New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-26
he'd be darned if he'd ever io'e a'o'"''
THE CLASS or 1898.

THE CLASS or 1875
The young men who are making the'r ia''
well speeches and bows this mon'h lroh' .'c
commencement stage doubtless excite more III
forest and promp: more good wishes IMAM lhes
are aware Of OF course, and very p.opciH'
tbov are overcome with the proud CONSCIOUS
ness that the class of '93 is by long odds the
most promising band of youths that ever grad
ratod ,t their respective colleges They know
this: they are confident, too, that preX and
all the professors would admit as much save
fhat they are unwilling to hurt the feelings OF
the other cl: sscs. But they do not realize that
thc outside world also takes knowledge OF %;
thov do not realize that the gencal pubic
while not in position to pass upon the com
raratiyc merits of the class, sincerely hopes mat
il is in very deed and truth the heir of all the
ages. "Al the world loves a lover yes, ana
Lv tbo same token all the world loves the grad
uaing class
One can hardly look into the faces OF band
OF graduates without INDUCING in conJect'res
concerning their future. Who are to draw inc
prizos of life and who the blanks? who are
TO grow in optimism and who in pessmlsm!
Who are 10 have in the phrase OF Mr.. EIner-
son. "oliginal relations to the universe" ana
vho simply the relations prescribed by tradl-
ton and fashion? Who are going TO do the
most to make this earth a brighter and a better
place to live in, who arc going to 1--we as much
10 themselves a. possible? The men and wom-
en- who have the pleasure OF listening to the
commencement orators find themselves asking
s;ch questions as these. and do the rest OF
H., not ppruit 10 he
prescnt, as we read of the closing exercises.
And all of us hope for the best for the class OF
49, rendering it the assurances OF our dlstln-
cui>hcd consideration. After commencement
if, members will break ranks for a long, we'll
earned vacalion-to the Chicago Fair to the
mountains. to the scashore, 10 the pleasant lands
beyond the seas. And vacation over, what
then? Then the real hard struggle will be-
gin which is to determine of what manner OF
stuff they are made; which is to determine
what they know abou; putting theories into
practice 50 as to vindicatc the higher educa-
ton. II is to be expected that most Of them
will give a good account If thcmSclvcs-it is
way tina, educated American, havc-in the pro-
fc.>ions or in whatever fields of activity they
take their pace But will they become good
citizens? VIII they discharge chccrfully and
thoroughly all the duties which they owe to
the common veal?
Theodore Roosevelt himself still a young
man. lately spoke to the graduating class OF
Wcstein university upon the relation which its
members ought 10 bear 10 the State. Ii was a
vigorous plea f,r public spirit manife>tng it.
sclf by active participation in politics. In his
famous Phi Beta Kappa Grafton, Wendell Phil
lip, held that the cluclted men Of the country
had been untrue to the responsibilities, of citi
zen>hp II the class IF '93 which Mr.. Roosc
welt addressed lay heed to his words. they will
not be amenab!e to Mr.. Phillips Indictment
but will be numbered among the good and
faithful servants Of the State. Here are salient
extracts from Mr. Roosevelt, address:
The man who shrnk- from the hard work Of prac
deal politics Should be much ashamed a. the
solder who shrhs services I'm the field on the
march because the work is distastefu What II you
are roughly handled Hold your own and you Will
eventually command respect ana influence ia your
drlc sweetness ard light are good things, but the
great baties Of civilization by striking out
from The shoulder. Tn" sheer l. not the proper at
tiudr 10. any citizen 10 assume toward American
politics. II IS better to make mistakes trying 10
elevate polite, than 10 make mistake through
non action. There + practical side TO politics
which must not and cannot DO Ignored. To slc-
coed You must recognize that fact, but In the rough
anGiumblc strug.l' DO not lose sight oi the lofty
ideal INT IS the Inspiration Of the true patriot II
IS foul misuse OF the phrase practical politics. 10
clam that II u"ln, foul politics. The best Of you
VIII find that you have TO work with very imperfect
instruments. but do not b. dshcartencd.
Let the class Of '?3 = into politics As it goes
to the rest Of its work. with all 1t, heart. Let
il make reputation for being nothing if not
philosophical. If it docs that there need be
no apprehension in regard to the other phases
of ii future. For public spirited men are apt
to be pro>pcrou, men. In serving the common
veal they serve themselves.