32 THE NEW METHOD 



to every one. How then can we regain and defend 

 our national existence ? In no other way than by 

 raising up a worthy posterity. There remains for us 

 no sphere in which we can act as an independent state, 

 except that of education. And I have only this hope 

 to live for, that I shall convince some Germans that 

 it is education alone which can save us from all the 

 evils by which we are oppressed." At this lecture 

 were high officers of state, kings, queens, princes, min- 

 isters of education, and noted teachers to represent the 

 new education, then in its infancy in the public schools 

 of modern Europe. The applause of the great audience 

 became enthusiastic as the philosopher promised not 

 only deliverance to Germany through national educa- 

 tion, but declared that it would result, in the end, in the 

 emancipation and reformation of the entire human race. 

 To the question whether there is any known method 

 of human development sufficient for such a result, 

 the lecturer said there is; "a method which had 

 been invented by Henry Pestalozzi, which is now 

 successfully carried out under his direction, at Yver- 

 don, in Switzerland." As this method of eventual 

 deliverance through education was clearly set forth 

 and fortified by argument, it took strong hold of the 

 public mind. It seems that several other distin- 

 guished men had already been thinking of the new 

 education as the surest foundation of national 

 strength, and the true palladium of liberty. 



