of the Exposition, who, in conjunction with him, 
 should select the needed number of competent assistants. The number may be small, 
 but it should embrace several of the ablest and best-known American educators. The 
 commission thus constituted should have full power to act without restraint. Auxil- 
 iary to this central commission, but acting for their several localities, there may be 
 individuals or committees representing States, cities, or institutions. 
 
 The central commission will need a considerable sum of money, for to do what ought 
 to be done well will require months of hard work, and to make the exhibition a credit 
 to the nation it is easy to foresee that it will be necessaiy not only to invite the bring- 
 ing forward of educational material, but to provide it. The money to be used by the 
 central commission must come out of the United States Treasury, or the treasury of 
 the Centennial, or both. W^ithout monev, little can be done ; with it, I am satistied, 
 the educational part of the exposition will prove a success. Can an appropriation for 
 this purpose be obtained from Congress? What amount of money can be spared for 
 the educational part of tbe exposition from the treasury of the Centennial? These 
 are vital questions, but I am compelled to leave them unanswered. It is hoped the 
 President's late recommendation will move Congress to take some favorable action. 
 
 So far as States, cities, institutions, or individunis make preparation for the Centennial, 
 they will no doubt provide the necessary funds ; but it is time to begin the work every- 
 wJiere. State su))erintendent8 of schools should ask the legislatni'es of their respective 
 States for an appropriation for Centennial purposes. The superintendents of schools 
 in cities should insist upon the setting apart of a fund by their several boards of direc- 
 tion to be used in the prepai'ation of educational material for the exposition. The note 
 of preparation should be at once sounded all along the line, and a determination be 
 ^inced to achieve success in a matter where so much honor is to be lost or won. 
 ^The exposition must be a full, fair, and systenuitic representation of American edu- 
 cation. No possible credit can come to us by filling our space mechanically with the 
 ten thousand articles that may be offered. Material could be had for the asking, I 
 doubt not, sufficient in bulk to'till the whole exiwsition building. A huge mass of mis- 
 cellaneous articles, with endless repetitious and duplicates, even though they could be 
 so arranged as to look well to the inartistic or unprofessional eye, is not what is wanted. 
 The whole display must be representative. It must be somewhat of an organism, with 
 its several parts nicely adjusted, if not closely related, to one another. In the selection 
 and arrangement of material, I take it, will be found tbe most difficult and delicate 
 duty of the central commission ; but with a fair field in which to work, and a reason- 
 able amount of money Avith which to pay expenses, a presentation of the leading feat- 
 ures of American education can be made that will be an honor to the country, and a 
 ■wonder to the older nations that may come across the water to compete with us. 
 
 At the close of his paper, Mr. Wickersham said : In connectiou witli 
 this paper, 1 beg leave to offer the following resolution: 
 Ilesoh-ed, That a committee of five be appointed to act for this body, with the 
 
8 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 authorities of the Centennial, in perfecting a plan for the proper representation of 
 the educational interests of the country at the api)roaching National Exposition at 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 General Eaton. IMay I ask whether the ^ontleman inteiids to have 
 this committee take the i)]ace of the oue appointed last year, or is it an 
 executive committee to act immediately, and in harmony with the 
 committee of last yearf 
 
 iNIr. WicKERSiiAM. The committee of last year was composed of one 
 member from each State, was it not! 
 
 General Eaton. Yes. 
 
 Mr. WiCKER.SHAM. I think it is wiser to make this an executive 
 committee. It is necessary that we should have some small body of 
 efficient men to represent this larfjer body or orj^anization — to rejiresent 
 the educational interest of the country — to act in connection with the 
 Centennial. There is no oue authorized to do business with the 
 authorities of the Centennial. Any one that looks at this matter in a 
 buisness way (a Fourth of July oration on the Centennial is out of 
 l>lace and out of date now) will see that we have come to the time 
 when we must meet this as business men. In order to do business in a 
 projjcr way, it is absolutely necessary tiiat this body should ai)point an 
 executive committee to do the business for us with the authorities of the 
 Centennial. As it is we cannot do anything. We cannot contract for 
 S])ace. The authorities have, in a general w a}', set apart already a certain 
 amount of space for educational puri)oses. They have allowed that it 
 would be necessary that a certain amount of space should be dedicated 
 for educational purposes, but for how large a space or where that space is 
 to be remains to be settled. We do not know whether tlie authorities of 
 the Centennial will allow any one outside of the commission to conduct 
 this business. There will have to be a large amount of (correspondence 
 between the representatives of this body and the authorities of the 
 Centennial if we are to make a creditable exhibition. It seems to be 
 the universal agreement that we will have such an educational exhi- 
 bition at the Centennial, and under the ausi)ices of this department, if 
 possible. It is yet to be seen what the authorities of the Centennial 
 are absolutely willing to do in regard to this matter. I think that with 
 proper communication with the Centennial authorities through a coni- 
 inittee of business men, representing this body, we can have all our 
 demands satisfactorily answered. iSuch a committee it is proposed 
 shall be created: a working and an efficient (committee authorized to 
 open communication in a l>usiness-like way. Then let the Centennial 
 Commission take charge of the matter under the general rules of that 
 organization. That must be the method if we would be successful iu 
 this enterpri.se. But we never can have any proper communications nor 
 any satisfactory arrangements as matters are now. I am very clear 
 about this one thing. We must have a small, efficient business com- 
 mittee to take iu charge the necessary steps in this matter. They will 
 have to give the preliminary information at once, and proceed to act 
 upon it. There is no time to be lost. They are to see that space is 
 allowed and iilled, and where the money is to come from to carry on 
 this work. They are to see if Congress is going to do anything for us. 
 They are to see whether the Centennial authorities will api)ropriate 
 any money for this purpose. Because, as I said before, it is a question 
 of business, and the amount of money at the bottom; and I feel 
 sure of this, that we have the means, both the men and the material, 
 to make a creditable exhibition in this department. 
 
 The resolution was seconded. 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 9 
 
 General Eaton. I tliink Mr. Wickersham has met the full necessity 
 of the ease by the iutrod action of this resolution. I have no doubt 
 that the gentlemen here representing the different States have already 
 had inquiries made of tliem about how this matter was to be promoted, 
 which inquiries could not be answered. Certainly such inquiries have 
 come to us. I have, in rei)ly to some, stated what was (lone at the 
 last meeting of the superintendents in regard to the matter. 1 have 
 said that 1 would have to wait until this might be acted upon betore I 
 could say anything further. And it seems to me that this resolution 
 meets the necessity that now exists in the premises. I would like very 
 much before the resolution is acted upon, to hear from some of these 
 gentlemen on the subject. 1 have the pleasure of knowing that Baron 
 von Schwarz-Senborn, his excellency the minister from Austro- 
 Hungary, is present. He had charge of the exposition at Vienna. I 
 hope he will say a word or so on this occasion. 
 
 The request made of Baron von Schwarz-Senborn was greeted with 
 applause. 
 
 Baron von Schwarz-Senborn said: 
 
 Mu. CuAiii:\iAX AND Gentlemen : I feel uiyself highly honored to-day at being pres- 
 ent and assisting in this meeting of snch enlightened men, and I remark this beeanse 
 nobody appreciates more than myself the importance of public instruction. I regard 
 every teacher as a missionary for whom I have the highest respect. 
 
 You remember, gentlemen, there was an old European general by the name of Mou- 
 tecueuli, who said that if yon are preparing for war, and wish to become victors, you 
 must have three necessary things : tirst, money ; secondly, more money ; thirdly, much 
 more money. [Applause.] Now I think every teacher is a general, that is, he is a 
 combatant of ignorance and of superficiality. Now I think that the want of knowledge 
 is the root of all evils that exist in the world, and that they can only be snccesslully 
 combated by three things. Those three things are, fi st, education ; secondly, more 
 education ; and thirdly, much more education. [Applause.] 
 
 1 think, too, that the education of a people must begin in the family circle, and tha'j 
 then every man, every woman, every village, municipality, and corporation, and every 
 State government, and the General Government itself, must aid and contribute to the 
 accomi)lishment of this vitally important object. 
 
