Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-06-26
man. and there was many dry eye at

man. and there was many a dry eye at
his funeral.
Which of these two men would you
say was suecessfuls The one was con
tented, respected, beloved and sur
rounded by friends; the other embit-
tered, distrustful. distrusted, and
without a real friend in the world. II
death be humiliation, as some claim
to believe, can there be any doubt
which obtained most out of life, and
was the happier, while he lived 7 But,
if we live after death. as most of us be
lieve, then, OF those two men-of whom
one had accumulated virtues, and the
other riches-which. when he died. took
with him most of the fruits Of his
labors?
My friends, character building is
the main purpose of our being-it Is
our ralsOn d 'ttre-and he only can be
called successful who builds for him
self, g. noble oharaoter-that alone
him in his lonely journey to the undis-
covered country.
Do not mistake me. The acquisition
of wealth, is, in itself. neither discred-
liable nor unworthy; on the contrary.
, if not done at the sacrifice of better
things, it is most desirable and COM
Mendahle, because 1t enlarges ones ca
pacity of doing good Many of the
! best men and nOblest benefactOrs of
our race have been men of great
wealth, and besides. a certain amount
of money Is most necessary, for the
: good Book tells us that man who
does not provide for his family, il
worse than heather.
| But never value wealth. save for the
good you can do with it; never sacri
fee your integrity in the smallest iota
for the acquisition of money; never
let the desire of gain, make you hard
or mean, or grasping or covetous. Iu
short, never let it pervert your better
nature, no dwarf the development OF
your character; else, after you shall
have accumulated riches to your
hearts content. you may yet cry out
in the anguish and bitterness of an
empty and disappointed life; "What
shall it profit q man if he gain the
whole world. and lose his own sOul.''
Remember then to keep bright the
the mirror of your integrity "Be a
palace for the crowned truth to dwell
in," and lat no temptation swerve you
a hairs breadth from the straight line
of uprightness and honesty, or betray
you into any act of which you would
| be ashamed for the whole world tC
know.
DO not lose sight of the responsible
ties of your birth, AS Caucasians, God
has created you the superior, in every
respect of all other races of man-nevel
forget this. He has endowed you with
qualities OF mind and body. suited to
ysur exalted station-not for the pur
pose of gratifying your vanity, but fol
the advancement of civilization and
true religion: and for the uplifting OF
mankind throughout the world.
Beware lest these great gifts be neg
lected or perverted; and 80 order your
lives that, to members of an inferior
race you may set such examples of jus
tice and mercy, of kindness and mode
ration, of patience aud all other good
qualities, that they will be compelled
to acknowledge, in their own hearts,
your superiority, and induced to imi-
tate your virtues.
| Into your hands. as members of the
coming generation of free country.
will soon be delivered the torch of hil-
| Lh"u AooAoJs whiCu uos uccA RudFueu
by your ancestors for thousand years.
See that you transmit it undimmed to
| your own pOsterity,
Remember that men cannot govern
themselves; and that no free govern
ment can ever endure, whose ind ivid-
ual citizens have not learned self con.
troll, self denial and self-reliance.
Practice these three virtues and all
will be we'll. Go forth then. my gal
liant young soldiers, to take men q
places in the grim battle of life.
Like bold champions, assume the lists,
Nor ask advice OF any other thought,
But fa1thrulness and courage