Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-30


for the splendor it gave to the purple
hills, the moon for it's shadowy CLAM
our.
While at college Wordsworth re-
solved to be poet, and he began to
take an interest in men-from the
standpoint of dreamer.
The beginning of the French Revolu-
ton kindled in him youths bright
hope of an ideal republic. When sub
segment events showed him that the
leaders of the republic were seeking
not liberty, but power. the poets dream
was dispelled. He woke so suddenly
that he doubted the motives of all men.
Back among his own hills he sought
the truth and found it in the hearts of
the simple peasant folk. In his pastor
al poems we find his appreciation Of
humanity.
The poets early passion for nature
deepened into a real love as the years
went by. beauty which would have
charmed his bOyish fancy for an hour,
now gave to his heart memory which
sang on and on forever. Nature be-
came to him an expression of an uni
versal personality.
WOrdsworths deity was truly inf
mite, the living potency that gave being
to each particle of the universe.
If we have learned to love the fields,
the woods, the sky, man that dwells
hereunder and the power in them all,
if that love is of the kind that finds eN-
preston in alteration and service, upon
us has fallen the mantle of a poet
master of appreciation.
The last speaker of the graduating ex-
ercises was Frank III. Leighton of Column
bia Fails. His theme was: THE Crown
ing Glory of Modern Civilization
MI Leighton said in part:
On the 18th of August of the year 1898
circular note was issued by the Gar OF
Russia Nicholas H., to the several pow
ers of the world asking for an assembly
of their representa- ives at some central
point in Europe, that the general ques-
ton of disarmament and peace might be
considered. The note startled the world
What could Its secret meaning be? Did it
really mean that for the first time in her
history Russia had ruler who was able
to contribute something to civilization,
IL hplHilS ii'oiC tliil Il Su6SSsiiOI AOi NiS0
armament? Or, did it mean that Russia
saw, far in the future. the crumbling
walls of her ancient Monarchy? Saw
there the terrible results of her Siberian
Methods. of her one-man power. of her
wasted greatness: Did she see, forsooth,
written on the walls of her domains the
successes of Japanese arms? Each nation
in turn chose from it's diplomats and their
scholars the best representatives and sent
them to The Hague to discuss the sub
jects already suggested.
Baron de Stael, the Russian delegate
and presiding officer opened the confer
ence. His speech paved the way to a
frank consideration Of the questions to be
discussed.
Fer a moment now let us see what this
conference of famous representatives
brought about:
One thing decided upon was the privi-
lege and duty of nations to tender their
good offices in a time of dispute.
A second thing was the establishment
of permanent court of arbitration.
Persons of acknowledged ability and
craftsmanship should be chosen by each
of the disnitary to serve on a board OF
arbitra ton, which could be assembled, as
often as there were powers in dispute and
as often as they were called upon by
these powers.
The third thing they accomplished can
not be stated with such eXactness. 1t
was more wide-sweeping in its effects. 1t
dipped down into the philosophy of hu-
man affairs. 1t had to do with moral
principles applied to International law on
ba lnil do t,x,6 -bo b.j
language of future generations when he
said Peace on earth, good will toward
men,"
1t is true that nations move slowly from
their accustomed paths and hesitate to
strike out into a wilderness of uncertain
ties; but however slowly they move, they
move. and they move, thank God, toward
the Parliament of Man and the Fedora
ton of the World Sooner or later" as
one writer has put it, arbitration will
be followed by disarmament which is the
logical sequence of no other premise, and
that will be the turning point of the con
tinents toward true democracy and pow
en-"
For the first time in the history of the
world nation can call upon an inter
national court and ask it to determine Its
claims against 4 sister nation. On the
altar of the Hague Tribunal can be laid
the dispute of nations, and that altar
stands between peace and war. between
the glories OF the western and the miser-
les Of the eastern civilizatio between
the hopes of generations and the facts o;
past centuries.
The meeting Of representatives of the
nations in the "House-in- the Woods" in
the land of William of Orange. proclaimed
to the world the faith in the ideal of the
Christian Nation, and. while the results
of that conference may seem disappoint-
ing to some. to others it may be looked
upon as little else than what Richard
Bartholdt has recently called The
Growing Glory of Modern Civilization"
for it marks the greatest and most de-
Cisve step toward the attainment of uni
versal peace and toward the progress OF
the world.
After Mr.. Leighton's speech the presi-
dent arose and addressed the class in
Latin. After this the class marched over
the platform and were given their diplo-
mas by the president.
On the Senior exhibition the first prize
for excellence in composition was award
cd to Carroll Norman Perkins of Water
vi Tho in