 I have been traveling for thirty years, and I have found that the impressions gained 
 in traveling are one of the means of obtaining an education. I think a nniversal 
 exjxisition is also like a journey ; but with this advantage, that you see in a few hours, 
 and at a trilling expeuse,that which would oidiuarily take years of traveling to learn. 
 
 You will allow me, gentlemen, to say that, for I am an old exposition man. I was 
 appointed by my government as commissioner to the exposition in Leipsic in 1850. I 
 was conunissiou'er to London in 1851 ; then, again, in London at the exposition of 1862. 
 I was at Paris as commissioner, and class president of the jury at the exposition of 1855, 
 and assisted also at the Paris Exposition iu 18G7, but on that occasion did not accept 
 any appointment, as I wished to have the whole time for study and observation, which 
 are incompatible wiih the duties of an ofticial position. Lately, while I was consul- 
 general of Austria-Hungary in Paris, during the siege and the commune, I was called 
 to Vienna by His Majesty, my Emperor, to plan and superintend the universal exposi- 
 tion iu that city. As directi)r-general of that last exposition, I was more strongly con- 
 -vinced than ever that universal expositions are the very best of schools. 
 
 I must say that these expositions are not established to satisfy the idle curiosity, or to 
 furnish food for thoughtless amusement of the people. I a^o- consider these exposi- 
 tions as institutions for the improvement of the public tastes and the enlightenient of 
 the minds of the people; and especially so, as they thereby learn what most nearly con- 
 cerns the great intert-sts of a country. I think there shouldbe written over the door of 
 each exhibition building, the two golden words of the old Greek, Tuv&i geqvtuv, which, 
 you are aware, when translated, means " know thyself." It is a fact that many persons 
 are ignorant of what exists iu their own couutiy, and aa exposition is the means of 
 their obtaining that knowledge. 
 
 Since I have had the honor and pleasure of being in the United States — only six 
 months — I must say that I have seen in that short time a great many things that are 
 not known either by the people abroad, or by all the people of this country, which 
 ought to be known, and with • hich they can be made acquainted iu the shortest time 
 by an exposition. I know that at these expositions one can learn more of a country in 
 a'fewdays than he could by wandering through it for a long time. I must confess to 
 you, gentlemen, that the United States of America are not known in Euroi>e. For 
 
10 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 America has been very badly, or, I may say, not at all, represented in the five universal 
 expositions lieid in Europe since 1851. 
 
 Had it been well represented on those occasions, the people of Europe would have 
 obtained a far bftttr knowledge of your country than they now possess ; and the in- 
 tellectual and material intercourse between the people of foreign countries and your- 
 selves would have greatly increased. 
 
 Ou the other hand, it is true that the numberof Americans visiting Europe has been 
 increasing every year during the last decade, but that number is immensely small when 
 compared with your entire population of forty millions. 
 
 Ho\v(,'ver, a great improvement in this resju'ct I have mentioned has resulted from 
 those expositions referred to ; and I think wc can hjok forward to still greater benefit 
 from the International Exposition in this country which is now preparing in Philadel- 
 phia f(U' lS7tt. It will be a great benefit in every respect. A great many people will 
 come here fr:)m Europe and other parts of the world. They will profit by the occasion 
 to also see the whole country, as I have no doubt that the various railroad comiianies 
 of the United States will arrange for excursions to every part of your broad domain. 
 
 All these strangers will be enlightened ; they will be cured of prejudii-e. and they 
 will become your very good friends and admirers hereaft.M'. Not only this, but very 
 nuiuy people will come from all the diflereut States of your own country to riiiladel- 
 ])hia to visit the Centennial Ex])osition. And I am sure that they, too , will then for 
 the first time fully realize what are the productions of the United States, and also 
 what the educational system of their country amounts to. 
 
 Since I arrived in the United States I have taken occasion to visit some small but 
 very notable expositions. I saw the exposition of the Ameri;'a:i Institute at New 
 York, the industrial exposition at Newark, the exposition of the Franklin Institute 
 at Philadelphia, and the industrial exhibition at Cincinnati, besides many agricul- 
 tural fairs. It was my intention also to visit the local exhibitions at Chicago and 
 Cleveland, but the shortness of my time prevented. I must confess that at all of 
 these exhibitions I ol)tained a great deal of fresh information. I saw many things 
 and learned many new facts that 1 rejoice to know. 
 
 i Juiive thus given you, gentlemen, my idea of the value of expositions in general. 
 ~^¥f«MK,'ks far as my experience in Vienna as director-general is concerned, I compre- 
 hended that it would be useful and a great benefit for my country, to learn of the differ- 
 ent educational systems existing in the ditt'erent parts of the world ; and some of the 
 gentlemen now present, who were at Vienna in liST.*?, will agree with me that the 
 educational departnumts of all the nations represented at the exposition at Vienna 
 were the most interesting and most important part of the exjiositiou. It was appre- 
 ciated by all enlightened classes of men ; by all those who ai'e the well-wishers of the 
 civilization and welfare of the people. I think such a section of the exposition at 
 Philadelphia will also be the most valuable, and in its consequences the most benefi- 
 cial feature. I think that (ivery American citizen who tnay contribute in any way to 
 the exposition in Philadelphia will thereby bestow a great benefit upon his fellow- 
 men. 
 
 And I may add here, that I have lately been in Philadelphia, and during the two 
 weeks that I remained there I took what observations I could, assisted by the court- 
 esy and hosjiitality of all the intelligent men I had the pleasure of meeting there, and 
 I must confirm the remark of the honorable g(!ntleinan, Mr. Wickersham, wlio read the 
 jiaper, that the location for the exposition in l-'airm )unt Park is charnilug, and really 
 better than that of either of the universal expositions in Lond.)n, Paris, or Vienna. I 
 had o]>i)ortunities, through the kindness of the difierent nu-mbt-rs of the Centennial 
 Commission, when in Philadelphia, to s^'e all the [dans, drawings, and speeifieations, 
 and I know what they are doing now toward the erection of buildiugs, and I am not 
 at all flattering in saying the truth that all that has b^eu done and prepared, and all 
 that is now being doni;, shows great skill and ability. The most honorable and intel- 
 ligent men who are the leaders of the great work are using all the experiences gained 
 in the former universal exhibitions, especially that (tf Vienna. 
 
 I am sure that the exposition in Phihubdphia will be a great success in every respect, 
 as I wish from my heart, and as I h-^ve seen from the beginning that it will be so. 
 [Ai)plause.] I am also sure that all intelligent citizens of Amerwa will appreciate 
 more and more the importance of this exposition. They will see more clearly every 
 day that it deserves all the su[)piu-t that is required. I am sure that every man who 
 thinks of it and looks into it — every Senator as well as every member (jf the 
 House of Representatives — will do whathecan to make this exposition a success, as it 
 should and will be, liecanse — if you will excuse me in saying it — I consider that the 
 exposition in Philadelphia is not a private enterprise ; it is not at all an enterprise to 
 make money ; it is not an enterprise for serving local interests and for the benefit of 
 the city of Philadelphia alone. I put a much higher estimate upon it, and regard it as 
 an enterprise to be carried out on the most liberal scale. 
 
 I repeat, therefore, that whatever the honorable gentlemen here and elsewhere, as 
 well as the Government, will do for the exposition, it will redound to the benefit of 
 the whole people of the United States of America. [Applause.] 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 11 
 
 Mr. Hopkins, State superintendent of Indiana. I simply rise, sir, to 
 say that I am heartily in favor of the resolution, and 1 can assign one 
 or two reasons why 1 think such action is necessary in order to make 
 effectual our exhibition. 
 
 The State of Indiana has already commenced to make preparations 
 to have our educational interests represented in the exposition. That 
 matter has been canvassed more or less for two years, and, in a 
 recent rei)ort from the department of public instruction to tlie legis- 
 lature, among the recommendations was one that an appropriation be 
 made for the puri)ose of enabling the proper authorities in that State 
 to have a representation in the Centennial Exposition of our educa- 
 tional interests. I have taken great interest in looking after this 
 matter in our State. I have already done what I could, and hope to 
 succeed still further in securing a sufficient appropriation from the leg- 
 islature to enable the State board of education to see that the educa- 
 tional interests of Indiana are thoroughly represented. Of course this 
 is an independent movement to some extent. And if we can have five 
 men, representative men of the country, to whom we can communicate 
 our desires, it will certainly facilitate very materially the representation 
 of these educational interests. 
 
