The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-06-25
THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTRY.
GRAFTON DELIVERED AT THE
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
OF THE JACKSON ACADEMY,
THURSDAY EVENING,
JUNE II, 1885.
BY II. V. SPEELMAN.

we are accustomed to call ours
great nation. Why?
That any nation be prosperous it is
essential that it be educated Educa-
tion is the chief corner stone of every
true government. By comparing our
country with such as India or China
we can readily see what this great
cause has done for us. While we en-
joy the many blessings of civilization,
refinement and religion the people of
those countries are living in the per-
petual night Of obscurity and heath
endom.
We can not honor our country with
reverence too deep. We can not
IoUe her with an affection too pure
and fervent We can not serre her
with an energy of purpose too stead
fast and ardent.
God, in bis infinite goodness, has
so ordained that we should be pros
porous and happy. He has placed
everything withsn our commands
necessary to make US so. But we
must not once think that we can be
prosperous unless we make a proper use
of those means with which our Creator
has endowed US. If we wish our nation
to rank with the other great nations
of tie globe we must make it worthy
Of recognition by our incessent toll.
The sole power Of performing this
dnty rests upon the shoulders of every
American citizen from the pine-clad
hills of Maine to the Everglades of
Florida, and from the rock-bound
coasts of the old Atlantic to the gold
fields of California. We look with
an eye of pride upon our country in
the past. We behold her standing
preeminent among the foremost ma
tions of the globe. She is one among
the few that have risen to fame
through the influence of a good edu-
cational system. And although this
system has contributed so largely to
the growth and prosperity Of our
country in the past yet there is room
for progress. If we wish to increase
its influence and usefulness, if we
would have it reach the highest de-
gree of perfection attainable, if we
would discharge those grave duties
which rest upon our shoulders we
must inaugurate reform thorough
and complete. The educational sys-
tenn Of our country needs to be rev.
olutionized and energized, and if we
do not see that this is done we must
perish by our own negligence.
Temperance is now great ques-
ton which is constantly agitating the
minds of our people. The great de-
mon, intemperance, is abroad in the
land. He sits upon the the very
threshold of every home in our coun-
try, ready to take from its folds the
weakest member or the most brilliant
gem. Some men look upon the tenn
perance question as whimsical bigot-
ry, fit for little minds, weak women,
: and weaker men. On the contrary,
it is, in its evil effects, second to none
Our statute books rest not on bayo-
nets as do those Of the countries Of
; Europe, but on the hearts Of the peo-
pie. A people given to intemperance
cannot maintain free government
Intemperance is not the foundation
Of liberty and progress but the source
Of folly, crime and degradation.
There is not one Of US who can not
call to mind an instance of destruc-
tion perpetrated by the hand of this
fiend. How many are the mothers
who can look back upon the past on
ly to recall the scenes they have wit
messed in trying to battle off this de-
mon! And how often their hopes
have been blighted by seeing father,
husband or son torn from them only
to fill drunkard's grave!
In the past, intemperance has, at
times, been apparently honored; but,
in every instance it has reaped an aw-
full retribution. It was the boast of
the polished Greek, Alexander, that
he could drink more wine than any
of his fellows; and although this may
have seemed an honor in the eyes of
drunken populace yet the whole
world knows the results. Our coun-
try is subject to this great evil, and it
is one of our chief duties, as her citi-
zens, to see that intemperance is for
ever prohibited. Let US Danish it
from our land. 1t must be done, it
WiW be done! The will Of the people
is bound to rule, and we all we'll
know that these are the sentiments
Of every true American citizen. The
time is not far distant when the pla-
ces now occupied by breweries and
distilleries will be the sites of relig-
ious and educational Institutions By
the promotion of education and the
destruction of the awful curse, intem-
perance, we can make our nation
grander, nobler and purer.
One of the great needs Of our coun-
try is, and always has been great and
honest men. For a man to be great
means not only that he be educated
and temperate himself, but also that
he be firm advocate of these essen
tials of prosperity.