The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04
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developed. enlarged and polished by one
institution. may be worth the lives of
an hundred men shaped by another in
stituiion. Therefore, upon the threshold
OF this discussion, l submit this PROPOSE
tlon Tor the consideration of this au-
dlence: To our universities and colleges
we must look to a very large extent for
the correction of any tendency towards
error in our national life These insti-
tutlons should be disassociated from tho
demoralizing practices of a busy world.
lhelr endowment, equipment and support
should be such that there should be no
anxiety on the part of those engaged in
mis- lofty work. To aid in the develop
ment of good. to eliminate all that is
impure should be their constant endeavor
From the highest standards of excellence
the busy world would soon depart. were
III not constantly wooed back by our in
situations of learning and of religion
throughout the land
One OF the most melancholy contempla-
lions of the new century is the liberation
by educated people of certain practices
which all men admit to be wrong. 1t is
really incredible that any evil should be
permitted to grow SO great as 10 almost
entirely intimidate protest. The time has
not yet passed when man should be
taught that in governmental affairs, as
in all other affairs in life, simple grin
ciples of right and wrong should obtain.
Let us see how far this principle is oer-
mitted TO govern in the administration
Of rational affairs.
Almost all civilized people now accept
ii as an axiom that liberty is the gift OF
God, and that every individual. no mat
ter how poor. how humble or how OBJ
scure, should be protected as to his life.
as to his liberty, as to his property
and IN the pursuit of happiness 1t is
robbery for one man to take from an
other by force that which belongs tn
the other. Why then should it not be
robbery for enc nation to take from an
ether nation by force that which belongs
10 IT. 1t is crime for a powerful man
10 restrain { weaker man of his liberty.
Why then should it not be
crime for powerful nation to re-
strain weaker nation of it's liberty :?
IL IS murder for one individual TO de-
fbsrately take che life of another with
out cause. Why should it not be MUIR
der for whole nation. strong power
fui and rich. to send forth an organized
band OF men to deliberately take the lives
OF thousands of other men without Just
cause? If il is proposed to a good man
to aid in the preparation of the crime of
robbery of murder by another who con-
templates the commission of these
crimes, the good man shrinks away with
righteous protest. Great IS his indgna-
tion that anybody should dare 20 make
such proposition. And yet, with
but feeble protest. some men permit their
governments to do these things, while
otEer men affect absolute glory in a
participation therein.
Car great wrong be obscured by the
glitter of gold? Shall we listen to the
music of the fife and refuse to hear
the hiss of the bullet? Shall we listen
TO the shouts of victory and refuse to
hear the means of the dying. Shall we
listen to the story of what we have won
and refuse to hear of what others have
lost? Shall national prestige cause us
TO forget national justice?
If one individual equips another for
the commission of a crime. either with
money or with the weapons of DEATH
under the laws of God and under the
laws or man he is at least guilty as an
accessory Yet thousands affect to think
1t both patriotic and right to equip their
government with both money and
weapons to do the very act from which
the individual would shrink l shall not
stop to illustrate this idea. The history
or the world is replete with illustrations.
If such an idea obtains in the minds of
the American people, it is hoped that
Under the Providence of God it will soon
be removed. If such an idea obtains
here, the universities and colleges, whose
mission among men is to teach only pure
morals, should, without hesitation and
with manly holiness. address themselves
to the task of it's removal BY doing
what? BY teaching men that there is
nothing in the world more changeablc
tran public sentiment, that there is
nothing in the world more unreliable
than public sentiment. This must be so,
because it is often the case that the
expression of public sentiment one year
is absolutely at variance with the ex-
preston of public sentiment the Sue
ceeding year. The University should
teach men to support public sentiment
when right, and to defy it without hesi-
tation when wrong, and that the indi-
vidual cannot lawfully shift his respon-
sibility. No way has ever yet been dis
covered by which man can lawfully do
wrong by proxy. AS we'll might he hops,
to escape the consequence of sin in the
world to come, by attempting to convey
away his responsibility by a deed of
trust TO another, as to attempt to evad.e
his responsibility in government by i'm
putting the effects of his action to some
other agency. Now let us consider
briefly how utterly fallacous this idea is.
What is the government? What con-
stitutes government? Some people seem
TO entertain an idea that government is
some sort of distinct and independent
entity. Let us take our own government
What is the government of the United
States? Is it our Constitution? Not at
all. Is it our common and statute law?
Not at ALL Is it the capitol and public
buildings at Washington? Not at ALL
Has anybody ever seen the government?
Is it our tri-colored flag beneath which
the heart of every true American throbs
with patriotism? Not at ALL The gov
eminent of the United States is the peo-
pie of the United States, and the people
of the United States are the government
of the United States The government