The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-13

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w. G. ROYLANCE, VALEDICTORIAN.
a transition period in the national life
of the American people. Never before
has there been such widespread dis
trust of the principles on which u
government is founded. Intelligent
critics of the old world have looked
upon the establishment of free govern
ment as IN experiment, some hope-
fully, some doubtfully. The spirit of
cynical doubt is now disseminating
itself among our citizens, especially the
educated classes. Comparisons of an
unfavorable nature are made with the
constitutional monarchies of Europe.
Many, disguised with repeated mis-
takes, look back longingly to the time
when the strong hand of tyranny led
or drove the wavering people. Many
are asking if the dream of Jefferson,
Paine and Lincoln was not, after all, a
dream. Are we not being led by the
will-o-the-wisp of freedom into the
maZes of socialism and anarchy?
Is Class Intelligence Better:
Why this distrust of democratic in
stitutions? True old world oppression
is masquerading among us in the
forms of freedom. A single reference,
however. to any page of history should
silence all objections to s~elf-govern-
ment. The average morality and in
telligence are not all they should be,
but does class intelligence furnish
hat which is better? None of our
evils or dangers a be ascribed to too
free self-gOVernment, but to the sur
vival of certain institutions Of feudal
privilege, aristocratic eXclusiveness and
middle age oppression
Instead of hesitation and doubt we
need the American spirit which ami
mated our heroes during great crises,
exercised with calm and patient fOrti-
tude. We need fear no hostile inVa-
sion. Our enemies have a far more
effective way of robbing us. 1t mat
have If enemies control u indus
tries. Money sharks, stock brok-
ers and exchange gamblers are
fast getting control and the citizens
are fast being reduced to day laborers.
Youths are Patriotic.
The youth of America never doubt
the efficacy of true Americanism.
Before they are corrupted they are
actuated by generous enthusiasm and
wish there might be another war so
they could fight for their country.
llley are pdlIIOlS- IlOW LldIly nave
felt that generous enthusiasm? But,
alas! at maturity these aspirations and
dreams a d away. How many have
had to ask, What is patriotism? This
question aWakens the youth from his
irrideScent dream and he realizes he
lives in a land whose working, bust
ness principle takes no more account
of the declaration of independence than
a savage does of the ten command
ments. Such an awakening comes
some time to every American youth.
What inconsistency in our hatred for
tyranny, oppression and wrong in
other lands, and u connivance at that
usurping the name of patriotism in u
own!
Better to Live Rightly.
The disillusioned youth finds there is
another and far more difficult patriot
ism. 1t is far easier to die for ones
country than to live rightly for it. To
give a nation life is not so great a
task as TO rightly real a nation. How
shall we direct this generous enthusi-
asm and save it from corruption and
blight. Let it be enlisted for reform
and no power on earth can stay our
progress. The enemy that confronts
US now is the same that confronted
our fathers, only it has changed it's
weapons. 1t is still usurped power and
authority against the people. Fol- the
fortified stronghold and tented field
are substituted the bankers till and
contingencies desk; for powder and
ball. coupons, margins and bonds. We
have adopted a financial and industrial
system that bids fair to reduce our
people to slaves. Let us return to the
true principle of Americans, and call
for light. Level prejudice, extend a
hand to all beneath you, show that
o believe in universal brotherhood.
This is the only true A~mericanism.
Dissemination of Intelligence.
Let us acknowledge that brain power
has no more right to be oppressive
than physical power. This will mean
complete. dissemination of intelligence.
Morality and intelligence among the
leaders is not enough, but What is
needed is widespread intelligence
among the multitude. That represents
the average wisdom, collective will
whose dictum cannot be escaped. Fur
Their, the mob, however ignorant and
incapable, can never be permanently
oppressed. A depressed people is. a
slumbering Vesuvius, which bursts
with a greater fury the longer it has
the future latent in them. II they
are un~educated, selfish, vile, so much
the worse for the nation. The only
safe way is to take the mob with us.
The people require sufficient intelli-
gence to discern their wants and pro-
vide for them. Intelligence should not
hold itself aloof from the people. The
true American spirit will almost in
variably be found with the mob.
There are no heights of American
grandeur attainable SO long as it re-
mains below us. We Americans have
taken up the cause of humanity along
the lines of liberty, equality and fra
ternity. Along these lines we u
fight it out to the end, or find a grave
among the splendid ruins of the par
tial civilizations of the past.
What Is Success.
Let me warn my fellow graduates
against taking the self-seeking enemies
of society as models. If success a
to become a stock gambler. a corpora
ton lawyer, a professional politician
otherwise, a corrupter of public
trust, a ministerial vender of worn-out
platitudes of decaying creeds, or one
of those detestable industrial para
sites so often found in the high places
of our money marts, / sincerely hope
thai no one of you will ever succeed.
l would rather zee you honest beg