 As far as Indiana is concerned, Indiana will be reprCvsented in that 
 Centennial Exposition. And we shall be ouly too glad if this arrange- 
 ment could be adopted so that we can be represented as a whole, and 
 not so much as independent States. 
 
 Mr. NoRTHRUP, of Connecticut. When I seconded the motion, I did 
 not intend to offer any remarks. But there is one suggestion which fell 
 from the lips of our friend Baron Senborn which is worthy of notice. 
 He tells us, and tells us truly, that the exposition at Vienna was a 
 school for Austria, and that this proposed exposition will be a school 
 for America. It was a school for Austria, especially in the direction 
 in which Austria needed a school. Unification in Germany and in Italy 
 was greatly facilitated by unit}" of race and language; but Austria in 
 attempting unification, on account of the many diftereut nationalities, 
 has had the toughest problem of any government in Europe. How to 
 unify these heterogeneous and sometimes antagonistic elements has 
 indeed been a problem. And I believe that that exposition, showing 
 as it did the intense earnestness of that government for the education 
 and elevation of the whole people, has been an important school. Oar 
 friend has said that it was never designed for money-making, and only 
 some frivolous and superficial newspaper-writers represented the Vienna 
 Exposition as a fiuaucial failure. As if the great Austrian government 
 entered upon that magnificent enterprise for money-making! So our 
 International Exposition will be a financial failure if we enter upon it 
 for money-making. And yet lam confident that it was of immense benefit 
 in Austria. That exposition in its influence effected precisely what 
 Austria needed — a school in the promotion of unification. And, in my 
 iudgmeut, that is the great demand of the United States to-day if the 
 problem of reconstruction is to have a final and happy solution. Cer- 
 tainly t!iis will tend in that direction. And if we can, in the educational 
 departments, create co operation and sympathy, and the educators of 
 all the States of America will come forward with their full zeal in this 
 work, it will greatly promote what we most need in America — unification 
 and reconstruction. [Applause.] 
 
 Mr. Philbrick, of Boston. I don't feel that I ought to occupy time 
 upon this subject; but, still, my judgment so entirely approves of the 
 idea as suggested, and my heart is so thoroughly enlisted in the project of 
 
12 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 Tirilin- 1 complete exhibition of the edacational interests of the country 
 r/; e oxMrsUiC that I hardly feel that 1 would be do.ngjustice to myselt 
 nV t IP s sa iV'- that I hope the friendsof education m every part of 
 7^u£^^^'n^^Y^^ etlirts to give entire success to that depart- 
 .^Pnt mM>ropo^^^^^^ uow before the meeting of appointing an exec- 
 utiecommiee stems to me very good, and, of course, I sljad be ha,W 
 utuecommuLte , j,j feature, the principal thing, 
 
 tl^n'snl) intial th n' is tbat w^ was referred to by Mr. Wickersha.n 
 i^htsl;e and that s, that we must have one head to this wlnde move- 
 Znd S that bLl sho be the head of the -National Burcniu of 
 Ed c'l i^ " nd that head should have a sufficient number ot assistants. 
 A 1 the Cuh lit^^^^^^ be put in their hands, and then they can lay out 
 
 U e mope is and make the proper announcements at the proper time 
 in?elc-m state, having ascertained what space will be accorded, what 
 IS most desii- I le to bc^done by the superintendents and other riends 
 of educatUm in the dilierent States and Territories m regard to this 1.x- 
 
 ^""a^ M^ Wickersham well says, it is worse than useless to have a great 
 m-1 oJu.^1 'ested r^ '"^^"er sent from the dilierent States 
 
 mr.^le m ■'^'t the exposition? The best must be se ected, the exposi- 
 
 i n m i^be nangeclsysten.atically, and a mutual plan tor us m carry- 
 
 "o t 1 e pr jectrit seems to me, is 'best. We have need to look o it 
 
 lU the plan ii thi one whic!i was ado,)ted by Austria, the one which 
 ^'had a representative speaker here this "^-.n^ 1 w- - -os 
 norfect plan in all its departments: and f wi^h to sav that i «as par- 
 ^^ r.r^uck with the remarks oi his ex.^llen<.y, iiaron ^^^iiborn m 
 re." <l to the great educational advantages of the exposition. Cei tainly 
 I ^a sly this^on sufficient ground, lor we have heard to-day ren^ar^^^ 
 reUrd to this subject, in this hall, from the gentleman most competent 
 of^^ill men in this world to speak upon this subject. [ Applause.j 
 "'b t he most interesting point, Mr. President, ^^ y-^.-/^ ^''-;:,'^,^,, ,^ 
 mention it as it seemed to me, was this allusion made to the tainous 
 Greek ay ngVi.: ..a...;., which saying, it was said, fron. heaven came, 
 as if was claimed that it could never have come trom any other place. 
 
 i^oi^l^Zay until we know other people we can not know ourselves 
 W^^le io standard to go by. But it is just because these umvers^d 
 expositions furnish the nieans for observing and judging m « f '^^1 to 
 tlTes il s of civilization in other nations that they otter us the best 
 om>ortr^ for knowing ourselves. The information whicli they supply 
 
 SlmtJ^in every wa? to that ^'-^0^-1^^^^^-^-;;;^;:^!;^^";" ^li;^ 
 oughly instructs mankind in regard to his race ^"'.^^^^J^^^'V,,' •.'T ,? 
 I. d possibilities: and so instructs him iu regard o nimselt. Ihemloi- 
 ; a i::n^^s Lub^ded constitutes not only a ^^J-^' .^l^^^;;^ '^'^J';^: 
 than a school. How do we find our relation— oui standing— in tins 
 world uZ by examination; and at a great universal exposition, 
 wh ch may be regarded as a school in the highest sense, there is a con- 
 S^l^H^e^mniationof tlu^ civilized -jti-j-* t^;^]^^, ^^^^ 
 .r, Ihen I^ w.it JoJ^ien-a, ^^-^^ o -nake^ ^^ 
 
 been Jl^e" ne^ ^si^of I^tViend, the Chief of the Bureau of Educa- 
 tion who was most anxious that 1 should take the tr.i> 
 
 We 1 sii ^ came over some things which we supposed m this country 
 
 I'l ..'. Iv tw We have a way of tlunkmg that there are 
 
 ^une 'h n'^in th^couui;; which are tolerably good, and somet.mes I 
 
 ? d' i mav be said we carry that opinion a little too tar as con.pared 
 
 ^th he p odui ions of the rest of the world. 1 will mention some 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 13 
 
 among other things which I carried over with me. We have said we 
 chiimed that we had very flue school-houses in this country. We had 
 some of them in Boston, and so I carried photographs of these build- 
 ings, aud a photograph of the State Normal School. These photo- 
 graphs were put in guilt frames, and were to be displayed in the Edu- 
 cational Department. That we thought was the best way, uuder the 
 circumstances, to represent that particular matter. We expected to 
 produce something of a sensation with this exhibition. We were very 
 sanguine of it. The pictures were put up. 1 found that many persons 
 passed by without giving much attention to this exhibition ; this rather 
 surprised me, until, in the course of explorations over that vast area, I 
 came upon the Austrian exposition of her educational affairs. Never 
 shall I forget the profound imi^ression made upon my mind when I had 
 examined that particular department, devoted solely to the exposition 
 of Austrian educational interests. Every portion of the department, 
 commencing with the primary schools aud carried up to the highest 
 development in the process of instruction, was represented there. 
 There were rei^resented also the technical schools with all the special- 
 ties and all the apparatus of their instruction. There was a full idea 
 given of the working of their schools, and among other things I found 
 some plans of school-houses; aud then, sir, if you will believe me, I 
 found that I begau to know a little of myself, that is, of my 
 country ! Well sir, I will say this — and I certainly have no 
 wish to disparage my own country — I think a good deal of my 
 country — I will say that I was overwhelmed. I did not know 
 much about Austria before I went to Vienna. It was impossible to 
 have any such idea of it as was conveyed at that exposition, from 
 a Tuere verbal description. I had no idea, not any true suspicion, of the 
 condition of educational aifairs until I paid this visit to the department 
 to which I have referred. In the examination of this department I 
 looked at some drawings and examined them. Well, sir, we carried some 
 of our drawings from America ; some from Boston, New York, 
 Phi]adel])hia, Cincinnati, from all the principal cities of the 
 Union. We had drawings there from some of our higher insti- 
 tutions, supposed to be very much devoted to science and art. 
 
