The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-07-06

things? Shall these two factions, the
rich and the poor, continue to repel
each other till it shall become impossi-
BILE for them to remain together longer?
This question must be answered. 1t
must be answered by the educated man
of the twentieth century. Education
must tear down the barrier which
exists between labor and capital.
We have reached another crisis.
Whether tie Spanish war shall be
known in history as war for the lib
erty of the Cuban people or as war OF
conquest, whether the principles of self
government shall be strengthened or
abandoned, whether this nation shall
remain a free governments or become an
empire-these questions must be an
swered by the American people-when
they speak and not until then will our
destiny be revealed. Avarice paints
destiny with a dollar mark before it.
Militarism equips it with sword.
Destiny is not matter of chance; it is
a matter of choice; it is not thing to
be waited for; it is thing to be achiev-
ed. We have been commanded to scat
ter the seeds of civilization in the
world-to preach the gospel to all the
people. But in that Book of Books is
there any mention of the necessity OF
gatling guns to enforce our Christian
precepts? Let not the spirit of the
founders of the republic be forgotten.
Let us not forget that the sovereign
power of our government is with Its
people, The ballot is the citizens
weapon-the most powerful weapon
ever devised. Let this implement Of
warfare be welded intelligently; let it
be put into the hands of educated men
and good sound government will be the
result.
The seeds of evil have been sown in
our soil. Shall these seeds grow? This
is the question. They have been plant
ed in the soil of country in which the
social, political and religious institu-
tions are corrupt. The greatest social
factor in American civilization is the
home. Without the fireside there is no
human advancement; without the
family relation there is no life worth
living. A good government is made up
of good families. And whenever there
is anything that tends to break up the
family it is wrong-it is Infamous. Is
it not then with feeling of shame that
we regard our marriage and divorce
laws? The diversity of the laws in re-
lation to the one the most holy and the
laxity in relation to the other the most
unholy institution is breaking down
the main stay of America-the home.
Besides social institutions our politics
are infested. 1t it no longer the most
worthy men who occupy the positions
of trust in our government, but men of
wealth. Never before in the history of
our country has seat in Congress been
determined so much by the wealth OF
the aspirant as today. Legislatures no
longer legislate for the poor man, but
for corporations. Is this state OF
affairs to continue? Along with these
evils comes another and perhaps the
greatest of all. The corner stone OF
the American government was found
ed Oh Christian principles. When these
must suffer Whenever the upholders
of Christianity seeking for ideality for
get their relation to the world there is
danger. | believe there has never been
a time in our history when the
principle of self advancement unmind-
ful of others was so strong as it is to-
day, and | believe it is applicable to the
religious world But do all these evils
foretell our future? No, this is an hour
of temptation. Temptations do not
destroy; they test the strength of in
dividuals and nations; they may lead to
intamy or fame according to the use
made of them. There is call for
volunteers. 1t is a call for the support
of no less a cause than the preservation
of our country. She called for help in
81 and in '9S; again in her hour of dis
tress she calls. Men are wanted in
social reform, in politics and in re-
ligious work, men with back bone
enough to think and act accordingly.
1t matters not what profession they
may have they must be characterized
by individual thought and action. The
mind that dimly notes a new ideal
must not be satisfied; it must clear
away the intervening haze before the
world may be benefited by the dis
covery. The college doors swing back;
and out into this busy world step the
college men and women, presumably
prepared to meet and decide these great
problems. Let us, then, make this
special privilege which we shall have
enjoyed count in the world. 1t is a
privilege for which we are indebted to
parents, friends and the college. Let
us hope that we shall have learned what
this training should teach-a more APP
preciative sense of this world, and in
spiration to nobler deeds, an incitation
to independent thought and action, and,
more than all else, a stronger concep-
ton of brotherly love.
Today, as a manifestation of our love
and loyalty for this old institution
whose halls we are so soon to leave, we
plant the ivy. AS it becomes firmly
rooted in the soil, may our lives be-
come firmly grounded in the principles
of good living and good government, and
as it climbs on its support toward
heaven so may we direct our aspirations
and energies that America shall ever
be the source of inspiration to the
world.
BENT HER DOUBLE.
81 knew no one, for four weeks, when l
was sick with typhoid and kidney trouble"
writes Mrs. Annie Hunter Of Pittsburg,
Pa, land when got better, although had
one OF the best doctors l could get, was
bent double, and had to rest my hands on
INV lynaoc x1han 7 Wa1lod From this