Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-04-03

the youth growing up in some other
country? Contrast for a moment the
future of a youth from the common
walks of life just entering manhood
in an absolute monarchy, where the
so-called divine right of Kings pre-
walls, and in free America
It is a matter of no personal OF ma
tional consequence to the former
whether he understands the science
of government or not, or whether he
even knows the history of his own
country. Matters Of State do not not
concern him, and in the conduct of
public affairs he can therefore have
no sense of responsibility. He is con-
scious that he is simply n of so
many millions whose chief political
duties are to obey the mandates, pay
the tax levies and fight the battles
of his imperial majesty. The political
creed to which he has been educated
teaches him to yield a servile obedi-
ence to the behests of single des-
potic will. I can easily imagine how
the untutored savage can love the
wild woods, that T all his own,
through which heroams at will; and
the wandering barbarian, the burn
ing desert sands, where, under the
free canopy of heaven, in unmOlest-
ed solitude he pitches his tent and
makes his home; but I cannot under
stand how a man can deeply love
his country whose aspirations after
freedom, if he ever have any, are
buried beneath a ems Of utter hope
lessness, and who "a give express
ion to such sentiments only at the
cost of bringing upon himself and
all who are dear to him the crushing
weight of despotic power. OF that
broad sentiment of patriotism, that
lofty sense Of nationality that springs
from pride in the past, hope of the
future, and the enjoymentof inestim-
able privileges and inalienable rights
of citizenship, for the preservation
which the p~OssessOr feels himself in
a measure responsible, he can know
absolutely nothing.
How different the present and fu-
ture of the youth approaching the
period of manhood and the exercise
of citizenship in free America. The
IuUuI0, WILL dill 1S POo0IOIIIUICo VI
achievement, and of public honor
and emolument lies wide open be-
fore him. Whatever his capacity, the
field for it's exercise is broad and free.
Whatever his ambition, the prize
g~listensat the other end of the course,
and, if he is equipped for the race, he
has but to outstrip his competitors
to secure it. He has a clear conscious
ness that his life is a. safe, his liberty
as secure and his opinions as sacred
as those of the highest in the land.
He may-and should-assume the
duties of citizenship with a sense
of increased responsibility. As
he walks up to the polls for the first
time with poised ballot, it is as if he
were at that very moment ushered
into Freedoms imposing Temple,
and its presiding genius the Goddess
of Liberty, pointing to it's sacred con
stitutional guarantees of "Life, Lib
erty and the Pursuit Of Happiness"
should say to him: Cali these price.
less treasures / now commit to your
keeping; guard them as your fathers
have done before you; preserve them
in all their purity and integrity fol
! yourself and transmit them thus tC
your posterity." The figure is fanci
{ full, but the truth which it typifes is
} substantial. And now, my young
friends, while [ have endeavored tt
t point out to you the responsibility
t and glory of American citizenship
and would have you assume it's du
) ties with due pride, yet, at the same
5 time, / would have you exercise then
with hno01nion pOnInCfu orr
| also cultivate a modest opinion o
: yourselves. There is no quality NOR
: engaging and attractive in youth-o
, manhood for that matter-than mod
, esty. What says the wisest Of men
: he who was vouchsafed wisdom from
t on High and could read the heart
of men-what says Solomon? "Sees
e thou a nan wise in his cOncelt
q there is more hope for a fool than 70
him. A mans modest opinion c
= himself is a tolerably accurate test 9
/ his true merit; and if this beso of me-
0 in general, it is still more so of youn
= people, who can have but very littl
u knowledge, at best, and still less e2
u perience. Besides, by thus cultiva1
i ing a modest opinion Of yourselves
u will stimulate you the more to in
is prove your minds diligently, an
It may be themeans OF ultimately leaC
n ing you to the highest attainment
It in knowledge and wisdom. AND We
I even if you shall have attained a
l. these and have not Character the
II VIII be E'as sounding brass and TIM
= ling symbal;'' for cit is not all of Ii
to liVe-nor all Of death to depth
is hand that formed and fashioned tx
l. smallest insect that creeps the eartI
is that made from nothing the cart
d itself; that arranged in such ordt
and beauty the lovely landscape
of upon which our eyes delight to feas