Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-07-01
sir. Masscy's Address;

The following is the address deliver
ed by Hon. w. 4. Massey TO the
graduating class OF the Elko High
School at the exercises Tuesday
night:
Youn. Ladic: and Gentlcmcn:-I
have been requested by the local
Board of Education. to address you,
for a short time, on this OCCASION; an
occasion that marks one OF the bright
est periods of your life, the emem-
brance of which will contribute to
your pleasure, i'll all coming years.
1t would have been more a%ppropri-
ate to have chosen some one with
more years, some one who had devoted
his life and energy to the education of
IL youth, to perform this duty, but
il | shall be able to impress upon your
minds, IN truth, that will assist you
in the discharge of the duties and re-
sponsibilitics that will come tn you
hereafter. | shall he perfectly ON
tented.
You have been most fortunate in
living i'll this century-at atime when
the Public Schools, of the land have
offered an opportunity To obtain Il
liberal education; an education that
in the very recent past, couldonl be
obtained in the higher institutions Of
learning.
The National Government, not I'M
mindful or the duties and obligations
OF good citizenship. has given with
Il generous hand from the public re.
! sources for the establishment Of the
public school system andthe state has
wisely said, by law, that the public
schools shall be maintained and sup.
ported from the public ~pursc-that
each citizen shall contribute from his
wealth to that purse and that our
children must attend these schools.
| call your attention to this law
that | may impress upon YOU the
reason for the law, for i'll That reason
you may learn something of your du-
ties and responsibilities. Tho adop
ton Of our form of government WAS
nm innovation. based upon Il new the.
Dry. Our fathers knew that kings
reigned and monarchs ruled only in
those countries where Ignorance and
superstition prevailed: that a form of
government based upon the idea that
all power and authority cminatcd
from the pcoplc-thnt n government
"of the people, by the people and for
people, could only he pcrpctuatcd
by anintclligent and moral citizen
ship. For That reason and for that
purpose they established our public
school system, and you shall be false
to your teaching and false to your
country and her flag, il you shall fail
to give loyal respect and obedience to
M country's laws remembering that
violated rightsa are always indicated
by an enlightened ballot.
You have pursued Il courscof study
covering II period Of eleven years; Il
course that has fitted you to enter
upon some one Of the avenues that
leads Ia Il business life. or upon the
curse Of higher education obtained
only in tho Colleges and Universities
of the lHnd. That you have acquitted
yourselves with credit is manifested
10y your presence hero. You now
stand tonight upon the threshold of
active lifc-at tho mystic shrine of
independent manhood md woman
hood. Before you lie infinite space.
infinite time and infinite opportuni.
tics, but you must remember that you
can occupy but n small part OF this
space. enjoy but Il short portion Of
this time md profit by few Of those
opportunities. Your lies study has
just commenced. for. in the coming
years, you must solve problems more
complex than any you have solved in
higher mathematics. rcmcmbordctails
moro varied than any you have found
upon the charts Of the globe and
study the history Of passing events
that you may find light and guidance
for your footsteps.
Education is II force, placed in your
hands aud under your control; an
instrument that you can so wicld as
to make or maj yonr own happiness
aud the happiness Of others. Tho hu.
man race has been likcncd to u
mighty ocean, constantly changing
aud bcating it's restless tides upon the
shores Of two ctcrnitiCs. Whether tho
tho coming change shall bo for the
better rests with YOU and the others