 Now, what I wish to say in this connection is, as a little illustration, 
 perhaps, (-the point was put forward so admirably by his excellency,) 
 I actually found drawings there from one of the elementary schools in 
 Vienna far surpassing in quality, and, :f you please, quantity, all that 
 had been sent from the whole of our great American nation. That was 
 instruction tome! It was good, though somewhat mortifying, to me 
 thus to be brought to " know myself." I found that these drawings 
 w^ere from one of the inferior schools, not from one of the highest schools, 
 but from a school that corresponded in the age of the pupils to what we 
 call our grammar-school, emljracing boys from eight to fourteen years 
 of age, and very few older. I said at once that I wanted to visit that 
 school. I wanted to see the master at the head of that school. I wanted 
 to see the apparatus aud witness the methods in that school. I paid 
 that visit. I examined the school in every department. I looked into 
 its methods of instruction, its system of inducement and encouragement. 
 I examined its library. I noticed its industrial features. I examined 
 its technical books of reference adapted to youth. All was in perfect 
 order, and the pride which that master exhibited in showing everything 
 about that school was wonderfully encouraging ; it was delightful. 
 Now, as I have intimated, I am not going to disparage America. I am 
 fLdl of the spirit of the "Fourth of July." I live under the shadow of 
 
14 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 Bunker Hill Monument. I will not disparage mj' country, and I will 
 not permit any other man to do it in my presence without an attempt 
 at a fitting protest ; and if any one gets up to say that America is not 
 the greatest country in the world, I am one of those who propose to rise 
 immediately afterward and re-assert the proposition. [Laughter.] But 
 I want to " know myself," and I want to know my country ; and if there 
 is anything better in any little department, I want to know that, because 
 we will go to work and beat it. [Laughter.] And now I saj' here was 
 exhibited to us a tield and method for vast improvement. 
 
 Now, about the school-houses. Here I made a most remarkable dis- 
 covery. It had been proposed, and estimates had been made on the 
 proposition with some care, to carry the school-houses o\'er with us to 
 the exposition, and fit them up. I found that this could be done for 
 one half the money that one American couimissioner put in his bill ou 
 estimates. But I made the discovery in my tour through the exposi- 
 tion that I had made a most fortunate escape. The school-houses were 
 not carried over because we could not obtain funds for that purpose. 
 Now, mark what I have to tell you. I had regretted my inability on 
 this account; but when I stepped into the school-house there which 
 had been sent to the exposition, and put up by the government of 
 Sweden, I trembled to think of what might have been ! Then, by the 
 way, this building was not sent over as a school-house exhibition, but 
 as a specimen of carpentering. There was a school-house completely 
 constructed and fitted up. There it stood, all fitted up for a school- 
 house for educational purposes. When I went in and took a seat on 
 the platform, I took a long breath. It was partly through fear, and 
 partly through relief. I was almost afraid that I had brought over 
 that American school-house. [Great laughter.] But then I was re- 
 lieved, and realized the fact tliat a kind Providence had prevented 
 my committing such an ill-advised act. Well, I did not ])rofess to 
 know much about education. [Renewed laughter.] I felt quite weak 
 and hund)le. Here was a building, sent as a mere specimen of car- 
 l)entering, which was so much in tlie way of adaptability as a house 
 of instruction that every minute of the hour spent in looking at it 
 increased a sense of appreciation and wonder. After 1 had taken my 
 seat, and remained quiet for several minutes, I began to look around 
 and give audible exjjression to myself of my congratulations. I said to 
 myself, "How fortunate you have been. O, presumptuous man ! you have 
 escaped a disgrace, not to say a national disaster." And 1 reflected 
 again and again. If I had the money which we so much desired, if I 
 had command of the resources of the national treasury at Washington, 
 I could not, so far as I know, have procured Irom any architect orcom- 
 juittee, or any su[)erintendent of schools in America, such an edifice as 
 this; so complete, so admirable in all its i)arts. And I said to myself, 
 Now, I think I know better than any other American how to fit up a 
 school-ioom! 
 
 I saw not only, Mr. President, an abundance and a profusion in every 
 department, but there was such perfect taste and such just proi)ortions. 
 And I have said that if that school-house could be taken liom Vienna, 
 Avhere I sup])ose it may be still remaining, and put up on the ground at 
 Philadel[)hia, in our national ex[)Osition, it will attract more attention, 
 and elicit more applause, and produce more gratification in the breast 
 of every visitor connng from the Atlantic or Pacific coasts than any 
 other item of the exhibition. I know it would ap[)eal to the universal 
 sense of ])roi)riety and adaptability in the judgment of every experienced 
 teacher from Massachusetts to (jalilbruia, and from the northern lakes 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 15 
 
 to the Gulf. And I say it deliberately, and with a caution against ex 
 aggeration, that that one thing, as an instructive exhibition, would pay, 
 in its benefits to this country, for the whole exposition at Philadelphia. 
 
 Now, this all comes under the text which has been presented by our 
 distinguished friend, the minister from Austria, who did such a great 
 work at Vienna. I congratulate this convention that we have had this 
 statement and illustration from our distinguished visitor, who has i)roved 
 such a tower of strength for his nation, and for this class of instructinS 
 enteri)rises, whose directing genius and executive ability kept that 
 great exposition moving, and so shaped all its machinery that there was 
 no disorder, but perfect harmony. And he will agree with me, I am sure, 
 in what I have said of the benefits that would spring from a transplant- 
 ing of that little Swedish school-house to the exposition at Philadelphia. 
 We boast, sir, of our school-houses. Perhaps I spoke of them last year 
 with a little too ranch severity. I have been sometimes a little sorry for 
 some things which I said. I am inclined to change my phrase to this : I 
 will say that the school-houst^s of this country are the glory of this country, 
 and they are ; but, at the same time, they are also the shame of this coun- 
 try, because there has been so much money spent upon them, and yet so 
 much money illy spent. There are very good school-houses. Of many 
 of them we may boast in some measure ; but how much better they 
 might have been with a proper use of the same amount of money. Or, 
 on the other hand, they might have been just as good with a great den^ 
 less expenditure of money. 
 
 I went and found in Vienna that there was a school-house far sur- 
 liassing any of which we could boast; better adapted and better fur 
 nished in every respect, and I felt that it was my duty to return and say 
 that we need to instruct ourselves by the experience and nctoiiipliyh- 
 ments of other nations. 1 have said as much and more than this in 
 Boston. Yes; I have said as much under the shadow of Bunker Hill. 
 As an American, loving my country, and proud of her, I feel that I must 
 make this condition and statement everywhere when occasion seems to 
 call for it. [Applause.] 
 
 REMARKS OF BARON VON SCHWARZ-SENBORN. 
 
 I feel compelled to say a few words about the suggestion which was made by the 
 honorable geutlemau who has just spokeu, iu regard to the Vienua Exposition beiug a 
 fiuancial failure. 
 
