The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-10
A NATioN oFlINDusTRlEs.

mencement season was that delivered by
Professor s. c. Mitchell. Of Richmond
College. on Friday evening before tho
Mechanics Institute of Richmond.
Professor Mitchell is always interest
ing because he is man OF sense,
man of varied information, a hard stu
dent. and. moro than all. an earnest
sincere man. whose chief aim In life
seems to be to help humanity and TO lift
men and women to a higher plane Such
a man always has our profound respect
and what he says always attracts cur
notice.
The central thought In his address vas
contained in the following: .Jncen." said
he, was known for religion: Greece for
art: Rome for her law: England as a
naval power: Germany as q military
power; America is tho first great ma
ton in the world whose distinctive claim
is that of an Industrial power The
American invasion of Europe. of which
we hear so much In these days. Is not
an avasion of arms, nor of ideas. but OF
industries
Somebody has recently said that there
are two classes of rich men in this coun-
try. The one class cares nothing for
an idea unless it can be turned into
dollar: the other class cares nothing for
a dollar unless 1t can be turned, into an
idea.
By means of education, we have been
turning our dollars into ideas and we
have been turning our ideas into indus
tries. The American people are to-day
the most intelligent workers on the face
of the earth. They work to the very
best advantage, because they work with
their heads as we'll as with their hands.
In this day education is a very broad term
and no longer applies to the professions.
1t applies to the workshop as well. and
it is to our credit and to our benefit that
our mechanics are educated men, using
the brain power that the good Lord has
given them to direct their energies.
Hence it is that we have learned to use
machinery to the best advantage, and
hence we have learned how to make
machinery of the very best description
which can be used in simplifying the
work of man and in enlargings his ca
pacity.
And so it comes to pass that we have
in turning our dollars into ideas, turned
our ideas back into dollars. and always
with a splendid profit on the original
investment.
Some misguided people seem to think
that commercialism is debasng. They
argue that there can be no community
between trade and refinement They
think that trade is vulger and that no
gentleman can be trader and no trad
er gentleman. In point of fact, COM
mercialism is a great civilfzer. The more
prosperous we become in a commercial
way and in an industrial way the more
refined and enlightened will we become.
The higher the wages we can pay to
our workmen. the better will be our
citizenry. A good home and comfor-
table surroundings and decent clothes
help a mans self-respect, and the more
self-respect there is among the people the
better the people will be.
Again, some people think that this
nation is to be undone by its prosperity.
They point to Rome, and they say that
as Rome grew more and more rich she
grew moro and more arrogant and self
indulgent, and that her riches were final
ly her ruin. Quite SO. But Rome was
Rome and America is American We
are not Romans. but Americans Ameri-
cans have learned the great lesson of
self-control. Therefore we known how.
to stand prosperity. and as our prosperity
has Increased. our civilization has ad-
yanced No nation on the face OF the
earth has known so well how to use
money as the United States. and it is
all due to the fact that we are a nation
of individuals, nation in which each
citizen is sovereign, and taught from
his childhood the lesson of independence
and responsibility.
We are, indeed, making and Industrial
conquest, and wherever our trade goes
our influence goes. Inc American prin-
ciple is going hand in hand with Chris
tianity the world over, and it is sure
to have dominion over all the earth,