Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-15
sOD-in-LBw of Founder H Drake
IniNersitN Snenka Rt Jubilee.

CHAIRMAN sHONTs AT DIES MONIES
son-in-LRw of Founder of Drake
University speaks at Jubilee.
DES MONIES, June l4.-Hon. Theodore
p. Shonts. chairman Of the lsthmisn Canal
commission, arrived today from Washing
ton for the Drake university silver anni-
versary services He is the guest OF PreSi-
dent Hill NJ. Rel of Drake.
Mr.. Shonts is son-in-law OF the late
Governor F. NJ Drake the principal bcnc.
factor of Drake university. and for whom
the college was named. Although not an
alumni Of Drake, Mr. Shonts has always
been closely Identified with its progress
since he married Governor brakes duugh-
ter at Centerville some years ago.
After breakfast at the Savery. Mr.
Shonts was escorted to Drake university.
where he made the address before an au-
dience Of 1000 at 10 O'Clock. saying:
There has never been time I'm the his
tory OF this country when the need of the
higher education which our universities
as 1t Is today. The highest function of "A
university Is to supply well disciplined and
well informed minds, which are capable Of
accurate thinking. There has never been
any lack Of the opposite kind of mind
which Is the very fountain-head OF misin-
formation and error This crop like those
self.
In time like the present, when spirit
or dlSContent and of revolt against exist
ing conditions is abroad in the land, the
harm which an ignorant mind no matter
now sincere and well meaning, may do, Is
incalculable. Its bad influence can only DE
offset by calm reasoning and solid know-
edge The present upheaval of unrest, call
1t what you will-sociallsm collectivism,
communism, or incipient anarchy-is like
countless others that have proceeded It..
II has the same time-worn nostrums for
the abrogation OF natural laws. There is
scarcely a panecea proposed today for tho
cure OF social Ills and political distempers
that has not been put forward many times
during the past four centuries and that has
not been tried and found useless. Those that
are now in name or form are based upon
| the same old principles, and have as a cen
tral idea the assumption that demagoRues
aud charlatsns In places Of power would
administer governmental affairs OF all
completely In the interest of the people,
| that the millennium would come at a bound
| There are not wanting throughout the land
| persons who are ignorant of both the anti
| guilty and the futility Of these remedies
| from the back shelves OF the storehouses
munity with a thoroughly informed mind
! is competent force against hundred
ignorant, unsound, or mushy minded per-
sons who advocate these remedies.
Calm reasoning Is necessary TO meet and
direct into safe channels this spirit OF dis
| content and revolt. That there are grave
causes for It cannot be denied The de-
mands for reform, hysterical and unreason-
ing as many Of them are. are we'll grounded
| of have come about because, as q people,
/ we have drifted from the old standard OF
! mad rush for wealth. for the piIing IN OF
| enormous fortunes in the shortest possible
period Of time. We must be brought back
| to the old moorings, not by violence and
| unlawful methods, but by calm and in
| flexible application OF law. That the coun-
try will right itself, that it will pass safely
through this crisis IL has naRspd thFOuRb IN
all those that have preceded il, one
familiar with its history can doubt. At
heart the people are sound and at heart
they are just and rational. They have al
ways been more wise, more patient and
more fair-minded than many OF their would;
he leaders, for they haye always insisted
upon becoming possessed OF the truth be-
fore taking action. They will show the
They know a demagogue or a charlatan
when they see him-if not at the first
sight invariably at the second. -
burn down their house to roast &. pig, and
they are not likely to do so In this in
| stance. The educated man who does not
pin his faith to the people in times like
the present makes fatal blunder. His
place is with them, devoting his mind and
| his energy to the accomplishment of the
purpose which they always seek-that is,
a just and righteous solution of the prob
lem. He should go among them as a
missionary OF Intelligence and accurate in
| formation and also as the apostle of law
and order teaching everywhere respect for
foundation stone OF the social fabric. When
law IL set aside for any purpose whatever,
the act is an invitation to anarchy. The
turbulent elements in every communiSS
which are only kept down by the restraints
OF the law are quick to hail IL as sign
of weakness, both moral and physical and
to claim II as recognition Of the strength
OF their position. They come to the front
instantly. eager and ready to begin an
assault upon all law. and upon the whole
system OF social order. Nothing breeds
a spirit OF anarchy so quickly as disregar nd
of law, successful violation of law by
those who should be It's staunchest sup
porters. Nothing so stimulate tes the growth
Of socislistlc ideas as the belief that the
rich and powerful men have been violating
the law and escaping the consequence
OF their OiIenses. BY far the larger par
OF the sociaiistic feeling that exists in thi,
/ country today is due to a conviction OF
this kind in the minds OF thousands ot
people. The evil consequences OF this state
, OF mind can only be avoided by a con.
vincing demonstration that there is tn,
same law for the rich for the poor, Ia.
same Justice for the trust magnate rs fnl
the penniless man. That is what the pla q
people want-impartial justice. They ar,
not vindictive, and they have unshaka bl,
: faith i'm the suDrRmaCV Of he NV