Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-01

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did not restrain the fervor of his pu-
pills. When the time came to go, the
boys packed up their algebras and
Caesars and lost interest for the time
being in mathematical problems; and
were not caring into how many parts
Gaul was divided, but was determined
that their country should not be divld-
ed at all.
Met shock of War.
so when the shock of war came,
we met it like men. When calamitieS
threw the nation into the greatest
grief, there resulted no panic. Lincoln,
Garfield, Mckinley are stricken down
but the nation still lives. Men rise and
fall. but the government that is supported
| by educated patriots will ever stand as
firm as a mountain on its base. More
and more we need to join together the
cultivated mind and the loyal heart
Young ladies' and gentlemen, you
are about to graduate. You will this
| day receive the coveted diploma, for
which you have labored so long ana
faithfully. You may think your edu-
cat on is now completed, but you are
mistaken. 1t has only commenced.
Life is school and you must always
remain scholars, if you would secure
the greatest success. Life is a battle.
and you must engage in a conflict ev-
cry day. Here, you have taken only
preparatory course. You are merely
equipped for a long journey. 1t will
depend upon you and your own efforts
whether you reach the goal or not.
Heretofore you have had efficient and
faithful teachers to point the way, now
you must pilot your own craft. To
start with, you have this to encourage
you. In America, if man has energy
and character he can and will sue
coed. Here we have not only equality
before the law, but equality of oppor
tunity. Every man has an equal
chance with every other man. Not so
in all lands. Some are born rulers,
others inherit titles and receive high
positions on account of ancestors Here,
thank God, no royal blood coursing
through ones veins, gives one man ad-
vantage over another. No family crest
exempts a man from work if he would
win. Years ago l pitied the poor boy.
did not know any better then. | pity
him no longer. | pity rather the rich
young man who does not have to work.
He knows nothing of the blessings that
come from honest toll, nor of the boys
of those, who by labor climb to the
Hottest heights. Instance upon in
stance might be given, of poor boys
who have been the worlds greatest
benefactors. | will mention only one.
There is not in this college nor in
this city, a boy as poor as he, or with
so few early educational advantages.
1t was said of him in youth that he
walked 40 miles to borrow book. He
so hungered for knowledge that he
committed to memory one hundred
pages on his way home. He was born
in a log hut. surrounded with the most
abject poverty. No school to attend,
but the school of adversely. He grad
uated from that school with the high
est honors. He worked and worked
hard. worked all his life, and if you
consider the lasting benefits, he gave
TO his countrymen and mankind in
general, he was one of the greatest. If
not the greatest man the world has
ever knOwn-Abraham Lincoln.
Case of Rock Island Boy.
To come nearer home knew a Rock
Island boy who went to work not at
the top but at the bottom. As tele-
graph operator, first at a small station
and small salary, now the president of
one of the greatest railway systems on
earth. with a salary equal to that of
the president of the United States.
Just remember that nothing comes
to the man who does not work, nor
should it, If yon have push. pluck and
perseverance, nothing can stop you. ,
have no patience with the individual,
who says that times are not like they
used to be and that all opportunities
are gone 1t is not so. Do not wait
TO be Lincoln nor a great railway
president, before commencing but com
mence at once. If there is not a way
make it.
LET us look to the future with hope.
not fear, and meet the dangers that
threaten us as the fathers met them.
If we do this our future will be as
bright as the past has been glorious.
We are so rich and powerful, united
and prosperous. that We can success
fully resist invasion from any foreign
foe. The dangers are not from without
but from within. We cannot. is to de-
clare that constitutional government is
a failure. All that is necessary is to
give our country our love and allegi-
ance. Devotion TO the flag. loyalty TO
our institutions, and cheerful obedi-