The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-23

nation TURNS A., .o,,,a
story over and over again; the story
of a nations ruin brought about by sne
infdelity of her public men ana Tue
apathy of her people. Ito,
Nav such a result occur IN haIluii
where a people chooses her own rep7
resentatives, where universal manhoou
suffrage prevails and where liberty
scars with pinions undipped? Let us
see. .4,.i
Foremost among all the civic priv
Ieges. of man is the right of the palloe'
We, the people of the United STATES,
enjoy a freedom in this regard heN 81
conceived possible by the statesmen VI
old, and equalled only by the "llUe''
dreams of Plato and MORE ITO
With our independence galileU' ~
establishment of a permanent Govern
ment became necessary DelhoNi a.
deep-rooted in the instincts OF the COZ
onist was the desire and, in fact, the
only available form of government
our nation guided through its infancy
by the masterful hand Of Washington,
Jefferson. Madison and Monroe ana
supported by people imbued with the
new born spirit Of liberty and respoh-
siblity, assumed a standard ana slS
nificance that the supineness Oh the peo-
pie and the intrigues of the machlhe
politicians found it difficult TO cope
with. 49,.
Slowly but surely there is something
gnaWing at the Vitals of our govern
ment; it is the apathy, the dlS'nterest-
edness of the people in permitting 'hF
machine politicians ana the polucal
demagogues to sap its Nltallty' ia
they NAV satisfy their own selfish de-
II, hlIf PgnpplaliN IN
a republic. the great political parties
seem almost inevitable; liberal ana
a conservative, the one serving as d
check to the other.
AS long as these parties move along
legitimate lines and pursue proper Gu
jects, then good government is pound
to ensue; but when machine ponies
aided by the disinterestedness Of the
people, creep in, then party lines van
ish. degeneracy closely follows ana an
archy must be the inevitable result.
With the change in the condltloh oL
the people, corresponding change &C
ours in the government. Formerly we
were a nation engaged in the pursuits
of agriculture and small trade; but we
have developed into a nation OF cap
itaIists, SPECTATORS and office seekers
Every man becomes the willing tool or
this or that party, some with the nom
est motives of serving their country,
but the majority led on by the desire
of appointment to office. Thousands OF
our citizens seeing the corrupt state OF
our politics hold themselves aloot from
the affairs of the government what
is the result? The wrong man in the
wrong place; a government OF the rev
and but the few. The first sign of the
decadence is that in its workings and
results, it is not responsible to all. Ev-
cry public office holder in the United
States is responsible to the president
who in turn. owes allegiance to the
convention which is composed Of the
great political bosses who are ac-
countable to themselves alone.
But why this in a democracy? Inc
question is easy of solution. 1t may be
traced to the apathy of the people and
can only be corrected when they awake
from their lethargy vigorously assert
their rights and secure again the power
that is rightly theirs.
The first and great disaster resulting
from the inaction of the people was the
civil war with all its woeful conse-
quences. 1t is also the opinion of the
thinking men of this country that the
Spanish American war could have been
averted, and had it been submitted to a
popular vote it would have been re-
jected. The people and the thinking
men of the country were its opponents
but the wishes of the citizens were not
consulted the politicians and specula-
tors saw an opportunity and eagerly
grasped it.
What check sufficiently strong can be
brought in opposition? The people,
the people. There is not one evil in the
whole catalogue of our grievances that
the people cannot correct Let them
assert their power, declare their lib
erty purge politics of corruption and
be not blinded by party spirit.
My dear classmates, men of 99.
The long wished for day has come at
last when we must bid farewell to old
Holy Cross. We have longed for this
| hour when we could go forth into the
world; but today we feel how bitter is
| that parting of the son from the moth
er, Holy Cross has been a good mother
| to us. She has watched us grow into
manhood and she has glorified in our
| success and sympathized in our de-
| feats
| All this comes back to us now and
makes this hour a sad one. We, as
the preceding 90 classes have DONE
must now leave, and take our places in
! the world.
| Oh, if we could show ourselves to h.
like the men that left old Holy Cross in
| those early days. il we could but reach
the heights gained by the grand old
man Of Holy Cross, the right reverend
bishop of Portland. Those were the
sturdy men of Holy Cross, whose in
| tluence was everywhere felt For as
men of character, their worth was
| recognized and has reflected credit on
| alma mater. Do likewise, my dear
classmates.
Be men of faith and character: be
loyal citizens of the state and country;
be true to your religion and suffer not
stain on the fair name of alma mater
She will always watch for you to COM
fort you in adversely and to rejoice with
you in success. She bids you go forth
and be men; to struggle manfully in
the mighty conflict of life, guided
through its innumerable perils by the
principle so long inculcated in you and
fortified by her blessing.
Prominent men in religious life as
well as in civic affairs graced the oc-
casion with their presence while, nu-
merous graduates of the college were
seated in the audience
On the platform were seated RI. Rev
DR.. James Augustin Healy. bishop
of Portland, Ne. class 40; Ri: Rev.
Dr- Thomas D. Beaver, bishop of
Springfield; Rt. Rev. John f. Lehy. S.
j.. rector of Holy Cross; Rt Rev. Mgr.
Thomas Griffin, St. Johns church
Worcester; His Honor Rufus B. Dodge
Jr., mayor of Worcester: ex-Mavor a.
B. r. Sprague: DR.. D. w. Abercrombie
president Of Worcester academy; ex-
Mayor Henry Marsh, Worcester; Judge
J. d. Fallon, IS, Boston: George #
Conley "a, of the state board of educa
ton, Boston; Dr. John J. Mcmahon
Boston; Thomas N. Doutney, PhiladeI-
phia; Rev. Joseph II. McDonough "a
Rev. Richard Neagle. -. Cambridge:
Rev J. T. O'Brien '95, Boston. Rev
Inhll Z, GriEf,. NA-nr..-.-!.... n -