Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-20

men and women in their struggle for
livelihood. Who is naturally 50 we'll fitted
in this respect as the physician, If he does
not allow his man-shp to become buried
III h s professional scholarship, and If he
pr serves the Inspiration of the elbow
touch with his fellow men, and does not
descend to the ranks Of the blind follow
ers of corrup' and blind leaders
But there is higher view to be taken.
In order to know the needs, the life of n
people, they must be seen just rs they
are in their homes. The physician crosses
the threshold of the house rs no other
man crosses it, and sees behind the cur
tain which excludes the view from all
Others, Under the torture of pain, act
ing is laid aside. He sees inherited men
tai and physical infrmities not known to
the public. He sees rs no one else can
see the fact and sources and causes OF do
nestle felicity and misery. He sees the
effect of wealth and poverty upon the it,
tellectusl and moral nature the potency
of appetite and habits; the root of evil
and the sources of crime He sees how
the passions impel and control. LeRisla-
ton has long been directed to correct and
remedy the evil conditions in the domestic
relation, but has yet fallen far short. Has
( he physician, the one best fitted to help
done his part as man in solving THIS un
solved legislative problem Has not your
profession, knowing best the peculiar
mental and physical qualities and the
adaptation of the respective sexes to the
varied avocations of life, held aloof too
much in the effort to adjust legislation SO
that 1t may right the wrong and protect
and uplift the individual Has not
your scholarship too much obscured your
citizenship?
There Is broader view of duty yet.
We live in republic standing upon a
proposition declared as fundamental that
all men are equal under the law. This
great land, so varied in climate, rich In
soil, minerals and precious metals, attrac
tive in scenery, immense in capability, we
have wisely or unwisely declared shall be
the asylum for the overflow of the crowd
ed population of other nationalities. They
have accepted the invitation until the i'm
migrant population is rapidly approaching
the nation in numbers.
Can all these pc ople from all the nations
of Europe, unlike each other in education
habits, characteristics, as they all differ
from us in many respects, be made into
one people, and that be American in char
acter ? This is the startling question
pressing upon the American mind to-day.
1t can be no slight task to Amercanize "a
much that is unAmerlcan. Yet 1t must
be done, or America will no longer be
American.
Where the people govern the people
must be fl to be governors Anything
that looks to the overturn or defiance of a
government of the people, and by the peo-
pie, is absolutely un-American.
The imported un-Amerlcan influences
must be overcome and transformed by
American influences
What class, what profession, what indi-
vidual can be spared in this gigantic un-
dertaklngs The new condition has i'm
posed new burdens on the American citi-
zen He cannot justly escape them what
ever his calling. The task is Dig enough
for all. The undertaking will be likely to
fail without the help of all. There never
has been time when the demand was SO
great for the man in politics. Never a
time when 1t was so necessary for the
scholar the brain worker, to show him
self in the ranks with the men who hold
the pillow, direct the engine and weave the
CLOTH Never time when greater wisdom
was required in order to frame such con
dtions of American citizenship, rs snail
preserve AmericanSm in its purity for all
the generations that are to come. If a
hostile army threatened our country, how
quickly you would be in the ranks in de-
tense of the tatherland and the flag. The
warm American blood would bound with
patriotic feryor. We may become involv-
ed in conflict with foreign powers, but our
overthrow as nation will not come in
such conflicts. No martial hosts can con
quer us. The greater danger is from 9th
CT sources. Stability Of government does
not rest III extent Of dominion, population,
invlnclbility in arms, unbounded wealth,
material growth and peace. All this may
be and foes subtle insldlous and fatal may
DE eappiug the nations life
The opportunity for such foes is upon
us We have entered luxurious age,
and money Is king. We already begin to
see its enervatlng effect and vItating in
fuehce. la The fierce strife for wealth,
nIt , XpellpnnA fDrTet ia o.
we're duties of patriotic, every day ciuzen-
ship. II this great profession, rNCellitg
any Othee in numbers, ,qGsll ne any other
in !earnlng, above any cher IN many re-
speeds III opportunity. will stand II the
Inc of true Dut less favored patriots, III
guarding The public Weal,l Will acquire
new laurels, and our republic, (which has
reached pre-eIniueuce while her history
has out just rounded a century, may light
with her glory a thousand yeais.'
The speaker closed In these words To-
night you receive from this University, so
successful and eminent IN he medical de
paTtment that IL stands equal to the best
In all the land, the badge of membership
in most exalted profession. This certit1-
cate of degree is OF itself great honor
But ia the end you VIII be measured by
otner standards. The great public which
ypu VIII serve, Will be about right, in the
long ran, liz It's verdict upon your real
"pi W. ~ VIII weigh you III UHe uolOle MS
pect rs physician and man. Tonight
yOnr alma mat er clothes you in honorable
garb ana confers II high title. These will
unless betrayed, give you position and
rank wherever you go. May | not proper
Is ask In her behalf that in the years tc
come you will so deport yourselves as tC
bring back to her those other hOnors
which the good physician and the grand
man wins in the great opportunity and
conflict of American life.
THE RECEPTION.
At the conclusion of the exercises at the
opera house, the graduating class with
invited guests partook of banquet at the
Van Ness House. An elegant collation. was
served by mine host Drew, and the occa
sion was in every respect u most pleasan,
one.