The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-07-07

Hateful Thing Which Should be
Avoided When Possible, but Justi.
fable Under Certain Conditions
Which Make 1t a Duty-Opposed to
the Policy of lmperiaIism-Needo of q
Steady and Uncompromising Moral
Courage.
Princeton, n. j., June 21-Grover
Cleveland delivered the annual
Founders Day address of the COM
mencement exercises of the Law
renceville School held to-day His
subject was Good Citizenship He
said in part:
The American people are temp
ted every day and every hour to
abandon their accustomed way and
enter upon course of new and
strange adventure. Never before in
our history have we been beset with
temptations SO dangerous as those
which now whisper in our ears
alluring words on conquest and ex-
pansion, and point out to the fields
bright with the glory of war. | once
saw very useful book entitled
..Don't." 1t contained statement
of numerous things which, should
not be done. | am inclined to adopt
the plan of this book to the extent
of cautioning you against imperfect
ideas of civic duties and warn you
against certain dangers which
threaten the soundness and safety
of true American citizenship, and
which especially at this particular
time seem to lie in wait for us on
every side.
at is absolutely certain that we
are in need Of re-enforcements in the
ranks of good citizenship. 1t is no
less certain that our schools and
colleges can in a large measure sup
ply the necessary help. Since pa
triotism underlies good citizenship
you should avoid misconception OF
IA meaning of this word. l believe
there is sometimes a tendency tc
think patriotism is something bel
icose and defiant. OF course true
patriotism is very different thing.
LAS an illustration of the past
methods, it may occur to you that,
though this nation is young, we have
within its short existence, by loose
adherance to our original designs
and purposes astOnished the world
by our progress and the development
at our vast possessions. With our
first century's tremendous growth
and advancement before ourselves As
proof of the strength and efficacy of
consistent Americanism, you will
find in the beginning of our second
century proof of the abundance of
our present domain in millions OF
acres of Government territory still
unoccupied, while hundreds of Gov
ernment officials wait to hestow it
upon settlers. You will also see
other large acres of American soil
yet untrodden by the feet of man,
while our gates are still standing
life, YOU are sure entitled to share
our homes and privileges. In view
of these things and considering our
achievements in the past and the
future, recalling what we have done,
and what we have been, and what
vet remains for us to do under the
guidance of her rules and motives
which have thus far governed our
national life, you surely are entitled
to demand the best of reasons for a
change in our policy and conduct
and to expect conclusive ex-
PLANTATION of the conditions which
make our acquisition of new and
distant territory either justitiable
prudent or necessary. Perhaps you
should be satisfied with the excuse
that such acquisition is necessary by
way of warlike preparations or pre-
caution. This, however, will i'm
mediately suggest to you that WE
have found heretofore constant
source of congratulation in the fact
that the contemplation of war anc
its contingencies is not and should
not be familiar to our Ordinar,
national life; that it has always beer
| our boast that a large standing mill
tarv establishment and warlike pre-
cautions are not among the needs o
people whose victories are those o
peace. and whose immunity from
| armed conflict is found in their freedom
| from the foreign relationships, tina
give birth to war; and though it ha:
been abundantly demonstrated tina
the courage and splendid fighting
| qualities of our countrymen viii
never fail in time of need, it is still
Il grave question whether th
cheapening of our estimate of The
value of peace. by dwelling upor
war and warlike preparation, i:
calculated to improve the quality o
our national character.
These considerations natural,
lead me to counsel you against tn
danger of allowing the bright dres
and gay trappings which war put
on to divert Your attention from tn
ugly features that belong to it, a
seen in the light OF true American
citizenship. The danger of such
diversion NAV arise from restless en-
thusiasm. which is by no means un
attractive. or from our admiration
for the deeds of valor which is
national characteristic. or from tn
fascination of dangerous adventure
never found with bravery, or fror
the love of the glory of successfu
battle. which is almost an impulse c
humanity, or from tendency t
oombativeneSs which. if not alto
gether lovely and amiable, is re
garded by genuine Americans wit
benevolent liberation. 1t is Difficult
to deal with the question of war a
this time and avoid misconceptio
and misrepresentation. But we ar
considering American citizenship
and endeavoring to find best an
worthiest characteristics and ho
they can be most effectively cultir:
ted and securely preserved. Fro1