The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-05-28

to be able to undertake something that
is worth doing well. To make yosr
life's work an honorable one, a usetll
one. To be a factor, in society, a man
among men. To be regarded and es-
teemed among your fellows as worthy
of confidence and credit. To be a man
in whose good judgment men place
confidence. To be substantial in your
opinions and purposes and not yaeil-
lating. unreliable, and uncertain.
You have no doubt heard yourfather
say of a man, perhaps a neighbor,
well, he is alright If he will only do
as he has agreed. A man of such a
reputation is a failure.
When our fathers entered manhood,
they labored under great disadvan-
tages. The opportunities of education
were not so general, and education not
so universal. Our nation had not
passed to that commanding place
among the nations Of the earth.
Transportation had not reached its
present high state of development.
Where you and l now go in v%estibuled
trains they went in wagons with mule
or OK teams. While they attended
school in log school houses, sitting on
benches, you and l go to academies and
universities well supplied with modern
conveniences. While they studied by
the pine knot, you and l have the adj
vantages of electric lights.
In many ways that which was their
disadvantage is now our opportunity
and the disadvantages that we have,
they did not have with which to
contend.
The country was new. 1t was in its
infancy, in lines of human effort and
undertaking, and they were not re-
quired to contend with the skilled and
educated competitors with which you
and | have to deal.
Opportunities were not circumscribed
by the Capitalization of wealth, and
the social line was not drawn as it is
to-day. They had a wider field with
less competition. 1t was not as difficult
to ''stand alone" The untouched
lands, that now constitute the states
west of the Mississippi were open to
them, and awaited their coming. The
opportunities r gone to us.
The advancement of our people, so
rapid in all directions, has but height.
ened u responsibilities and made.
more difficult u successes. We must
labor with greater zeal and skill to
successfully contend with present
competition under existing conditions
Not n of you can or will succeed
by standing still. You mast either be
going ahead, or be pushed aside to
make way for others. The great bat
ties Of the human race have been won
by aggressive armies. Now and then
we read of heroic defenses, but they
are the exceptions,
1t is the current that carries things
with it. The still places in the water
never do. You must be aggressiye We. !
constructive, inventive: you must be a
builder, a thinker, if Won purpose to
be a part of the rushing current of
modern methods, and be able to stand
alone" ia the mad struggle bv which
you will be surrounded. You must be
a part of the moving, building
element, or a part of the WORTHLESS,
'biftless, no account sort.
My young friends, they, here and at
lome' expect much of YOU. Your
country expects and requires much at
your hands. You will soon be one of
is pillars. You will be one of its citi-
,ens. and upon the achievements of its
rests its perpetuity and its
You must assist in making
md enforcing its laws, correcting ex-
sting evils, building its railroads, con-
iucting its commerce, operating its
and factories, governing its cities, Gull
ivating its soil, and controlling its vast ma.
efial welfare, and also governing It's Uniyer-
titles Of higher education, as well as the lower
'rades' and in fact participating in all its
'aried affairs and interests. and to meet these
'equirements, you must labor with unfailiug
ieal. To be qualified for these diverse duties
have been here during the past few
'ears, and hope you nave not made of your
Minds mere store houses 10 which are stored