The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-25
President AngelTs Stirring and Helpful
Address to the Graduates.

ANN ARBoR, Mich, June 24-The bac-
caiaureate address before the graduating
classes of 1890 of the university of Michi-
gan was delivered by President James 3.
Angel in university hall this evening
The large auditorium, seating over
3.OOO was filed, the graduates
occupyinV seats in the center of the lower
floor The hall and lobbies were decorated
with large flags and the university colors,
mauve and blue. The subject of President
Angell's address was 1.-The Heroic Spirit
in Life" 1t pointed out to the young
graduates the trials and difficulties with
which they soon would have to struggle
and the best plans for overcoming them.
He said:
s'You are called to high and special ser
vice venture TO believe that not one
of YOU purposes to be a mere dilettante,
to float lazily down the stream of life
without an active effort to reach some
worthy goal Every one of you feels that
his real work in life is now truly to
begin. and everyone is burning to make
good beginning. Let US see what are some
of the demands which life is to make on
vou for lofty purpose, manly courage, and
strenuous toll. If you are to render
worthy service, those hOmely virtues, pa
tience and industry are required in abund
ant measure, especially in the year just
before YOU. There comes few experiences
in life harder to bear than the enforced
waiting for opportunities to exercise ones
gifts. which so often marks the begin
ming of ones professional career I
counsel you in such circumstances
to take any position, however hum
BILE, if you are competent to fill it,
rather than to sit in idleness bemoaning
your bad fortune TO fill humble posi-
ton well is the best way to secure call to
a higher position.
"The somewhat conspicuous position in
society for which your training should have
fitted you demands that you should cherish
high moral ideals 1t demands the high
purpose. the fixed resolve, the heroic de-
termination to meet every eXigency of life
with the most unfaltering devotion to the
right. Only men of the best moral strain,
under all vicissitudeS and temptations,
hold themselves up to this elevated
moral plane But it is they alone who
wOrthily fulfill the high vocation of edu-
Gated men. But, it is also to be remem-
bered that each age brings its own peculiar
duties and trials to its leaders. 1t is clear
that every goodman is to be called to take
his stand for purity in political manage
ment Public Indignation at political I'M
purity has been, to a promising degree,
awakened throughout the country. The
hope of purifying and elevating American
political methods lies in the younger men
rather than in the older ones.
Again, you. are appearing on the
stage of action, when grave so
as perhaps they have not agltated 1t
since the breaking of the feudal sys-
tenn. The sharpest conflicts just before
you are those involving the relations Of
capital and labor. 1t may require courage
for men holding the positions which you
Will be called to fill, not to become sub
servient either to those conservative men
Of = bN, oil .bn-, in,
dustrial arrangements, or to plausible
theorists who, perceiving clearly the disa-
bllitieS and grievances of some of the
labOring classes under our present indus
trial system, are depicting them with
burning words which stir our sympathies,
yet commend to us only desperate remedies
which threaten the very framework ofsoci-
ETY.. Closely allied to the transition which
we are passing through in our own in
dustrial life is the transition through
which our own government, as we'll as
other governments. is passing, from mar
row to wide function. What may be
called the socialiStic tendency, using the
word sOcialistic in a philosophical sense,
has been, and still Is, rapidly gaining
ground in legislative and civil administra-
ton. In acting on these great care and
even great courage may be required.
How far shall this drift be allowed to
go? How far shall the Individual be re
strained IN his industrial and commercial
enterprise by the state? Opportunities
will be afforded in abundance to many of
you to show whether you are demagogues,
watching only for winds of popular favor
which shall watt you into Office. or men
daring to stand by your judgment concern
ing the true functions of municipal, state
and national governments.
Earnest and strenuous views of the
significance and opportunities and repon-
sibihties of lie are not unwelcome
to you. The contest attracts you rather
than repulses you. Possibly the peril
of some of you springs from undue
confidence and untried courage But
would not utter one syllable to abate that
confidence or shatter that courage Press
bravely forward. Cherish your noblest
and most heroic purpose If God sends
you TO the thickest of the fight for right
eousneSs and truth, remember that He
does it because He would bring your char
acter TO its highest development, and be
cause the victory of righteousness and
truth in the supreme end He has in view"
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