The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-23
MADE THE EFFORT OF HIS LIFE
continued from first page

! private quits, and to look upon the agen-
| Cies for its administration rs the distrib
utors of official places and preferment.
| Those who in university or college have
had an opportunity to study the mission
| of our institutions, and who in the light
| Of history have learned the danger to q
| people of their neglect of the patriotic
| care they owe the national life entrusted
| to their keeping, should be we'll fitted to
| constantly admonish their fellow citi-
| Zens that the usefulness and beneficence
| of their plan of government can only be
| preserved through their unselfish and low
| ing support and their contented willing
ness to accept in full return the peace,
protection and opportunity which it inn
| partially bestows.
"Not more surely do the rules of hon
esty and good faith fix the standard of in
| dividual character and standing of Il
| nation lin the world of civilization.
| Neither the glitter of its power, nor the
tinsel OF its commercial prosperity, nor
the gaudy show of its peoples wealth, can
conceal the cankerhg rust of national
dishonesty, and cover the meanness of
national bad faith. a constant stream of
thoughtful, educated men should come
II ON our universities and colleges preach
ing national honor and integrity, and
teaching that Il belief in the necessity of
not born of superstition.
II do not forget the practical necessity
OF political paIties, nor do L deny their
desirability. | recognize wholesome
differences OF opinion touching legitimate
government policies, and would by no
means control or limit the utmost free
dom in their discussion. ] have only at
tempted to suggest the important patr.
otto service which our institutions of
higher education and their Graduates are
fitted to render to our people in the en-
forcement of those immutablc truths and
fundamental principles which are related
to our national conditions, but should
never be dragged into the field of politi-
cal strife nor impressed into the service
of partisan contention.
when the excitement of party war
fare presses dangerously near our nation
III safeguards, would have the intelli-
gent conservatism of our universities
and colleges warn the contestants in i'm
pressive tones against the perils of a
breach impossible to repair. When pop.
ular discomfort and passion are stimuu-
ted by the arts of designing partisans to
pitch perilously near the class hatred
or sectional anger, | would have our uni
versities and colleges sound the alarm in
the name of American brotherhood and
W
tempt is made to delude the people into
the belief that their suifrages can change
the operation of natural laws | would
have our universities and colleges pro.
claim that these laws are memorable and
far removed from political control.
When selfish interest seeks undue private
benefit through government aid, and pub.
lie places are claimed as the reward of
party service, | would have our univer.
stiles and colleges persuade the people to
REIMBURSEMENT of the demand for
party spoils and to eXhoit them to a pa
triotlc and diSinterestcd love of their gov
eminent for its own sake, and because in
its true adjustment and unperverted oper.
alton 1t secures TO every citizen his Just
share of the safety and prosperity it holds
IL store for all. When a design is appar-
cnt to lure the people from their honest
thoughts and to blind their eyes to the
sad plight of national dishonor and bad
faith, | would have Princeton Univer.
sity, panoplicd in her patriotic traditions
and glorious memories, and Joined by all
other universities and colleges of our
land, cry out against the inhiction of this
treacherous and fatal wound.
II would have the influence of these
institutions on the side of morality and
religion. / would have those they send
Wv '''AN'i- rit lJVOHlt ilOU uStltllneu TO Hc-
knowledge God, and TO claim His inter
position in the affairs of men, cnioining
such obediance to His laws us makes man
ifest the path of national perpctuity and
prosperity.
81 hasten to concedc the good already
accomplished By our educated men in
purifying and steadying political SEN
timcnt; but hope | may be allowed to
intimate my belief that their work in
this direction would be easier and more
useful if it were less spasmodic and oc-
casional. The disposition of our people
Is such that while they may be inclined
to distrust those who only on rare occa-
sions come among them from IN exclu-
sivencss savoring of assumed superiority,
they readily listen to those who exhibit
real fellowship and friendly and habit
ual interest i'll all that concerns the COM
mon welfare. Such condition of init
macy would, ! believe, not only improve
the general political atmosphere but
would vastly increase the influence of our
universities and colleges in their efforts
to prevent popular delusions or correct
them before they reach an acute and dam
gerous stage.
~ am certain, therefore, that Il more
constant and active participation in no.
htical affairs on the part of our men of
education would be of the greatest posi-
bic value to our country.
1T is exceedingly unfortunate that
politics should be regarded i'll any quar-
ter rs an unclean thing to he avoided by
those claiming to be educated or respec.
table 1t would be strange indeed if any
thing related to the administration of our
Government or the welfare of our nation
should be essentially degrading | be.
lievc 1T is not superstitious senti-
ment that leads to the conviction
that God has watched over our ma
L - l.Alri