 I am uot of the same opinion. It is true that both our Houses of Parliament granted 
 only three million dollars appropriation for the exposition. And it is also true that 
 the cost reached about six million dollars. From that sum must, however, be de- 
 ducted the total amount of the receipts. The accounts of those revenues have not 
 yet been closed. Besides, all the exhibition buildings, built of stone, brick, and iron, 
 and representing many millions, are still standing. I think that not a cent has 
 been lost, or was uselessly spent iu the exposition ; but when you come to strike a 
 balance, and consider the value of the buildings, I reckon the balance which remains 
 is very small. I will uot prove that even that cost will be covered. The account is 
 very simple. Supposing that we had even expended the whole of the twelve million 
 florins, or six million dollars, which is uot the case, we must remember that the total 
 number of our visitors at Vienna reached nearly sis millions. Well, if every person 
 who visited the exposition gained an intellectual benefit of only two dollars in value, 
 there was made an actual gain over the money that really was spent by the govern- 
 ment, besides the cost of the permanent improvements. I must confess for my part 
 that I gained more, much more, and I would not give my experiences, knowledge, and 
 instruction which I got at that exposition for many thousand dollars. I am advanced 
 iu j^ears; I cannot make materially profitable the knowledge which I gained in the ex- 
 position ; but I am sure that a great majority of the younger portion of the people 
 who visited there will use that knowledge to their future advantage. If you will allow 
 me, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I wish to say one thing more, and that is, that in 
 
16 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 Austria we attach the highest importance to a certain system of education, whicb wo call 
 eyesij;iit or object teaching. May I at first make some remarks upon public instruction 
 as it now exists in Austria? The condition of tlie school-ma.sters has tliere been greatly 
 improved. Their position once was a very bad one. We iiave now made great advances 
 in our system of instruction and in regard to the teachers. They did not formerly get 
 as much money for their time as was necessary for a common liveliliood ; but iu the 
 last ten years we have realized some of the great improvements of teaching for our 
 children, and appreciate the teachers more than ever before ; and we are improving 
 every day as much as we can. Our childi'en have better instruction than ever, and 
 our tt^achers are better. I think the time is not far distant when every child in 
 Austria will not only be compelled to learn reading and writing in the jjriniary schools, 
 but also, at the same time, drawing. Thus have we provided for the yonth ; bnt what 
 must be done for those grown children, the adults, in Austria who have learned little 
 or uotliing? They did not have such large ojiportuniti 'S of schooling as their cliildren 
 now enjoy. A man thirty or forty years of age cannot go to school, bnt he can bo 
 instructed by eyesight or oljject teaching, snch as is afforded by the exhibitions, and 
 other similar means. One of those means jnst referred to is traveling. What is travel ? 
 Travel is education. You learn nnuiy things in tra\eling, by observation; you are 
 tan^i: 1 in tliatr-way. Tlierefore this is also teaching. A great German savant. Professor 
 Virchoer, made a very interesting and a very accurate remark, which could apply here. 
 He said that "nothing which conu^s through your eyes into your head ever goes out." 
 And so say I. The impressions which we obtain by the sense of sigiit affect the brain 
 and change our views in the most favorable manner. That was the meaning, and the 
 man who has seen many things— who has traveled a great deal, will have his intellectual 
 faculties greatly improved. We observed in Austria, as well as in other parts of Eu- 
 rope, anotlier striking effect of tlu^se exhibitions. They improve in a remarkable way 
 the public taste. The taste in former times in Austria was also a bad one. The people 
 had not seen examples of tasteful and beautiful productions; they had, therefore, no 
 artistic judgment. They had no museums and schools for apjilyiug fine arts to indus- 
 try ; for imi)roving and correcting their taste, and for thus giving them the right ideas 
 of tlie beautiful. The conse<(nence was that in their buildings, furniture, and other 
 things of common life, no taste was shown. Bnt now, within a few years, and espe- 
 cially >i!U'c the Universal Exposition and the establishment of museums and schools, 
 there uas been a remarkaV)le improvement. 
 
 The same may be said of England. Every one who visited England on the occasion 
 of th(! London Exhibition in 1851 will remember that the Englisli manufactured arti- 
 rles were very cbeai), useful, and of the best quality, but the taste displayed therein 
 was awful. And now the English have, as a consequence of that exhibition, im- 
 nensely improved in their tastes; ami in the Vienna Exhibition of 187:5 we saw new 
 evidence of this fact. Allow me to say, gentlemen, that a sincere friend should speak 
 the truth, and that, as a sincere friend of America, wlio has the greatest sympathy for 
 its pi.'ople, in whose country I have horned, since my short stay of six months, a great; 
 de:il, and where I ho))e to learn much more, it is my duty to say to them, in all truth 
 and canilor, that their ])ublie taste is in the same awful condition as was the public 
 taste in England before their great exhibition of 1851. [Applause.] 
 
 I am sure that the public taste in American can be improved to as great a degree 
 within as short a time after thi; exposition of 1S7G as that of England was im[)roved 
 after the London Exposition of 1851. I attach, therefore, immense importance to the 
 cultivation of the fine arts as the means of n^fining the feelings of every man, and 
 thereliy improving the public taste. And I think this most desirable result will be 
 attained, among other valuable ones, by the approaching international exposition in 
 Philadelphia in 1876. 
 
 Baroii Von Schwarz-Senborii took his seat amid <rreat applause. 
 
 ]Mr. PniLBUiCK. For myself, and I think 1 speak for all ])resent, I 
 am truly thankful for the remarks which his excellency the minister 
 from Austria has jiiven us. I fear that perhaps my remark in regard 
 to the tinancial failure, so called, of the Austrian Exposition, may liave 
 been misunderstood by his excellency. I meant to say that tlie common 
 rumor to that efli'ect, shed abroad by ne\vsi)aper reporters, was a super- 
 ficial and erroneous statement. I intended to have said that the Aus- 
 trian i^ovcrnment appropriated six million florins at the outset, and, as 
 I understood, was ready to foot the bills which might be brought in on 
 ac(;ount of the exposition in the end; but there was no idea of going 
 into the enterprise as a money-making si)eculation. I wanted to set 
 aside that sordid idea tor ourselves. Austria, realizing tlie grand bene- 
 fits of such ail exhibition, stood ready to pay its cost. The Austrian 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 17 
 
 government lieartily approved the project, and expected the benefits 
 which woukl indirectly liow from the exposition would more than com- 
 pensate the government for any outlay that might occur. And I will 
 say here, that there has been a marked progress in that country of late. 
 During the past eight years, no country in Europe has made a greater 
 progress in education and general enlightenment than the empire of 
 Austria-Hungary. 
 
 A discussion [see full reports of proceedings] upon matters of detail 
 here ensued, in which the Rev. Mr. Harold, of Washington, D. C.,. 
 Z. Richards, esq., of Washington, General Eaton, and Mr. Wickersham, 
 of Pennsylvania, participated. In the course of his remarks General 
 Eaton paid an appreciative tribute to the management of Baron Von 
 tSchwarz-Senborn, as director-general of the Vienna Exposition, and to 
 the widening educational influences of the exposition itself. Discussion 
 upon the main question was resumed by Col. A. Abernethy, of Iowa. 
 
 Mr. Abernethy, of Iowa. It seems to me, if I apprehend this mat- 
 ter aright, that the chief purpose and duty of this committee will not be 
 the securing or care of money, not at all. The object will be to sj'stem- 
 atize and unify the educational representation at the exposition. But 
 I wish simply to express my approval of the views submitted by Gen- 
 eral Eaton. I am of the same opinion with him. I have come more 
 than a thousand miles to attend this meeting, and I feel a great inter- 
 est in the question which has been brought under discussion. I am 
 glad it has been so thoroughly debated here to-day. Now, to show the 
 point from which I view this matter, I will refer to the fact that we 
 have a centennial board or commission in our State. We are taking 
 this year a census, which will be much more complete than any we have 
 taken before. 1 think it will be the most complete census of any State 
 in the Union. Taking, of course, the last United States census as a 
 basis. But a large number of items are to be added to it. The blanks 
 are now in the hands of the officers, and they are taking a very full ac- 
 count of educational statistics. Statistics as to the age of children and 
 their advance in education, and in regard to all the school agencies and 
 the attendance; such statistics as we cannot get in our regular annual 
 school-returns. The State board, which has the preparing of these 
 statistics, allowed me to suggest any topic which I thought might be 
 properly named in this connection. So that we shall have brought all 
 that I can think of as desirable in such a collection of statistical facts. 
 Now, I say, we desire to co-operate with a central organization in this 
 matter of the exposition. Our State board of managers are anxious in 
 regard to it. They have made me the offer of the secretaryship of the 
 groups comprising the educational districts of the State. It is made up 
 of thirty-two groups. It is desired to represent our educational inter- 
 ests in as thorough a manner as the same interests were represented at 
 Vienna by the Austrian government. Now, then, having been tendered 
 this secretaryship, I came here desiring to know how our statistics 
 could be best represented. To illustrate our State system, I understand 
 that it is not desired that we should bring any of our school-houses to 
 the exposition. Is it desired that we should bring photographs of our 
 best school-houses I As to books, the publishers of text-books will be 
 represented, and I presume it will not be expected that we should fur- 
 nish samples. 
 
