Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-22
young Men in Politics."

This was the subject of the address
delivered on Tuesday evening of last
week by Hon. William J. Bryan of
Nebraska before the Literary Societies
of Roanoke College. 1t was very inc
address, the conclusion of which we
publish as follows
Politics." continued Mr.. Bryan,
may be termed a school. In it many
branches are taught and in each branci,
numerous lessons are to be learned
The school has no alumni; its pupils
never graduate. They sometimes leave
school; sometimes they are expelled,
but they never finish the course One
of the first things to be learned by the
politician is that the world owes him
nothing in the way of honors. Hethat
would be greatest must be the servant
of all. The public good is to be con
sldered, not his private needs and per-
sonal aspirations. The people are the
sole judges of his qualifications and his
availability. and from their decision
there is no appeal, although sometimes
Il new trial is granted. While it is
every mans duty to take part in the
election of officers, whether he shall
himself engage in public service de-
ponds upon circumstances over which
he has only partial control
TWO THINGS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.
Two things are essential in political
success. First, the man must be pre-
pared Tor the emergency, and second,
the emergency must come. To the
young man who has education without
atfectatiOn, deep convictions without
offensi re bigotry, frmness without OBJ.
stinacy, confidence without egotism,
self-respect without arrogance, humili-
ty without servility, courage without
bravado, tact without cunning, homes
ty without cant, earnestness without
impatience, purity without prudery
who loves his fellOw-men, is friend of
the whole people rather than of a class,
devoted to hiscountry's good and not
in haste to be rich; who can bear sue
cess without being spoiled, and defeat
without being dishearted; who has a
capacity for hard work and a genius
for truth; who issWilling to be private
at all times and worthy to be COM
mander at anytime-to such one the
field of politics offers opportunities for
incalculable usefulness as well as for
the qualification OF every worthy am
bition.
SPECIAL MISSIONs4EFDRE YOUNG MEN
81 cannot close Without abiding to
a special mission before the young men
of this generation. A quarter of a
century ago we emerged from a civil
war. 1t was as serious a conflict as
ever agitated natiOn-great in the is
sues involved, terrible in the destruc-
ton caused and important in its results.
Our mountains and valleys, our hill
sides and plains were stained with the
blood of our bravest sons the cords of
love that bound warm friends to friends
as warm were severed by the sword.
For four years throughout our land, in
their lonely homes, mothers and wives
and sisters wept for those who would
return no more. But the roar of the
cannon ceased, the angry clouds rolled
away, and behold the elements of dis
cord were taken away, we were again
one people. Nature soon forgot the
wounds of war; sunshine and rain COW
cred the battle-tields with flowers, and
the birds sang and built their nests in
the trees once torn by shot and shell.
But in human hearts the memories of
that awful struggle still remained. 1t
is not strange that distrust upon the.
one side and resentment upon the other1
should linger for awhile with those who
passed through that great epoch of olA-
history. The young men in politics
to-day and those who will hereafter
enter it, are of post-bellum birth. They
are the aftermath. They are not res
ponsible for their fathers faults, nor
can they rely upon their fathers yir-
tues. Young men together, son of Fed
eral and son of Confederate, they are
ready to march hand in hand, shoulder
to shoulder, ia the grand work of re-
storing harmony, love and fraternity
the land. They are pre-
pared to celebrate the complete re-
union of the North and South SO beau
tifully described by the peet when she
says:
= Together shouts Niagara, his thunder
toned decree
Together echo back the waves upon the
MeXic sea-
Together sing the sylvan hills where old
Atlantic roars-
Together boom the breakers on the wild
Pacific shores
Together cry the people and together it
shall be,
An everlasting charter-bond forever for the
free:
Of liberty the signet seal-the one eternal
sign
Be those united emblems-the Palmetto and
the Pine