The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-07-21
CHAUTAU0UA
Chautauqua's Third Week II
Large Attendance
Delightful Occasions This
Week

address.
he was introduced by Col W Nichol-
son OF the State University, who, most
approx rlately and beautifully said:
"The speaker entered the Louisiana State
University in 1890, and graduated from
that great Institution IN 1894 His career
az q student was as uniqe as 1t was brill
liant. No other cadet of that splendid
school ever did so much IS he to awaken
and strengthen the college spirit among
the students. The organization and
growth of the cadet brass band, the cadet
Glee club, and the base and foot ball
teams, in all OF which he was leader, are
due most largely to his efforts and services.
Atthe same time his Standing in all bis
subjects of study was exceptionally high.
when the dread tocsIn OF war was
sounded, although very young man, he
was elected to the high and respoLsiDls
position OF Northumberland OF the
First Louisiana Regiment, and served In
the Cuban wsr In that capacity. Hence 1t
is with great pleasure that now present
to you Col r g Pleasant, OF Shreveport"
The fslloWi ing extracts from Col Pleas
ants able address will bA read with
interest:
''The Spirit Of CommercIalism." 1t over
shadows and dominates everything else.
1t lie the head OF thu Republic, and almost
its heart. 1t floats On all the rivers and
seas; it rides on ell the railroads; It fiAshes
on every wire; 1t teens on every street
and highway; 1t skirts, climbs, tunnels or
topples down the everlasting hills and
mountains, and thrusts Its dissectlng
blades deep down into the body Of old
earth. Everywhere we see the evidences
Of conmercialism and hear the cry
and hum CT business. In our legislative
ltlls, State or national, the wsys and
means committee and bills of . CONNER
eiAl character take precedence. .
Speculation IL rife, capital IL organising
into citadels Of defiance; fortunes are made
In the twinklIng Of an eye, and misfortune
sweeps them away in an instant; the horn
of the bull and the teeth Of the bear are
CRASHING, clashirg and tearing throughout
the whole country In their cory and inter.
minable nghi today the clear skies and
the full-Orb sun Of prosperity noat over
the market, but tomorrow the tempests
gather and the zigzag nghtnings and
aumultuous thunders Of contrary and
speculative elements fash and burst into
our exchanges and brings Thousands Of
unfortunate men to the feet Of some
mighty money god, who stands high above
the storms and FORCES his bolts as Vulcan
OF old. Why 10 1t that this nations repre>
sentative man, who, one hundred years
ago was essentially the scholAr an d patriot,
lie touay the business man! - Are
We degsnerating 80 an educated and po-
liticAl community, or are we uncOnsciously
advancing TO higher and greater position
than any nation has yet reached In the
worlds history And amid ali of this
process Of rapid organization, combinE-
ton, discovery. invention and the dsvel-
Opment q material things, where stands
the scholar, the artist, the philosopher
WheTe 10 ne who seeks purely the abstract,
the ethical, the ideali 1 might say that
few such men now exist.
The cycle which produces them has not
yet arrived in this country, but can con-
hdentiy assers that their natal day IL near
ut hand. We have as representative
men today Morgans instead Of Henrys,
koekeiellers instead OF Jetfsrsons, Wander
bits inatead Of Madisons. HXnnas instead
OF FrankliLs. Mckinisys instead Of Wash
ingtOns and so on throughout the whole
Ains OF human endeaVor. A
strong but hssIthtul spirit Of commercial
Ism should not be decrled but upheld. The
period OF our history is nov reached when
we should take advantage OF our great
natural wealth, our buoyant esprit de
corps and our oveiA)winR energies. We
are growing and In growing there IL
always to be found plentituds OF vigor.
A strong nation, like q strong man, 10 s
power either fer good or for evil, and
therefore the problem with us % not that
our strength shall be exerted, but how it
shall be directed Controlled and support
I'd by clean and conscientious public
spirit. the upbuilcIng OF our business
msthods at home and its extension and in
auencs abroad win afford q msans by
which higher and q better civilization
will unquestionablY follow.
To do the right thing Tor rights sake is
far superior In its moral intendment than
20 do thing because we wish it to be
rsciprocally done unto us. &c 1t lie
As duty Of our scholars IN whatever en-.
picyment they may be engaged to unite as
representatives Of the best element of our
social structure for the purpose Of teach.
ing the general efficiency that right does
net consist IN wealth or in might, but that
right can do far more for the advancement
OF the weird, IL it is Wisely and hOnorabIv
assisted BY riches and power.
While the American community In sep-
ersl education is equalsd only By switzsr.
land aad Germany, yet the times are out
oi1ofnt for the production OF nonpareil
MASTERS. C,mmercfalism is upon us and
Its destiny must be shaped. Whatever Il
the all absorbing question In ; nation
naturally attracts the attention Of the
1eenest intsllects Of that nation, Hence
n American mind today Is not turned TO
tbs development Of the higher arts and
sciences. ouoh "a tina vv,rld .ris.n...a a.