Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-07-02

and in ways that their conscience can
approve. Let them see that wealth is
not the only thing to try to get; that
| there is in life something higher and
better than pecuniary gain. To inculcate
this, it is not necessary 10 teach socialism
or class hatred, / fear sometimes the
modern professor forgets this fact. Some
are teaching that the rich are getting
richer and the poor poorer. and that the
race in life is not even. 1t is not true.
The poorest man in this republic is bet
ter off today than a man similarly situa-
ted in any other country on earth.
What is needed is to teach men to try to
get all they can honestly and, at the same
time, to remember while getting it that
the things of this world are not the vital
things of life. That these are only for
time, while right principles and right
living abide forever. l am one of those
who believe that our day is the best the
world has ever known; that public and
private morality and right living are
nearer to the heart and purpose of the
race than at any time in the worlds his
tory If this is not believed, then it is
the fault of the teacher and not OF the
conditions surrounding u.s.
What we want, in the chairs of our
institutions of learning, is men who are
far seeing, quite human and very practi-
cal. The college or university professor
can send a boy out with his eyes on the
stars or upon the earth, just as he shall
guide him. The student must not be
taught that there are classes in this
country to which he cannot by honest
effort hope to attain. 1t is far from the
truth.
| TEACH GOVERNMENT IDEALS.
Another thing boys must be taught
the highest governmental ideals. In this,
l think, the teaching of to-day is free
from criticism; only | would impress it
still more. Get into the mind of every
young man the fact that he is and is
always to be, if he takes his right place
in society, an important factor in gov
eminent. This is a government where
the mass should not count for anything,
but the individuals for everything. The
future of this republic rests there. The
trouble with our people to-day is the lack
of feeling of individual responsibility in
public affairs. We each think that there
are eighty millions of us and that there
are enough without us to look after civic
affairs. There is the danger, and, the
regret of it is, that, as the population in
creases, the danger does also. Teach the
boy that each citizen is not only one OF
many, but that in a republic he is the
government. Cause him to realize that
he is a sovereign in his own right.
That suffrage is kingship. That he can
not leave his duties to others. He must
perform his own. If conditions are
wrong, get in and right them. If men
are getting by dishonest or illegal means,
more than their due, aid in efforts for
checking them; not stand by and COM
plain and do nothing. Every man is an
equal and each owes his best to the other.
There are no classes here in the soverein-
ty of the republic; as Kipling puts it.
1.-THE colonel's lady and j Ldy O'Grady
Are sisters under their skim
We are all brothers in the plan and
scope of the greatest government on
earth and no one of us, at the ballot box
is any better than another.
Our young men must be made to APP
preciate their position in matters of gov
. eminent. To understand that inditfer
ence to public duty is as dangerous on
their part as wrong action. If this ne
public is To fall, it's failure is il come:
: from the neglect of good citizens to dc
their part.
EDUCATED MEN NEEDED.
Responsibility rests upon the college
, man. He must IT alze that his educa
ton is not acquired for his own selfish
purposes but that lie may use it t.
promote the public veal Educated men
in public life are the demand of the
hour. The responsibility upon this class
of citizens is greater than they realize
! and those who have had am opportunity
, to obtain college education should de.
vote themselves disinterestedly to public
. affairs.
J We are having too much talk in our