 So will it be, I presume, with school manufactures; the manufacturers 
 
 of school-furniture and the publishers of text-books will probably desire 
 
 to represent those things. Now what can we bring from our State ! 
 
 We can give a little brief history of our educational progress. Our 
 
 2e 
 
18 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 State associations will prepare sucb a history, but it will only make up 
 a few pages. "What we desire to learn is, bow are we to rei)resent our 
 educational progress, our educational status, at tbe exposition ? How 
 shall we show the manner in which the work is going on, and the stand- 
 ard which has been reached f How are Pennsylvania, and Massachu- 
 setts, and New York going to present their educational interests ? If 
 we had answers to these questions we would know iiow to begin, and 
 how to move on. That is what we want to learn to-day, and I should 
 be glad if the discussion should turn in that direction. We want infor- 
 mation upon this very jioint ; how can we present our educational 
 uiatters at Philadelphia ? We want to know that immediately. If I 
 am to accept this secretaryship I want to know to whom I am to address 
 circulars ; what information we wish to try to gather for the puiposes 
 indicated ; how we shall present a fair statement of our educational 
 matters at the exposition. I do believe that our State desires to be 
 fully represented at this exposition; and 1 think that if there is any- 
 thing in which I take a just pride, it is in our school system. But 1 
 want information on this subject ; how are we to present ourselves at 
 the door of the exposition ' 
 
 Mr. WiCKERSiiAM. That is the very question in point. We wish to 
 to have this needed infornmtion disseminated. Now, here are gentle- 
 men from all parts of the Union seeking this information. 1 found 
 the same inquiry at Philadelphia. We must have some head from 
 which this information can be sent abroad. First we must know what 
 space we are going to have. Then some i)erson in authority must de- 
 termine the character ot the exhibition. 1 take it that when this business 
 committee is appointed by this body, its members will confer with the 
 centennial authorities and ascertain what their views are o" the subject, 
 and they will make some arrangements witli the centennial authorities 
 which will be specific and thoroughly intelligible, and upon which sat- 
 isfactory communications can be sent to the superintendents in Iowa, 
 and to all the proper educational authorities in the various States in 
 the Union. The lirst duty laid ui)on this centennial commission, when 
 our committee is appointed, will be to supply information in reply to 
 these questions. I have been asked similar (juestions in Philadelphia, 
 but I had to confess my inability to answer them. It is high time we were 
 up and doing. I made inquiries myself at Philadelphia of the centeii- 
 iiial authorities, but of course I could not obtain any thoroughly satis- 
 factory replies. I had not the time to ])ress inquiries that were i)roper, 
 nor had I the authority to do so. The commission will tell you in a 
 general way that they mean to have at the exposition a large amount ot 
 space devoted to educational i)urposes. Some will say that they want 
 to devote more attention to that department than to anything else. But 
 they have no clear ideas as to its character ; when you come to details, 
 they can give you no reply. The question must be i)ut authoritatively, 
 how many square or cubic feet of space are you going to allow for the 
 educational department ? And in regard to the characteristics of that 
 department there must be courteous consultation with the centennial 
 authorities, for they are the authorities in the premises. I re])eat, it is 
 necessarj' to get down to business principles, and when your committee 
 has the proper authority to communicate with the centennial managers 
 the information required will be rapidly obtained and promptly dissem- 
 inated to all parts of the Union. Then we can go into the work of har- 
 monious arrangement. Then the' different States can fall into line in 
 co-operation and contributions without hesitancy and without doubt, 
 and all the desirable varietv of exhibition can be secured to the satisfac- 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 19 
 
 tion of each State, and for the promotion of the general interests of tLe 
 exhibition. 
 
 jMr, A. P. Mabble, superintendent of schools at Worcester, Mass. As 
 I understand the proposition, it seems to me that this is the most direct 
 method for obtaining the result which we all desire. I understand that 
 an executive committee is, under this resolntion, to be formed out of the 
 general committee, which embraces all the superintendents represented 
 m this department. The object will be to have an efficient body of men, 
 who can consult with the centennial authorities, and also raise the funds 
 necessary for securing proper representation in the forthcoming exposi- 
 tion. I think there will be entire unanimity in debating this proposi- 
 tion ; but I rose more particularly to make a remark which I think will 
 bring my friend Mr. Eichards into perfect harmony with the last speaker. 
 The action of this body last year was published to the friends of educa- 
 tion, and carried more particularly to the officers of the educational 
 boards in the different States. That action was virtually adopted by 
 the National Educational Association. I was an officer of that associa- 
 tion and present at its last meeting. It seemed to be conceded that the 
 action taken here was proper and sufficient. And although 1 am not 
 authorized directly to speak for the National Educational Association, 
 yet I am convinced that I am correct in saying that the action of this 
 body was virtually approved by the national society ; and that reliance 
 is placed upon your action here in carrying out the objects which have 
 been set forth by Mr. Wickersham. The National Educational Asso- 
 ciation looks to this body, to this department, to adopt all necessary 
 means for the end proposed. That, 1 understand, covers the objection 
 raised by my friend on the left. 
 
 Mr. Wickersham. I am very glad to hear of the explanation which 
 has been made by the gentleman who has just taken liis seat. I 
 think it must remove any objection that can be properly raised against 
 the adoption of this resolution. As far as I am concerned I take great 
 pleasure in expressing my approval now of the motion as it stands. 
 
 The resolution was then adopted by a unanimous vote of the conven- 
 tion, and the president was instructed to appoint the committee. 
 
 He subsequently named the following gentlemen : 
 
 General John Eaton, United StatesCommissionerof Education, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. ; Hon. J. P. Wickersham, State superintendent of com- 
 mon schools, Pennsylvania ; Hon. J. D. Philbrick, ex-superintendent of 
 public schools, Boston, Mass. ; Hon. Alonzo Abernethy, State super- 
 intendent of public schools, Iowa ; Hon. Wm. H. Ruffuer, State super- 
 intendent of i)ublic instruction, Virginia. 
 
 ******** 
 
 Information of this action of the department was immediately for- 
 warded to Hon. Mr. Goshorn, director-general of the international cen- 
 tennial exhibition at Philadelphia, who replied as follows: 
 
 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 1876. 
 United Statks Centenxial Commission, 
 ' Ori'^icR OF THE Dirkctois-Genkkal, 
 
 Philadelphia, January 29, 1875. 
 My Deak Sir : Yonr note of 28tli instaut is receivefl. I shall l)e pleased to coofer 
 with the committee of the National Educational Association any day next Aveek yea 
 may name. Please advise me of the day and hour that will suit the convenience of 
 the gentlemen. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 A. T. GOSHORN, Director-General 
 
 Hon. John Eaton, 
 
 Commissioner of Educaiiou, TTashimjtoti, D. C. 
 
20 EDl'CATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 It was convenient for four members of the committee, namely, Messrs. 
 Wickersliam, riiilbrick, Abernethy, and Eaton, to meet in riiila(leli)liia, 
 Wednesday, January — . After a discussion of the subject committed 
 to them amonu themselves, they met the Uon. Mr. Goshorn at the rooms 
 of the Centennial Commission, and had a full, free and very satisfactory 
 conference upon tlie whole subject of the rei>resentatiou of education in 
 the Exposition. 
 
 The committee called attention to the action of the department of su- 
 perintendence of the national educational association at the meeting a 
 year ago, which they recommended : 
 
 (1) That each ►State and Territory be invited to ])repare a representa- 
 tion of its educational condition for the Centennial. 
 
 (2) That each State and Territory also be invited to prepare a histor- 
 ical record of its educational progress for the same purpose. 
 
 (3) That each city be invited to act with the State authorities in pre- 
 l)aring such records, and that it present an exhibit of its own educa- 
 tional growth and condition. 
 
 (4) That each educational institution be invited to participate in the 
 same way. 
 
 (5) That a census be taken in 1875. That the Commissioner of Ed- 
 ucation be requested, on behalf of the educators of this country, to 
 correspond with the prominent educators of the world, and invite their 
 co-operation in the matter of the Centennial. 
 
 (G) That an international educational congress be held in connection 
 with the Centennial. 
 
