The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-24
SOME LESSONS OF THE WAR.
Presidents Buffers Words to College
Students.

AT the opening of the new year at Col
by College President Butler addressed
the students in the Chapel as follows:
81 am sure we are all glad that the
time has come to begin new year of en-
joyment and work together. We have
passed through memorable summer.
The country has emerged from one of the
most remarkable wars in history-re-
markable for the motives that led to it,
the shortness OF its duration, its astOnish
ing events and its stupendous results.
Whatever may be said of individuals, the
motives of the nation and of the Presi
dent were DISTINGUISHED and humane.
The work once begun was short, sharp
and decisive. A Euroean navy and with
it the standing of European nation, as
q naval powsr, have been completely de-
stroyed, Meanwhile the commerce and
internal peace and order of the country
have been practically undisturbed. With
out apparently conscious effort the
United States have gained unparalleled
victories on the sea, assembled an army
of hundreds of thousands on land, as.
tonished the world by their enormous re.
sources, their brilliant successes, and the
generosity and forbearance OF their spir-
it. The nation has come without ques-
ton into the rank of the first powers of
thu world. She holds positions of COM
Pacific. Henceforth she has no need to
assert herself. She must be counted with
in all world movements. Best of all,
because of the motives and character Of
the war, America will henceforth be most
influential for universal peace. interna-
tional friendship and Christian civiliza-
ton. This last seems to he the supreme
outcome of the war.
Its lessons come home to us. 1t Is
idle to talk aoput the country being ad-
yanced unless we are advanced individu-
ally. The only advance possible to any
country lies in the improvement of its
men and women, and especially in the ed
ucated young men and women OF the
land. The sole gain that must accrue
measured largely by its effects upon the
ambitions and the character of the men
and women in our colleges.
1.-Two points may be emphasized by u S
as We begin the new year OF work. First,
the glory of our soldiers and our sailors
has proved by actual demonstration OF
what stuff Americans are made. This is
no utterance for Fourth of Jnly elo-
quence, but for sober, reflective judg-
ment. The American character has been
revealed, and the revelation has surprised
the world. We have been thought to be
nation of shop.keepers and money ma
kers, incapable of labor or sacrifice for
high ideal. And we had begun to think
that this was our character. Seriously, 1t
has been proven that there is no better
stuff in the world Intellectually, morally
or physically, than that which makes
American men and women. 1t proves
what we ought to expect of ourselves;
namely, success in the thing that we our.
selves are doing, to do just this thing and
to do this thing well, whatever 1t is-this
is precisely where our men have proved
themselves superior. The officer on the
Lancaster off Key West knew that he was
as much part of the war as the gunner
on the Brooklyn and the stoker in the
bottom of the ship was as keen when
Commodore Schley sent him word what
WAS going on as the man in the lighting
top We are made of the same stuff. We
are capable of the same good work. The
glory of our army and navy is presnmp.
tive proof of our own ability. Put that
down and think of it.
fThe second point follows from the
first. The honor of our nation is shame
to us if we prove ourselves personally I'M
worthy Of it. 1t is silly and shameful for
or his ancestors if he himself is loafer
or q tramp. There is great advantage in
good ancestry, but the advantage is SIM
ply that it affords presumptiye evidence
that the good blood which a man ge is
from good ancestry will show itself in
noble living. IL cnhll6u&eS u mau 10
prove that he can do as we'll as lis kin
dred but If he does not prove it his ad-
vantage is oil lost. A descendant of ra.
GERS that cannot keep up his pace becomes
rightly plow horse or a cart horse. A
ruan who falls short of the mark of his
noble ancestors deserves and receives
double dishonor.
"These, then, are the two points for
us to think of as we begin the new year.
First, the honor Of our country is pre-
sumptive proof that we may succeed in
every good thing just where we are; and,
second, it is challenge to us to be
Americans and in our persons not to fall
short of the high mark for American
character that has been set us. Not as
American soldiers, not as American sail
ors. but as American students, let us
carry into our work the cleanness, manli-
n ess, self-control and steadiness of pur
pose, and at the same time the cheerful
ness, loyalty and enthusiasm that belong
to us as fellow citizens of the men who
have won the admiration of the world for
American character and American
work."
THE BOSTON ELEVATED. I.