Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-06-25
LANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL
A Hopeful View.

commencement essay OF Johh = N@tsoii.t
Cntinismi is the cradle of progress. Pessi-
rnis1n is the grave where society's hopes lie |
buried. Strangely enough today, our age IS
witnessing a revival Of pessmism. on every |
hand prophets of evil are rising to tel US OF
the supreme peril of our government ana
institutions Already multitude nave
come to doubt whether the republic VIII
long endure.
The tnoughtful American is not unmlnd-
ful Of the evils that are poisoning our ma
tional life Chief among them are unre-
stricted immigration, intemperance and
municipal misgovernment. And there are
social and political problems to solve which,
viii cali into requisition the craftsmanship
of the leaders and the patriotism of the
whole people
But in considering the evils and problems
of our country. the pessimist does not COM
pare them with monarchies and other re-
publics He fails to consider past conditions
when bringing his powerful indictments
against those of the present. He forgets
that the aristocratic party, that watches
with jealousy the growth of democracy, is
tireless in its endeavors to magnify the
evils and perpleXitieS Of a republic and
prove the form of government a failure.
immigration is perhaps the greatest of
our evils as it is the cause of many others
To it can be attributed much of the crime
and most Of the social disturbances that
are a curse to civilization. During the past
ten years we have permitted peaceful in
vasion of an army four times as large as
the estimated number of Goths and Vandals
that swept over Europe and overwhelmed
Rome. Our legislators have debated this
subject at every session of Congress but not
Tod
to restrict
Great enough is the evil of intemperance
which corrupts and fmpoverishes mankind.
Yet the temperance reformer finds much
encouragement in the great progress that
has been made towards its abolition What
a change has been wrought within the last
century At the opening of the century
drunkenness was well nigh universal. Births.
marriages. funerals, the dedication of pub
lie buildings, and even the conservation of
churches. all demanded liquor. More than
ever do they realize its baleful effects and
are determined to destroy its power
Many were pessimistic respecting the mis-
government of our large cities And it did
seem as if they were hopelessly at the
mercy of boodlers and unprincipled politia
clans until the great uprising of the better
citizens of the metropolis. Stirred to ac-
ton by fearless and noble minister OF the
gospel they drove the gang from power,
recognized every department. and placed
men in office like Theodore Roosevelt. who
believes that laws are made to be enforced.
The great reform is wen begun and it is
certain that in the future administrations
our large cities will be blessed with cleaner
and purer administrations.
The contest Of capital and labor is not a
product Of recent years. 1t has been going
on and increasing in bitterness for oentu-
ries, though ii has been greatly enhanced by
the enormous growth of corporations with
IN the life Of this republic. The outlook for
permanent peace between them and 4 salts
factory adjustment OF the dihieulties is not
very encouraging But in spite Of great OPP
position the laboring man has made great
gains and W.T., wider experience and super
Tor inteligenc will be enabled to enact
many more
The optimist noting the onwar march of
civilization and conscious of IL mighty re-
sources and strength of the country. feels
hopeful that goodness shall triumph and
that the republic will long endure.
With feelings Of just pride and security,
we boast of our wealth in mines and agri-
culture and the splendid possibilities for
greater development; of unsurpassed
means for transportation and intercom-
munication: and OF the country's situation
in the temperate zone whose climate con-
duces to greater activity and where civiliza-
tion has made the most rapid progress. But
these advantages are not guarantee of
the nations perpetuity, nor is it in them
that our hopes are conferred We have in
tellectual and moral causes of permanence
that are comparately new in the world and
which the republics now extinct. did not en-
JOY.
Our fore-fathers in their wisdom, knew
the foundations of liberty. fraternity and
equality to be universal education. This
object served as an impetus for the up
building of institutions of learning. The
number of universities. colleges and other
schools has increased at such rate that
America is now recognized as the educa-
tional center of the world. we have every
thing to hope from this new factor in civil
lied life. BY the steady cultivation in all
classes of correct observation. Just reason
ing and taste for study. win be deliv-
cred from thousand evils of ignorance
and unreason that now Cypress us.
The public school. in particular. has
wrought out the achievements of the past
and today is the most trusted force for the
future. It has an exalted mission-that of
training the citizens in the common knowI-
edge and in the duties of citizenship. BY
means of it the children of strange and dis
similar races are in one generation assimi-
lated and made Americans And being set
for the investigation of truth. it too broad
N purpose to yield itself to the narrow dog
mas OF sect This system of education
more than ever before finds general accept
ance among the people, fer with the growth
Of the public school there has been steady
decline in number and influence of volun-
tary schools.
The Christian church was never more
strongly organized or in a better position
to wage war against evil than at present
Nothing shows this more than the live
Christian organization in every city and
village. Who can read of the enthusiastic
meetings of the young peoples societies in
their national conventions without feeling
that the Young generation will continue the