The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-05-31
GRADUATING EXERCISES.
Diplomas Presented by Col. Sellers
Address by Mr.. 0vermeyer.

49, NA' -ASNANNAh 0Aa ~
~appreciative audience. Seated on the
stage were Col. Sanford Sellers, the
president Of the board OF trustees
Hon. David Overmeyer, Judge Johr
Welborn, who introduced the crater
Of the evening and the following
members Of the graduating class:
THE CLASS OF 1902.
Charles Melvin Ilgeufritz, sedalia
Mo.
William Qulllin Jamison, secretary
Whitesboro, Texas.
Robert Rogers King, Little Rock
Ark.
Thomas Earl Kensler, Dover, Mo.
Hiram August Lewis, Sedalia, Mo.
William Baird Quigley, Sedalia,
Mo.
John Nichols Sturgis, Waco, Tex.
George Ernest stuckey, St. Louis,
No.
James Richard Vance, Denver, Col.
Elmo Newton wilkins, South Nc.
Alester, l, T.
Rector Linde Williams, president,
Hot Springs, Ark.
Clarence Warren Baird, Woodlake,
Neb.
Ralph Waldo Cole, Omaha, Neb.
Allen Miller Davis, Aurora, Mo.
Wade Doster, Aurora, Mo.
Newman Leo Graham, Denver,
Col.
John Keith Goodwin, Alma, No.
Paul Leftrie Hart, Jamestown,
Mo.
Byron Cleveland Herbert, Cairo,
III.
The evening" exercises were opened
with an orchestral selection followed
by an invocation of divine blessing
by the Rev. J. G. Given, pastor Of the
M. E. church South.
Then came another overture by the
orchestra from the opera "Ah Sid, .
the music to which was composed by
Prof. Stark, after which the Hon.
David Overmyer, Of Kansas, was in
troduced by Judge John Welborn as
the class orator Of the evening. Mr..
Overmeyer spoke in part as follows:
"Tzs Moral Law-A Plea for Jastfce."
War is not my theme but rather
peace. Having no knowledge of the
science of war, you will not, Of
course, expect me to discuss it.
What | shall say, therefore, upon the
subject Of war will have reference to
its relations to conditions, to its
effects upon men and nations and to
the different types Of men who favor
war aud their motives and reasons
therefor.
There are two extreme views of
war but 10 this as In most matters,
truth lies between extremes. 1t is
held by some that wal is the normal
condition Of mankind, others hold
that all war is murder. War is
neither the one nor the other. 1t is
the last resort; it is the elimination
OF all controversy; it is the supreme
trial. 1t may be as cruel and as
diabollcal as the genius of evil; and
it may be as sacred as the most ex-
allied thought Of man. 1t may be
necessary, inevitable, just; and while
at the best it is an afiiction, yet il
calls forth some Of the highest quail.
tiles of human nature. Education
in the art of arms, like war itself, is
justified by necessity. = =
There is a school of political
philosophy which has long taught
and still teaches that war is in itself
q good thing. That it is the great
civillzer and promoter of peace, prog
ress and prosperity among the nations
and peoples of the earth. This ex-
t%raordinary and unqualified endorse
ment OF war as an agency for the
betterment Of human conditions has
reference to wars OF conquest
and aggression. Defensive warfare,
the only kind that finds its sanction
in reason or 10 morals, strange to say,
IS not included within the view Of
those who advocate war as a means
OF the advancement of man. The
teachers Of this false school confouud
commotion, convulsion, destruction
and change with civilization and
progress.
Look at the great debts which rest
like an incubus upon the civilized
notfnno ~ the uorldt mho, .e