The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-06-18

who knows not how to command.
You can serve the part that you are
to play, doing your duty as private
citizen as we'll as your Chief Execu-
tive or Legislators poring over per-
picking questions of State. 1t is not
so much qestion as to what you do
in life but how you do your allotted
part. Let US then not shirk our duty
| be il great or small. Your life or
mine is but drop in the great ocean
of time, but each has its part to per
form, be it humble or be it great.
Your paths may lead among rich
harvest fields, mine among rocks
aad barren wastes. but having done
our duty. the ''well done, good and
faithful servant" will bless US both.
Is it true that our wishes are pre-
sentiments Of our capabilities? 1
believe in great measure they are.
The poet has we'll said, "What the
child admired, the youth endeavor-
ed, and the man acquired" If you
young men have a strong and ire
sistible desire to attain eminence as
a physician. merchant or lawyer, or
that you can some day sway the
masses of your fellow-men by the
magic of your eloquence, lsay if you
feel presentimentin your heart and
soul that you must be and do these
things, and if you will work persist
emily or diligently with this object
4 in view, I believe that you will ac-
complish that wish. A man is in g.
large measure what he makes him
self. Watch the young man with no
| fixed object in life, 10 purpose in
view; see him as he drifts aimlessly
over the sea of time into this port
and into that. and is finally wrecked
upon some unknown shore because
there is no port for which he is sail
ing. Watch again the young man
with the high ideal in life; that has
a duty to perform i'm the great work
shop of the world. See him, as he
ascends by degrees, the ladder OF
fame-perhaps the son of an humble
farmer, merchant or mechanic, ne
enters some institution almost un-
known, without money and without
| friends, but he is stadious and per-
severing; he is the leader in the lit
erary societies; he graduates with
credit to himself and family. See
him again as he begins his chosen
career; he is a hard and earnest
| worker; he is successful, kind, and
| courteous; he wins the respect and
admiration of his feliow-man; he is
| famous-;t leader among men, loved
by his people, and an honor to his
State. People ask and wonder how
and why he accomplished so mnch.
Some say because he is a genius;
others say because heis gifted and
| talented but the great secret, young
gentlemen. is that he has earned his
name and fame because Of his steady
purpose, irresistible will and untir-
| ing work.
Don't fold your arms and pray to
God for help. Such prayers are never
| answered. 1.-The heavens long ago
ceased to rain down bread from the
Clouds There is much truth in the
old saying. God helps those
who help themselves. Therefore.
choose your professions or callings
from your own inciinations and de-
sires; work out your own destiny, in
your own appointed way, pressing
forward under the. banner bearing
the insignia, honesty. truth and
duty, and you shall surely win.
/ Look out upon the condition Of our
country and see what is the supreme
duty of the hour. There is a ten
Edeney amongst the masses to drift
into already overcrowded cities.
Happy and attractive country life
must be festered. Prosperous farms
make prosperous ceuntry. Happy
and eontented homes make a patrI-i
.otic people. s.Tear@down yoar cities
says the great1ieader ofthe people,
land we will build them up again, but
destroy our farms and birds will build
nests in our marts pfoar commerce.
Special legislation has created for
and concentrated wealth in the
hands of classes; giant trusts
and rnonopolies have grown so pow
erful as to be, controlled by law; the
worlds supply Of products placed
upon the market by the. producers
must be at, q price regulated not SO
much by supply and demand, but by
the combination OF trusts and speca..
lators backed by their iil-gainea
millions. / have no sympathy With.
the OemaSogUe, anu tlosa Ia Sou
tempt man who will array class
against class for accomplishing sell
fish ends, but admire the man who
is patriotic and who, seeing the evils
confronting the welfare Of his State
and nation, withstand out boldly AVID
brsvely and oppose them. To whom
are we to look for the settling Of the
complex problems OF our govern
ment? Who shall lead Alright the
reckless and discontented masses III
evil days, making plain and clear the
vexed questions confronting the pub
Ilictmiud? Who shall maintain our
republican form of government for
generations that are to follow? It's
our duty and our lot as young men
a duty, too far reaching to be neg
lected, and a trust too sacred to be
disregarded. The destiny Of our ma
ton is in our hands. We can MAKE
it what we will. The salvation OF
our government depends upon the
education of the people to an intelli"
gent and patriotic use OF the ballot
You ask me, young man, should you