Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-06-20
WILSON AT FAYETTE.
Address to the Literary Societies
of Central College
BY Postmaster-General Wilson = College
Men In Politics-Their Duty and
Interest In tho Affairs
Of Government.


successful commencement in the his
tory of Fayette closed to-day with the
address before the literary societies by
Postmaster-General William L. Wilson.
He came all the way from Washington
to deliver this address, and Central
college is to be congratulated upon Sc
curing his distinguished services. He
was accompanied from ST. Louis by
Judge Boyle, ex-Congressman Frost
and Postmaster Carlisle. Mr.. Wilson
was met at franklin Junction this
morning by Prof K. p. Wiley
and brought by him in a car
riage to Fayette. Herested during the
graduating exercises. A platform had
been erected in the beautiful campus,
because there was no room in the city
large enough to accommodate the
great concourse of visitors. On this
platform sat the reception committee
and many distinguished visitors.
Around the platform were seated over
5000 people. At the conclusion of the
graduating exercises in Centenary
chapel, Mr.. Wilson was conducted to
the platform and was introduced, amid
an ovation, by Bishop E. R. Hendrix.
He spoke, in substance, as follows.
LADIES AND MISREPRESENTATION MY
Young FRIENDS OF CENTRAL COLLEGE:
When I accepted the invitation to address
your literary societies, expected that, in en-
private life should do so in the calm OF prep
aration. Instead, come to you from the
cares OF busy life, tired, covered with the dust
OF travel and the dust of that arena for which
you are preparing here under the most fayora-
BILE circumstances. I would first say to- the
Of Missouri eni0viup a nriviIeppS
OF college life, that you are about to enter the
arena of active life at one OF the most inter-
esting periods in the history Of the world.
You will be called on to enjoy
privileges and to execute duties which have
never before been enjoyed or demanded,
and concerning part OF these privileges and
duties will be my address. Whatever your
calling or avocation in life, whether preacher.
doctor, lawyer, merchant or farmer, there are
two duties which will place their hands upon.
your duty to your country.
1t is but natural and fitting that address
you to-day concerning the latter. politics,
as duty. Never in the history Of any country
were the youth just going out for the active
duties OF life so highly privileged those OF
to-day. But, by Gods law OF party, such
duties always go with high privileges. What
Is it to be citizen of the United States? Let
the answer come from foreign and dis
prejudiced student. 1t is not paper theory,
but opinion gathered by actual contact with
the conditions of our life, that was the basis of
that title which Prof. Brice has given our
country, of THE Great American Common
wealth"
We ought as often to pass in review our po-
litical assets a banker does his stocks and
bonds This government is the highest and
most precious product of all the efforts which
man has been able to make in all history. It
is backed by material resources almost bound
less. am standing to-day in this great GEN.
&h1 TTrita rt.;1
north, south, east and west stretch the miles
Of America.
We are protected by the sea from war with
out and by spirit OF justice and magnanimity
from jingoism and standing armies. Our po-
litieal heritage is not found in declarations and
may it there remain, untarnished until they
dlsapp Gar beneath the cloud of history. To-day
our boast is that we have committed our country
to the hazard OF universal suffrage. Whether
or not We are to preserve our commonwealth
depends on the new generation. The right use
of the right OF suffrage. upon which SO much
depends rests upon the education of the peo-
pie. Political education is of three kinds: that
which comes as legacy from the past, the
natural adoption to the settlement of political
questions, which is our heritage from our free
dom-loving fathers, back to the Baltic sea:
the general education of the common
men who founded our government
understood the necessity of enlightenment,
tied rights, thirdly. collegiate education The
last is as essential as the other two.
The public school IS good. but it does not sup
Eiy that education requisite to the settlement
OF the great questions which are constantly en-
gaging our attention We must have institu-
items to eGacate for leadership in the
world of thought and politics, and herein lies
thu work Of the colleges All questions in our
must be settled by public discussion.
We can, therefore, only survive when our peo-
sz5u sound
reasons to false and facts to fictions.
Politics is duty OF Life, from which you can
not escape and since this Is true, students of
Central college, so is leadership in politics a
duty which falls upon your ranks. There is no
hope for wise, conservative honest leadership |
unless you are wise enough to understand the |
issues at stake and brave enough to stand by |
your convictions, being willing, il need be, to |
sacrifice life and fame Cor political idea. Nor
need you fear the result If you have faith in |
popular government. That man is slave who |
dare not be right with two or three on his SIDE |
Norwiil the reward be lacking for courageous
duration Of political faith. Office may not at
oncs-be awarded spozls of victory may not fall
with. every effort, but the consciousness OF duty
done is ever present and national reward will
usually corEe in time
This duty of leadership, the duty Of nlnlding
and correcting public opinion, comes to the |
student The college has promulgated many
of the per9asxing questions OF. the day, such as
IF the modern organization OF in |
d,lstry. that is only rendered possible by the.
Of the college and which to-day |
harnesses all nations We have heard of .the{
oanquests OF Alexander and Cesar, but these |
cSnqueSLS are nothing beside our own, over the !
powers az physical nature, and the source OF !
anr power in this direction is the lecture room
n the college. and il the college has most j
helped forward this conquest and has fur-i
nished new forces for the battle, SO mucli,i
greater the duty which degolgeS upon college,
men to organize their forces and demonstrated
WISE unselfish leaders
The need of to-day and the need OF the futurss.l
Is statesmen When took my seat in cen- |
gress in 1892 thought was taking it asa.
hum-tirum time, when there were no great, is
sues before the people. and could not batre-
greet that it had not been my lot to serve in the
olde1 days: yet had been seated but short |
time when issues as great and far-reacAins in |
tn cir import to my country presented them |
selves. and with tneir settlement. complete Or (
partial. others arose. and when the gu sStionS |
Of to-day ara settled aud settled wisely. there
will be others great to claim yer.T atten-
ton. The need for leadership in paIitics, is |
constant aad it now deFolyes on you. The first I
requisite for q statesman IS educatipp. The |
second is sctual contact with practical corssi-
tions. TAe third ID more Ii Der. Tha call to ill
these conditions comes 70 you. Come. ts, the
the guidance, the deteIse q the
20 leadership
1t was my privilege recently to. visit Eerope
In every university 1 WAS, proudly shoxn the |
pictures CT the sons of the Institution who had |
dist 1guished themselves in the service of their
coussry. Upln my return 1 had occasion 70 |
visa some Ct our Own noble old institutions, |
ana there found the same CUSTOM Of preserv- |
ing the pictxres o; Distinguished saEs
The othes day received catalogue of VIII |
liam and aary college. the. very oldest college !