 The committee expressed the satisfaction that had been shown by 
 the different State and city educational authorities that an attempt was 
 to be made to show the progress of education; and stated, so far as they 
 were acquainted with them, what had already been done to carry out 
 the recommendations passed last year. 
 
 Referring to the resolution under which they were a])pointed, they 
 stated to the director-general the embarrassment now felt by the officers 
 of the different State and city systems of education and the several in- 
 stitutions of learning, arising from the want of some delinite plan, and 
 the need of some immediate and authoritative action. 
 
 State and city superintendents, otticers of various institutions, ai'e in- 
 quiring, " What shall be the educational representation ? What shall 
 my State, my city, my institution do?" 
 
 No one now feels prei)ared to answer. It is a public and not a private 
 interest. Its exhibition must be made largely from motives of i)ublic 
 good, ami only partially from any c<»nsiderations of innvate profit, such 
 as would arise from the manul'acture of furniture and the publication of 
 text-books. 
 
 The jdans adopted must accord with the methods of public educa- 
 tional action. The vast diversity of systems, institutions, and facts 
 will require time to consider anil arrange what shall be done by each, 
 and to harmonize the whole. 
 
 The committee consider themselves sent by the department ot super- 
 intendence of this national association, oidy as a jnedium of communi- 
 cating these facts and impressions from the difierent educational workers 
 in the country to the director-general, and of securing from him any 
 communications he may wish to return to them. 
 
 The director-general, in behalf of the commission, expressed an earnest 
 desire that the intiuence of the exposition should be thoroughly educa- 
 tional, and especially that thegrowtliof educational facilities in the United 
 States and their results, as shown in ourcountry'sprogress, should be most 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 21 
 
 successfully represented ; aud bis gratification that this action had been 
 taken by the department of superintendence of the National Teachers' 
 Association. He had just written to the governors of the several States, 
 calling attention to a class of subjects of which education is one,* and 
 hoped that this communication would act provisionally, calling atten- 
 tion to the subject, gathering information, and forming plans for his con- 
 sideration until the meeting of the executive committee of the Centennial 
 aud formal action has been taken by them. The committee retired and 
 agreed to act as suggested by the director-general, Hon. A. T. Goshorn. 
 The following statement was made to the United States Commissioner 
 of Education: 
 
 Continental Hotel, 
 FhHadelj)kia^ February 3, 1875. 
 ^SiR: In connection with our duty as members of this committee, we 
 have observed the action taken by you as it appears in the message of 
 the President, in reference to an appropriation by Congress of $40,000, 
 
 * International ExniBmoN, 1876, United States Centennial Commission, Phil- 
 adelphia, Jamuauy 30, 1875. 
 
 Sir: In behalf of the United States Centennial Commission, I have the honor to di- 
 rect your attention to several subjects connected with the International Exhibition of 
 187G, of great imi)ortauce to your Commonwealth, aud for which provisions should be 
 made this year. 
 
 It has already become manifest that a large proportion of the articles to be exhibited 
 will be provided for in a creditable manner by the manufacturers and producers of the 
 several States. But there remain large classes of objects whose collection is essential 
 to a complete representation of the material and social condition of the community, yet 
 which it is not to the interest or within the power of an individual to collect. Of this 
 description are the unwrought natural resources of the land, such as minerals, soils, 
 woods, vegetation, &c. It is so largely upon their wealth in this direction that the 
 growth of the States depends, that this department of the exhibition will be critically 
 studied by those interested in tbe problems of emigration and of investment of capi- 
 tal. On merely economical grounds, every State would do well to provide liberally for 
 the thorough aud exhaustive representation of the actual and possible products of its 
 soil. 
 
 Another department that should be inaugurated and prepared under the auspices of 
 the State Government is that which may be termed historical aud statistical. Unless 
 done by ofiicial authority, there will not be a complete presentment of such matters as 
 the history of the early settlement of the State, its physical features, climate, geograph- 
 ical position, government, laws, and punishment of crime, system of State and munici- 
 pal taxation, revenue and expenditures, benevolent institutions and charities, educa- 
 tion, scientitic, industrial, commercial, learned and religious societies, agricultural and 
 manufacturing interests, the extent aud ettects of railroads and other means of trans- 
 portation, the history and growth in population and wealth of the State. All these 
 subjects, among otheVs, ought to be represented as to afford a summary view of the 
 history, progress, aud present condition of every State,i^X^niess this is accomplished, 
 the exhibition will seriously foil in that part of its purpose which contemplates a rep- 
 resentation of the nation's growth during the first century of its existence. 
 
 Othcial resources, only, are adequate to the satisfactory execution of the task thrs 
 proposed. 
 
 It is hoped, therefore, that each of the States, either by legislative action, or other- 
 wise, will adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary to empower existing or- 
 ganizatious, or agencies to be created, to prepare an exhibition of its native resources 
 and moral aud political advancement— as herein indicated. A collective representa- 
 tion of this character will not only be interesting as illustrating the prosperity of the 
 country, but will also be of inestimable value for preservation in the archives of the 
 nation, as a correct history of the birth and progress of the several communities 
 that liave contributed duriug the century to the growth and strength of the union of 
 States. 
 
 How far your State will participate iu these suggestions is a question that I have 
 the honor to most respectfully submit and recommend to your early consideration. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. T. GOSHORN, Dived or- General. 
 
 His Excellency, 
 
 Governor of 
 
22 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 for the general educational representation at the approaching Centennial 
 exhibition, which shall be in aid of, and supplementary to, auy efforts 
 made by States, cities, institutions, or private individuals. 
 
 We -wish to inform you that "ue highly approve of this action, and 
 have so expressed ourselves in appropriate ways to members of Congress. 
 We believe that this recommendation on your part should be made 
 known to educators throughout the country, and that it would receive 
 the universal approval of the friends of education, and that they would 
 take early steps to communicate their views to tlieir several Senators 
 and Representatives. 
 
 Very respectfullv, vours, 
 
 J. P. WICKERSHAM. 
 JOHN D. PHILBRICK. 
 ALONZO ABERNETHY. 
 General John Eaton, 
 
 United States Commissioner of Education^ 
 
 Bureau of Education, Washington, I). C. 
 
RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS 
 
 RESPECTING 
 
 THE BUREAU OF EDUCATION. 
 
MEMORIAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE 
 NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 To the Senate and Rouse of Representatives in Congress assemhled : 
 
 At a meeting of the Departmeut of Superintendeuce of the National Educational 
 Association, recently held in Wasliington, D. C, the following resolutions, upon " The 
 relation of tlie General Government to public education," were passed nnanimously, 
 and the undersiguetl, the committee who prepared and presented the resolutions, were 
 instructed to embody them in the form of a memorial to Congress. In the perform- 
 ance of this duty we herewith present the proceedings above referred to, and most 
 respectfully ask for them such consideration on the part of your honorable body as may 
 he proper. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 Resolved, That this body reiterate and affirm the positions taken at its meeting in 
 this place one year ago, as follows : 
 
 First. That the Federal Government shonld leave to the xseople and local govern- 
 ments of each State the management of their own educational affairs without inter- 
 ference; 
 
 Secondly. That great service was done to the cause of education by Congress in 
 establishing and maintaining a Bureau or Department of Education, whereby appro- 
 priate information from all parts of the world may be gathered, digested, and dis- 
 tributed, and whereby much useful aid is furnished to the practical work of education 
 throughout the country ; 
 
 Thirdly. That the proposition to set apart the public lands of the United States 
 exclusively for the purposes of free education meets with our heartiest approval ; and 
 Fourthly. That it is the duty of Congress to furnish special aid to the school-author- 
 ities of the District of Columbia. 
 
 Resolved, That as, in order fully to perform the work pressing upon it and make its 
 usefulness still more widely felt, "we are satisfied the National Bureau of Education 
 needs increased clerical force, and as it is equally plain to ns that the distribution 
 directly by the Bureau of at least ten thousand copies of its annual reports each year, 
 among school-officers and those specially interested in the work of education in the 
 different States and Territories, would do an incalculable amount of good, we there- 
 fore respectfully pstition Congress, in the interest of the education of the people, to 
 take the necessary steps to bring about these desirable ends. 
 
