Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-06-26
ADDRESS OF HON. A. C. BRAxToN
Before the Graduating Class of the vir-
g'nia Polytechnic Institute, at Black
burg, June 18th

JUNG
Young Gentlemen of the Graduating
Glass, Ladies and Gentleman:
Human nature is prone to measure
Q yerything by itself; consequently as
we grow old, as our powers diminish
aud our infirmities increase, we are
apt to imagine that the whole race is
degenerating, and the country going
to the dogs. To any such War-wOrn
veterans, fearful for the future welfare
of our country, would recommend an
occasional review of the new troops
that are about 10 take the field; for. |
am sure that. with the sight of such
vigorous, Intelligent and splendid young
manhood as l now see before me i'll
this assembly, no one could ever de
spair of the Commonwealth.
In such a presence be could but see
for himself that, in spite of what all
the old fogies and croakers may say to
the contrary, and Notwithstanding the
great virtues and achievements of our
illustrious ancestors. who died in
honor's lofty bed," the aspiring and
persistent American nation in still ad-
vancing its high standards of individ-
ual efficiency.
But it is well, my friends, that ma
ture has thus equipped you; BECAUSE
the responsibilities of American citi-
zenship are not lightly to be borne. The
appointed place OF our great country
is in the vanguard of nations, aud up
on your generation will it soon depend
for the maintenance of Its exalted pO-
sition.
All nature is evolution and endless
change; hence, with nations, as with
individuals, there IS no such thing as
stagnation-theym must ever advance or
retrOgrade. Do not deceive yourselves
therefore by thinking that you can
merely hold the ground which your
fathers have gained; for, in order to do
this, it will be necessary that you also
gain more for yourselves, else yours
will be the shame of transmitting to
your own posterity an impaired and
diminished Inheritance.
Never forget your responsibilities as
members of the immortal Caucasian
race and as sovereign American Citl-
zens, and see to it that neither race
nor country suffers discredit through
you.
Both God and posterity will hold all
men accountable according to their
opportunities, therefore, sit is solemn
thing to belong to nation specially
favored of God"
When. then, you go forward, In
Iife's great battle, to fill the places
where your fathers fought and fell. let
there be written upon the breastplate
of each valient young soldier ''Nulla
vestigia retrorsum."
| The diplomas which you have OBJ
tanned here are not laurels upon which
you may rest, but rather certificates OF
your fitness for service yet to come, in
the front ranks of that great str uggle,
which, for countless ages, has been
beq ueathed by each generation to Its
successors. See to it then, that your
conduct in 1.-THE worlds broad field OF
BATTLE" does not belle your certificates
nor disappoint the just expectati ons
of your friends.
Hitherto your work has been but
training and preparation for the real
and serious battle of life, and, in this,
you have had an unreasonable advan-
tage over those less fortunate ones.
whose development has been Obstruct-
ed and retarded by the combining grasp
of poverty. while you have freely ex-
banded your powers in this noble in
stitution, where you could ''let grow
your sinews till their knots be str0ng.'
The ability you have displayed in Oh
tanning your degrees, has shown that
nature has not stinted you in her en-
dowments. Bear in mind, therefore,
| fhat oollono hnp0ro nroVn aan IF
future achievements, rather than tro.
phies of past victories; and be sure that
| you live up to those promises, else
these very diplomas. which you now
so proudly exhibit, will hereafter rise
up to reprOaGh you.
The contests which await you differ
somewhat in character but not in sew
Gritty, from those that engaged your
fOrefathers. The same wonderful agen
cies which have subdued SO many rude
forces of nature and made them the
servants, rather than the enemies, of
man, have also brought the whole
world into such close touch with itself,
that each man now has, for his imme-
diate competitors, the rest of the hui
man race. Success, therefore, is pro-
pOrtionately more difficult than when
he had to compete only with bis neigh
bors.
But the severity of modern COMPETE
ton is the spur to modern progress;
and the increased struggle for exist
ence has caused this to be the most
practical of all the ages.
What the world now demands is
ideas instead of dreams, deeds instead
of words. What it needs most re men
who do things rather than men WHO
pose-men who help, rather than men
who entertain, constructors rather
than critics-artisans rather than ar
fists. How much more important
then is it, to know what Is going on in
the world to day than what went on
two thousand years ago; and to under
stand how things are done now, rather
than how the Greeks and Romans did
them-to be able to do them ourselves.
rather than to learn how others do
them.
1t is the problems of your own. and
not of former ages, for whose solution
you, and you alone, are irresponsible; it
therefore, behoOves every man to ad-
dress himself more to performing his
own duty, rather than to observing
how other men have performed theirs.
Learn all you can from the experience
of your fOrefathers. and adopt their
ideas so far as they may be profitably
applied to the conditions with which
you have to deal; but do not, in puerile
simplicity blindly initiate their acts,
nor superstitiously tell over their
maxims like fetish worshipers reciting
their charms. Above all, do not, by
idly meditatlng upon the glory of your
ancestors, neglect your opportunities
for doing things yourselves, worthy of
other mems admiration; for, after all,
it Is better to be the subjects. than the
authors, of biographies.
1t is well to know everything, but
much more important to know some
things than others; thus knowledge OF
practical things is vastly more essential
than mere ornamental accomplish
ments. One skillful mechanic in worth
a dozen trained acrObats; and, for the |
good OF mankind, one prac-
tical scientist, is worth many poets