The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-06-22
WILSON AT
Address to the Literary Societies
of Central College
BY Postmaster-General Wilson College
Men in Politics-Their Duty and
Interest in the Affairs
of Government.

tory OF tayette closed to-day with the
ADDRESS before the literary societies by
Postmaster-Gcneral 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. Y. 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 20 of visitors. On this
platform sat the reception committee
and many distinguished visitors.
Around the platform were seated e
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 Z. Il. Hendrix.
lie spoke, in substance, as follows:
LADIES y OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MY
Young FRIENDS OF CENTRAL COLLEGE:
When 1 accepted the invitation to address
your literary societies 1 expected that. in en-
1oying the somewhat involuntary leisure Of
private life l should do so in the calm of prep
aratiOn. Instead, 1 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 favora-
BILE circumstances. l would first say to the
young men Of Missouri, enjoying the privileges
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
you in every relation, your duty to God and
your duty to your country.
1t is but natural and fitting that address
you to-day concerning the latter, or on politics.
as duty. Never in the history Of any country
were the youth just going ont for the active
duties of life so highly privileged as those of
to-day. But, by Gods law of party. such
duties always go with high privileges. What
is it To be a citizen of the United States: Let
the answer come FROM 4 foreign and dis
prejudiced student. 1t is not a paper theory,
but an 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-
Gtical assets as 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. 1t
is backed by material resources almost bound
less. | am standing to-day in this great CEN
trail state Of the United States, while to the
north, south, east and west stretch the miles
OF America.
We are protected by the sea from war with
out and by a spirit Of justice and magnanimity
from iingoiSm and standing armies. Our po-
litical heritage is not found in declarationsan and
bills of right, but in the breasts of the people;
may it there remain. untarniShed until they
disappear 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
rests upon the education Of the peO-
Pile. Political education is Of three kinds; that
which comes as a legacy from the past, the
natural adoption to the settlement of political
which il our heritage from our free
fathers. back to the Baltic sea:
the general education OF the common
schools-the men who founded our government
understood the necessity OF enlightenment, |
and to-day free education is one Of our inner |
tied rights; thirdly. collegiate education. The
last is as essential as the other two.
The public school is good, but it does not sup
ply that education requisite to the settlement
Of the great questions which are constantly en- |
a-fp n,r t.,.=, ~ r,,rlf h,,-o e; I
tions to educate men for leadership in the
world OF thought and politics, and herein lies
the work Of the colleges. All questions in our
must be settled by public discussion.
can. therefore. only survive when our peo-
pie are so educated that they prefer sound
reasons to false and facts to ictiOnS.
Politics is 4 duty Of life. from which you can
not escape, and since this is true. students of
college, SO is leadership in politics a
iuty which falls upon your ranks. There is no
hope for wise. conservative honest leadership |
unless you are wise enough To understand the
at stake and brave enough to stand by
yOur convictions, being willing, if need be. to
life and fame for a political idea. Nor
need you fear the result. If you have faith in
government. That man is = slave who
lare not be right with two or three on his side.
will the reward be lacking for courageous
duration of political faith. Ofice may not ut
Dnce be awarded, SpOilS Of victory may not fall
with every effort. but the consciousness of duty
lCnc is ever present and national reward will
Usually come in time.
This duty OF leadership, the duty Of molding
and correcting public opinion. comes to the
student. The college has promulgated many
# the pcrplexinE questions OF the day, such as
he labor questions. which are but a natural
of the modern organization Of in
luStry, that is only rendered possible by the
OF the college and which to-day
laraSSeS all nations. We have heard OF the
of Alexander and Caesar. but these
are nothing beside our own, over the
covers OF physical nature, and the source Of
,ur power in this direction is the lecture room
II the college, and if the college has most
lelped forward this conquest and has fur
lished new forces for the battle. so much
.reater the duty which devOlyeS upon college
men to organize their forces ana demonstrate
themselves wise. UnSelfsh leaders.
The need OF TODAY ard the need of the future
$ statesmen. When 1 took my seat in con-
resS in 1857 I thought l was taking it at q
time, when there were no great is
ueS before the people. and could not but re-
that il had not been my lot to serve in the
days: yet l had been seated but a short
ime when issues as great and far-reaching in
heir Import to my country presented them
elves, and with tneir settlement, complete or
PARTIAL. others arose, and when the questions
4 to-day are settled and settled wisely. there
vil be others as great to claim your atten-
ion. The need for leadership in politics is
onstant and it now devolyeS on you. The first
for q statesman is education. The
econd is actual contact with practical eondi-
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