Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-08
The Young Ken of America.

To this DAY Of pJverty.-local AMI Nation
al-poverly nos alone Of the purse ba, Of pa
triOtic inpElsss aud public hish-mindedoess,
), may not be ont of place to discuss a sub
Jet teemios with interest. moIe especially TO
the rising geaeration-that generation whence
shall come the statesmen Of a sue ceediog pc
rioj, and to v' "a issue Of the uew birth these
few IDEAS are sincerely inscribed
Young men, said ex Governor TldeD
during his response al a rcceot serenade, eve
who have s,eerel aa3 man aged the Ship Of
State so far on her track across oceans, rolfi-
cal, will, 10 the natural sequen &c Of events,
soon leave that task to you. What a grand
utterance, so sadly serious With what AZ
unde6nabe force docs it appeal to The sober
second thought" Of Americas young manhood
For one momeat we may close ou- eyes and
enjoy a viyidyet feeting mental picture: The
OLD, wea,her-wOrn, tried yet true Ship Of
State is seen moving slowly into safe anchor
ace, her officers and crew are noticed as very
aged mariners, men upon whose swaTthy fore
heads Ola Father Time las laid an heavy hand
trachea mauy q deep-sct throw. With her
massive PROV, oft-dipped duriag a stormy
voyage, dripping still aud hung with clnging
sea weed, tie grand old Bqrqae de Ia ReP,'5-
Hqus moves steadily into port, and rests final
y her tired timbers 10 the calm bosom q
placid bay Ere the complement Of mariners
grown gray 10 service-surreuder their posts
Of duty the helmsmau-his hand stil on tie
vheel-oalIs t. the many youth who liue tue
ncw contiguous shore: Young men, We who
have s,eerel aud managed the Ship Of State
so far on her track across the oceans, political.
IN tee natural seQucuse Of events now leave
that task to you.
And here arise the questions the most i'm
portans we venture 70 assert, that has ever yet
attracted and kely the attention Of Americans;
Are the youth Of our country rendering them
selves worthy Of the task awaiting their early
acceptance? aud are the statesmen, whose
chairs must soon be vacated, rendering them
selves worthy Of imitation during these latter
days Of their public Aie2
From the o7iciaI bir,h Of these aged guar
diaps Of American government until near the
present. We must FeTilrce look over as having
been examples, however, toat e meme, many
ncgligeocies, and indeed, misleels Il is
theirs, however, 70 see well 20 the fact, that
during the very slight official tenure remain
iug they prove sincere regret for the past by
she worthjness with which q few last years Of
public duty are spent. Forths embryo and
the veteran statesman Jet these queries, resPec-
tiysly, remain uppermos. 10 their minds Am
fitting myself ior true appreciation Of and
the steadf1st pursuance ofbjghly conscientious
aims 10, public life and am making Of my
closing days IN the Nations service a bright
example Of patriotism Tor my younger sue
cessors to initiate, confident Of public and self
approval
But m0Fe especially % you, young men Of
the Republic, do We earnestly commend a few
closing words in view Of your fast approach
ing responsibilities: Practice seltd,mal' y
grea, writer has fearless'y put forth this one
brief sentence, declaring in effect that Il con-
,aios the seed whence eau ouly spring a noble
type Of craftsmanship.
Young men, practice scli-deuill and pre-
pare yourself thus Cor an Impending Ju>t-o
trust you shall bear, as did your predecessors,
ia full view Of an tie world
Remember that those "who ..r. s'-o-ei
aud managed The Ship of State So lar GA her
track across oceans, political, vii' in the Hat-
u'al sequence Of events, soon leave that task
70 you"