The Washington herald., 1908-02-27

of aristocrscy and Of the American college man
both an exsmplaF and preacher Il common
sense idcalism. College men ought 10 be the true
aristoTats of = Tepuhlic. ard the wearers. though
not necessarily the only weaIers. Of the truest
republican patents Of nobility
Praise for Democracy.
Our public men, from Washington 70 Roosevelt,
have been confirmed idealsts The assumption by
this rrpgbic Of the responsibility for the education
Of every child within It's borders. from the kinder
earten TO the un.rersity al the cost Of uncounted
milicns Of dollars. Is the most daring example OF
ideaiism the World has ever seen.
am not railing against great constructive forces
or uttering cheap rroIbesies q dsmnaton or doCht
ing that the future win he a republican world. I
simply claiming that democracy like e nan 5
character. is neger out OF danger IL is not selfish
ness corruption alone which have 20 fear for
We have VanquiShed these before bat as much the
temper Of despair and fai.hessneSs which blinds ths
eyes Of youth 70 tie heroic simplicity and love of
freedom AZ the heart OF the American people.
b. the measure 10 which United States steel
sftrpasses the blacksmiths shop IN efficiency. By
the measure IN which municipal government SiT-
passes the rural township IN compleKity o politics
IN that measure must the national conscience be
come able 90 see the essentially moral and T1blic
nature Of both business and politics not n a 50
calistic. but a democratic sense.
Patriotism. which Is. hard % define and new with
hood rights when Washington took II to his heart
as It means 20 the Russian 70 day.
10 meant culture and re11ement and mental dis
uncticn when Emerson. in bSs Phi Beta Kappa aG
dress. ocsought the sluggish intellect OF his country
20 look up from under is iron lids
Il signited ideals and theories Of government 70
the soldiers Of Grant ard Lee. Il meant industrial
greatness and splendid desire 20 annex nature 10
mans uses when the great leaders OF this genera
ton bnilt MP their great businesses and tied the
Union together IN a unity Of steel and steam
To-day Il means vast reaction from unSocial
inGiyiduahsm 70 self restraint and consideration for
the general welfare expressing itself IN a cTy for
moderation and fairness, and honor and sympathy
and mind hat aoIe can safeguard republican ideals
Our Duty Defined.
II, IN our youth and frTr1ish strength there has
grown up Spreading insanity Of desire for quick
wealth and q theory Of life. in lesser minds that
esteems money as everything and willing to do every
thing Tor money that fact has served to define the
patriotic duty and mood Of the national minds
And Is not the theory Of our overlooking special
Providence borne cut m the fact that as In the
period seeking 20 establish manhood rights there
stood forth az the head of the government the figure
of Washington, now. in a period patIsing TO
search its heart after certain madness Of spirit
there stands forth the figure Of a bold prophet Of
common Righteousness and common service and con-
mon deceney, strong enough TO be everywhere ard
sincere and unconscious enough 20 preach his doc
trine in thousand voices!
Sound public conscience and valid rlblic ouinion
are the last unbreached Strongholds Of our old de-
m0c1acy. In proof Of their soundneSs and suthor-
ity. ! claim that II there be a man IN America to
day Who has an unjust fortune and pagan ideal
oi It's rse. he viii not bask cOziy in the self
respect Of his fellows nor have as much fun "a
Croesus OF Louis XIV.
The Gift Of slO7 10000 in one year by private in
diViduals 10 the general welfare. colossal derpl-
II
dreamed Of b Washington. is he substantial test
mouy on the Affirmative side Of this opinion
Plain people are not as awestruck at the names
Of the powerful they once were but one NAV
note growing ability 70 render awe where awe
Is cue, which IS beautiful growth in discernment
Away with the thought that our country is sunk
IN any mire Of moral degadationi II has simply
met and Outfaced one Ct the million moral crises
that are likely 20 ssssil free governments, and IS
cleaner to-day in ruling passion in motive and In
practice than II has been IN fifty years.
Praise for Schools,
claim this much for the schools; they are to
day more helpfnlly related 70 the pnbiic life Of
States and cities than ever before They are closer
TO the reach and needs Of that body. VIII, ara
solution Of our problems. They are producing
more abundantly and scattering more widely the
results Of their production.
The ideal Of what ought to he has DIFF
o. what each age fancied il most needed and vet
all ages have endowed true manhood with at least
four qualities-tTuthfuness, courage sympathy. and
purpose. Though a man have all the learning Of
the schools and all the social races If he have not
these qualities. he is something less than a man
And, II he have the qualities, though he walk IN
lettered IN the valleys Of life he bears upon him
the stamp Of and gentleman.
/ reckon as Mr.. Bryce did that the most hone
iu aspect Of the republic Is the spectacle Of its
schools and colleges struggling to fashion the night
sort OF an American. inviting the rich to service
conveying 10 states the idea Of civic duty ucrSerY
ing the great popular heart from envy and hatred
substituting knowledge Ia place Of emotion as a
guide 10 action. and establishing standard where
men may repair and stand FOR the external values
Greetings from South.
bring 20 you the fratornai greetings Of The
University Of Virginia II that university and is
sisters in ny part Of republic. however true
to scholarship and national in spirit be not cel-
erOusly amply CT even sufficiently esuipp.vi.
they cOmfert themselves with the thought that the
nation has precious asset IN the quality rf their
youth, disciplined in simple living and IN self
sacrifice and in poverty. seeing life as duty ana
Opportunity. not as pleasure selfindnIgence ana
with the faith that the power necessary 10 trans
form hess. uniEersities e1iSt2 and Is uuderroinr