The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-01

In blessing themselves. have blessed hui
manity through the past and will con-
tinue to bless II through all ages to come.
xxnE Independent In thought and deci-
81 sive in character. Allow no one to
do your thinking for you. There
Is nothing 80 well calculated TO paralyze
the energies OF the mind as TO adopt the
theories OF others, no matter however APP
parently good. without putting them to
the test OF reason.
Honor thy father and thy mother is an
Injunction as firmly founded in nature
In Inspiration. but you honor them most
by being able to think for yourself Let
me implore you never to be a Democrat
or Republican simply because your
father was the one or the other. Ii were
far better that you inherit from him the
power 10 think for yourself than that you
inherit his party politics II is right to
revere the memory OF those who have gone
before, but your conscience. your fellows,
and your country demand of you the ex-
ercise of the highest thought of which
you are capable, Permit me TO assure
thought, and maintaining 1t by deter
mined action. requires manly and wo-
manly heroism that In all ages past has
sublimest OF achievements, and Will do
so In all coming generations. Let me tell
you that 1t is a thousand times easier and
less heroic To die for the right than to
live for II.
I'm all ages men at the sound OF the
tocsin of war have rushed to the lannon's
mouth and have died at their country's
demand. 1t has been theirs to do and die
and not to reason why Outlines It has
been. been. My country. right or wrong
hero and his name has been enshrined I'm
i dna,Srdsl memory and erystallized in
not a sound 81 marital music. The the cis sh of
arms, and all Is Ger; but II involves
thousand hard fought battles. Hitherto
hands and your thoughts directed in safe
and sure channels. but today YOU bid
sood-by to. Alma Mater and assume
command OF your own bark upon life's
realities OF life II you would You may
go where you will to escape real life and
live a little while in the ideal world, but
the shadow you seek to escape will grow
deeper upon you as you fee. Some one
has said there are more plays off the
stage than on It, and the heart is author
OF them all. In the daily newspapers we
have all the plays of all the dramatists
The printing press rolls OF for us daily a
not give us such spice. such variety, such
realism. as the printer You come to the
theater OF action nj time of marvellous
opportunities The world is moving. ana
you must move with II and aid In direct
ing its course or you must be laggard
In the race.
Nv no Tor Of I 70" feel prooqss; today Of
beats highest with Cummendable
pride when I remind you that II
Is distinguished honor to each
~ you 10 sit here TODAY as
a graduate Of the University Of Washing
TONI have a thousand times more i'm
portant question than that to ask YOU
whom or YOU all will the University OF
Washington feel proudest Of i've ten, or
twenty years from nowe / beg YOU to
write this question on the tablets OF your
hearts and answer 1t In your lives As
members OF tho class OF 1870 this univer-
sity viii expect 20 hear from YOU in the
eominE years You cannot easily over
before you in this land Of equal opportu-
mites kings and queens are not born
but made, with us We look with mex
pressele contempt upon the heathenish
idea that men aud women. hy the mere
accident ~ birth should b. ntted Is rule
over even the lowest form Of human gov
erpment
THAT supcrstltious relic NJ ancient bar
barism known as the divine right OF
kings Is high treason on American soil
To be chosen ruler over this land ny
thr voice ~ free people is an honor
greater than that Of the combined crowns
OF an the accidental and hereditary mon
archlcs Of earth, aud VT jhere is an open
pathway T. o. from the humplesi walks
~ life Tho divine right II each and
and WomRnhood by individual sfort is the
rrUsiou 90 American politics Tae pre-
emipen' superiority 20 oar Mise i'lst and
humane system 81 government over do
raNtuE superstition ought te caus, each
% you Co reioice thar you were born la
50 favored land
60 take iu emphasizing she blessings 10
liberty and good government You have
rot graduated from an institution ot
" hivh every good yifisrn &C our state tie
wstiy pragd in ur,irr fo tite Your ugh.
under buShci' Better thiuEs are ~
pret.d - ynu You hove been laugh. thar
.1ustfutiNu of the Inltj STATE. arc fhf
90 -sdium 40 American liberty fol have
h-rr Taught thRf these Instruments mark
t.r Hrs between republic ara w p.
ar.n fts between freedom ar k.rErraf1