Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1894-06-28
MIR. Massey's Address;

GU ny lion. w. "A. Massey 10 the
graduating class of the Elko High
School at the exercises Tuesday
| night:
Young Ladies and Gentlemen:-I
have been requested by the local
| Board of Education, to address you,
for short time, on this occasion;, an
occasion that marks one of the bright
est periods of your life, the remem-
brance of which will contribute to
your pleasure, in all coming years.
1t would have been more appropri-
ate to have chosen some one with
more years, some one who had devoted
his life and energy to the education of
our youth, to perform this duty, but
if l shall be able to impress upon your
minds, one truth, that will assist you
in the-discharge of the duties and re-
sponsibilities that will come to you
hereafter, 1 shall be perfectly con-
tented.
You have been most fortunate in
living i'll this century-at time when
the Public Schools, of the land have
offered an opportunity to obtain a
liberal education; an education that
in the very recent past, could only 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
a generous hand from the public re-
sources for the establishment of the
public school system and the state has
wisely said, by law, that the public
schools shall be maintained and sup
ported from the public purse-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 l may impress upon you the
reason for the law, for in that reason
you may learn something of your du-
ties and responsibilities. The adop
ton of our form Of government was
an innovation, based upon a new the
DRY. Our fathers knew that kings
reigned and monarchs ruled only in
those countries where ignorance and
superstition prevailed; that form of
government based upon the idea that
all power and authority animated
from the people-that a government
@of the people, by the people and for
people," could only be perpetuated
by intelligent 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, if you shall fail
to give loyal respect and obedience to
our country's laws remembering that
violated rights are always indicated
by an enlightened ballot.
You have pursued course of study
covering a period of eleven years; a
course that has fitted you to enter
upon some one of the avenues that
leads to a business life, or upon the
course of higher education obtained
only in the Colleges and Universitic s
of the land. That you have acquitted
yourselves with credit is manifested
by your presence here. You now
stand tonight upon the threshold of
active life--at the mystic shrine of
independent manhood and woman
hood. Before you lie infinite space,
infinite time and infinite opportuni-
ties, but you must remember that you
can occupy but a small part Of this
space, enjoy but short portion of
this time and profit by few of those
opportunities. Your lifc's study has
just CONNIE need, for, in the coming
years, you must solve problems more
complex than any you have solved in