Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-19

chair Of public self-complaccncy and
sci! satisfaction flattcring ourselves
because some good old soul in Il feeble
attempt To inspire us gave uttcrance to
that truiSn that we arc the men and
women Of tomorrow. | tell you we are
the men and women of today, and it is
as far from reason to think that today
we can sleep as clay in the hands of the
potter and tomorrow wake up as the
potter in whose hands is the clay as to
think that the ivy which we shall
forthwith place in it's native bed can
today exist a lifelcss, bloodless piece of
matttr-dcad-a and tomorrow rear itself
Il luXuriant plant tinglng with ambi
ton f1r roblcr administrative.
We cannot :oday exist as parasites
upon our nation, contributing nothing
20 public opinion that moulds and exc
CutoS our laws ignorant Of ana disin-
tercsttd in our public affairs and to
plnrrow pose as the shapers of a
ndtion's destiny and the leaders of its
thought.
Democracy exists under reverse con-
ditiunS and brcathCs its last when
those conditions cease.
If then a nation is democratic in pro-
portion as public opinion is wholesome
ana strong: sane and wise, our duty
as college men and women is as clear
as our theory is true. To interest our
selves in public affairs, to be verscd
in them, 70 educate public opinion. BY
public opinion l do not mean that out
burst of surface patriotism which the
pre- scnce of some spell binder may
create or that inpulsivc, intermittent
emotional enthusiasm which party sue
ccS cnrcndCrS. But the cool. CdiCulat-
ing sober second thought of truly
patriotic thinking people. There IS Il
public opinion to which we contribute
when it interests us personally in an
Immediate way. our pubic spirit IN
that case is cirCumScribcd within the
same narrow limits as our immediate
concerns. 1t smacks of seltishness and
is akin to that type which one day
singing hosanna.;. scattered palms
before the way of the man Of Nazareth
and the next shouts give us Barrabas
away with him.
10 infusc into the incohcrcnt and in
t"rnittent man of sentiment and i'm
pulse IA little more informing and
guiding thought is the task we should
set before us
1T must ne auIlllttfu I'iPNt tlti' -
snitc of free schools Of which we
boast 50 much tho popular ignorance
unor vital questions oi political and
social morality is still vast and pro-
found oven harc in Republican America,
and the reason is this. that we have
too little of thoughtful agitation Of
public questions.
Agitation. Why that has the flavor
nj
saws the conservative.
FtIt I tell YOU thoughtful agitation
has the nayo. or democracy. It may
brine, 4 little disc omfort but why stop
~ that It cost something to establish
our liberties. it will cost something to
preserve them.
T say. college mon. that we ran as q
class if We fail in republican duty. il
We allow others to lead in the agita-
ti,n Of the great social questions which
stir and educate tlic age. Agitation
answering tho huElc call of patriotism,
is tn marshallinG of the conscience 81
\ nation to mould its laws.
c,IE..,n men 1ni women. are We t.
hc tho weakest link in that chain which
connects the birth of that greatest Of
institutions, Democracy. with what
oucht to he the rroudcst monument
~ II t,,c United States? A nations
voices question. why? Then let Us
perform the dutv-God givcn-educate
puplic opinion. the forger of the first
| rE-democracy-and the anvil where
ON the last-our country-is hammered
| into shape.
Consider the Ivv:-the earth and nc
air are given it: the Ivy does the rest
consider ourselves: the institution
and tine land are given us; let us do
the rest.