The Portland daily press., 1899-06-29

E0ets
ard actionlby our point Of view, IL is I'm
portant that the standpoint Of those who
control our sUcial, municipal and nation
al interests should be wisely chosen. The
social question Of the day Is the ques-
tlon OF money. Unfortunately the inter-
ests OF capital and labor clash and the
breach grows wider year by year. The
tourist on Lake Winnipesaukae sees to
the north Mount Washington; to the
south Monadnock, apparently disconnect'
ed peaks. A higher point OF view, how
ever. reveals the fact that they are parts
OF the same mountain range Seen from
the highest standpoint the interests of
capital and labor are one. Our street
railway system. not only pays profit TO
the stockholders; IL furnishes employ
mept to the Iaborer, gives him cheap
transportation, and provides for him in
expensive pleasures
met he who has, but he who does
who. laborer, capitalist, statesman, COM
mander, do each in his place and day,
his duty-his aim not only his own, but
the common good.
This Is the true American standpoint
the only standpoint from which one can
wisely superintend the affairs of his fell
low men. The corruption of city officials
Is due to the fact that they look at the
duties Of their Office from the low stand
point OF personal or party gain. When
ouyepolitician sees that the government
of the city Is for the good of the citizen,
then we shall have lights that illumi-
nate, police who protect, and brooms that
sweep our crossings clean.
The great question OF the day, however,
Is not the question OF money, nor mu-
nicipal government. 1t Is peoples
freedom. On the view that America
takes OF this question depends the liberty,
the happiness. tho life itself. of IL. 000, :
900 souls. Her standpoint, then, is OF the
utmost Importance. One hundred years
ago. we too, were lighting for our BIRTH
right, the right to govern ourselves. In
view OF the great problem now before u.s.
10 is well to review this page of our his
tory. lest we forget the principles for
which our fathers fought--lest we forget.
Unfortunately, the civilization that we
are thrashing into the Filipinos does not
satisfy them. 1t looks too much like the
Spanish brand. The love of liberty is the
ruling passion of this down-trodden peo-
pie, a passion that three centuries of
Spanish oppression has only strengthened,
'spassion, says one who knows them
best, shat Calling guns can never
quell." They ask for Independence, and
we promise them everything else
One thing is sure, we may as well own
Jap that 1t is not only their good. but our
gain that we are seeking. II, however,
we would leave ON the page of history
no such blot as stains the annals OF
Spain, we must look impartially at both
sides of the question; We must practice
the gospel of good win that we profess.
Humanity" says Melanchton, "is the
only Rodlike thing on earth.'' In the
name OF hun anity, then, let us give to
these poor, down-trodden people the same
liberty, the same education. the same
happy life that We ourselves enjoy. Let us
watch over them ana protect them; but
let them govern themselves In the good
old American way.
When the Indian lost his way in the
forest he climbed to the top Of some sight
II hill to- get his bearings and fix his
course. There is a far famed height
which gives a world wide prospect. No
atlas gives its place or name; yet neither
Alps nor Himalayas tower so high. Call
1t wisdom-what you will. 1t is the
height from which We see not only our
few small acres. but the wide, wide
world. Few reach the top, for the ascent
is steep and hard, but with every up
ward step tbs vision broadens. When
from that standpoint we direct our
course then the questions that vex us
to-day. capital and labor, party or people,
subsection or self government shall be
forever settled. Then our interests shall
no longer clash; and we can trust that
to ALL"
Then followed the address TO the Junior
| class, to the school committee, and to the
principal and teachers.
The concluding paragraph Of this ex-
oellent paper. embodying the parting ad-
dress to the graduating class, was as fol-
lows:
AS we gather today, classmates, to say
goodbye and from this point of view
look back over the four years we've spent
SO happily together. the past takes On an
aspect strangely new. Our Shakespeare
room, the sunny Renaissance room and
the dear old Greek room. more than ever
have a homelike mir; our well-wnrn
books value unrealized day by day (;
the deserved reproof, IA kindly ring I'M
noticed at the time; and our classmates
noble traits sometimes overlooked in
the rough aive-and-takU of our school life
These sterling qualities, fostered in the
high school and strengthened by future
training, will. we are sure, enable the
class Of $50 to do well its part, as it goes
forth to take up IN turn the burdens that
must in the future rest upon the should
ers Of the school boys and girls of today.
CoNFERRING THE DIPLOMAS.
Mr.. Albert B. hall, chairman of the
High School committee of the school
board then presented the diplomas to the
graduates. He said that he hoped this
was not the end. but the beginning of
their education for in these days great
opportunities opened up for those who
we're disposed TO make the most of them
selves Not nobility of birth. but of true
worth attains rank nowadays. and in
any position which these graduates might
be called upon to. I'LL they should always