 Resolved, That a reasonable appropriation by the General Government is necessary 
 to secure a full and creditable representation of the educational interests of the coun- 
 try at the approaching Centennial Exposition, to be held at Philadelphia, and we sin- 
 cerely hope that such an appropriation may be made by the Congress now in session. 
 
 J. P.'WICKERSHAM, 
 Superintendent of Puhlic Instruction, Pennsylvania. 
 J. K. JILLSON, 
 Superintendent of Puhlic Instruction, South Carolina. 
 JOHN D. PHILBRICK, 
 Late Superintendent of Puhlic Schools, Boston. 
 ALONZO ABERNETHY, 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction, Iowa. 
 ALEXANDER C. HOPKINS, 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana. 
 
 B.*G. NORTHROP, 
 Secretary of Board of Education, Connecticut. 
 Washington, D. C, January 29, 1875. 
 
 MEMOEHL of the MASSACHUSETTS STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. 
 
 To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United Slates, in Congress 
 
 assembled : 
 We, the undersigned, respectfully state that, at the annual meeting of the Massachu- 
 3 E 
 
26 
 
 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 setts State Teachers Association, held in Worcester, Mass., December 29, 1874, we were 
 Wv^n 1 ', '^f f ""'-^"'"lo^s vote of said association, to memorialize ^'onr honorable 
 Education continuance and the liberal support of the National Bureau of 
 
 We therefore respectfully represent :— 
 
 1. That the intellectiial moral, and material welfare of the peopleof the United States 
 depends chielly upon their general education. ouditjs 
 
 2. That without such education the security of the Government and of liberty itself 
 must always be in peril. •' 
 
 i^-/^'';'S^* *'l^r*rforf becomes tlie duty of those who have the control of national 
 affairs to do, within the limits of the Federal Constitution, whatever can be wisely dene 
 toward proniotin<r the education of the people. ^ ' 
 
 '^' Tliaf 'me of the readiest and most effective means of accomplishing this end is the 
 genera] dithisiou of information on educational subjects. 
 
 6. That the information which lias already been furnished by the National Bureau of 
 Education has been of inestimable value to educators and to those who legislate on 
 ?r«lwl in"fi '"'"' ,%"'^f cing, as it does, knowledge in regard to school-systems estab- 
 lished in the several States, and in foreign countries; the various modes of organizing 
 colleges, seminaries, normal schools, and educational institutions of everv sort • and a 
 vast variety ot important tacts relating to every department of education, among which 
 aie those which show the influence of education upon labor, crime, and paupeHsm. 
 
 7. ibat as no .State can justly be expected to collate such information and freely dis- 
 seminate it for the beneiit of other States, it is evident that by the national authority 
 alone can so useful and important an object be accomplished. 
 
 J:-Ilf^ '''^'l"" Z^ '^'^ ""* '?^' ^"'■' ^."^''"" ^^® contrary, should, if need be, protest 
 against, any interference on the part of Congress with the school-systems of the several 
 ti.^.lf'n''' '" ^''Ml''^^}'' teachers of Massachusetts, do earnestly pray that the Na- 
 tional Bureau ot Education may be continued, and may be so liberally supported as 
 to enable it to perform it.s functions in the most comprehensive and efficient niannor. 
 All of which IS respectfully presented by— 
 
 DANIEL B. HAGAR, 
 JOHN D. PHILBRICK, 
 A. P. MARBLE, 
 CHARLES HAMMOND, 
 A. P. STONE, 
 Committee of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association. 
 
 RESOLUTION OF THE INDIANA STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, DECEM- 
 BER 31, 1«74. 
 
 Besolre^ That, to enable General John Eaton, Commissioner of Education for the 
 united States, to secure the necessary approi)riatioi)s from Congress, for which he is 
 now asking, to enable him to carry on more successfully the Bureau of Education, we 
 respecttuJly ask the Representatives and Senators of Indiana to vote for and render him 
 such aid as the exigencies of the case demand. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE MISSOURI STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this body that in order to secure an effectual super- 
 vision of schools a law should be enacted providing for the appointment of a compe- 
 tent school commissioner for each State senatorial district, who shall employ his entire 
 time under the direction of the State superintendent in promoting the interest of pnb- 
 lic education, said commissioner to be paid by the counties composing his district in 
 proportion to their population. ' 
 
 JU'Sohed, That we recognize the value of the United States Commissioner of Educa- 
 tion, and fully indorse'that work ; and wo respectfully ask our Senators and Represent- 
 atives 111 Congress to render the Bureau of Education every possible facility for collect- 
 ing and distributing the important facts and statistics embraced in the circulars and 
 annual rei)ort of the Commissioner. 
 
 liesolved, That in our opinion no better disposition of the public lands can be made 
 than to set aside the net proceeds for educational purposes as a permanent fund, dis- 
 tributing the interest accruing among the several States on the basis of illiteracy.' 
 
EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 27 
 
 Eesolved, That as citizeuabip under our form of goveruraent throws upon eaeh citi 
 zen the liability of makiug laws, as well as the duty of obeying them, this association 
 recommends a more careful study in all our schools of the history and Constitntioa of 
 the United States and the State of Missouri, as well as the general principle of the 
 science of Government. 
 
 Eesolved, That we recognize an appropriate and dignified place in our educational 
 work for the academies and colleges not connected with the public system of the State, 
 and that we most earnestly desire the fullest harmony of action among all educators. 
 
 Eesolved, That for the purpose of unifying our entire educational work, we recom- 
 mend to teachers of both public and private schools in fixing their courses of study 
 and requirements for admission to consider carefully those things in which they have 
 a common interest, in order that there may be nothing to prevent the proper work of 
 each class of schoolsj or interfere with the com]}lete harmony which is so highly desir- 
 able. 
 
 Eesolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the faculties of all 
 higher institutions regarding the feasibility of a common course or courses of study in 
 these institutions, such committee to report at the next meeting of this association. 
 
 Eesolved, That the president of this association be, and he is hereby, instructed to 
 appoint a committee of three members to confer with the State superintendent elect, 
 in relation to the school-law of this State, and on behalf of this association, co-operate 
 with him for the purpose of securing such legislation as the best interests of the 
 schools demand. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL-COM- 
 MISSIONERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AT SYRACUSE, DECEMBER 30, 1874. 
 
 "Whereas the people of the United States have admitted, or are rapidly admitting, to 
 full political privileges, millions of freedmen and refugees, utterly uninstructed and 
 destitute of that preliminary knowledge necessary to the safe-nse of the elective fran- 
 chise ; and 
 
 Whereas the danger Ihence arising threatens every State in the Union and the 
 country at large ; and 
 
 Whereas there are various measures now pending in Congress of the United States 
 calculated to meet this emergency : 
 
 Eesolved, That, in the opinion of this body of school-officers of the State of New 
 Y'ork, representing eighteen thousand teachers of the State, the policy of the General 
 Government should be no longer to make large grants from its public domain to 
 moneyed corporations, but to consecrate the proceeds of all sales of the public lands, 
 sacredly and irrevocably, to the purpose of aiding and encouraging the States in the 
 thorough education of the people. 
 
 Eesolved, That, in this view, we respectfully recommend to the careful consideration 
 of Congress the bills introduced by Hon. J. S. Morrill, in the Senate, and Hon. G. F. 
 Hoar, in the House of Representatives, for the consecration of proceeds of public land 
 sales, in part, for the improvement of instruction in the various sciences, applicable to the 
 industries of the country, and in part for the establishment and maintenance of public 
 schools, makiug the distribution as regards the latter object upon the basis of illiteracy , 
 for a term of years, thus bringing education to bear upon that uninstructed mass, set 
 free by the events of the last fifteen years. 
 
 Eesolved, That we have noticed with deep regret the apparent want of appreciation 
 on the part of a large number of Representatives, of the Bureau of Instruction at 
 Washington, the great value of which we have learned by our individual experience, 
 not as building up a central power in education at the national capital, which it 
 appears to us inadequate ever to do, but as enabling those engaged in education in the 
 various States to have access to the information necessary to make their work thorough 
 and efficient. 
 
 Eesolved, That we tender our thanks to those Reiiresentatives who have endeavored 
 to carry out a statesman-like policy on this question, and that a copy of these resolu- 
 tions be sent to each of the Senators and Representatives from this State, and to the 
 papers for publication. 
 
W 35 
 

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