The Washington herald., 1909-02-07

years Of pubic life has completely de-
stroyed my reverence for anv position as
such and firmly established my devotion
10 the position only as II ens bIes its oc-
cupant 20 do things for the nation.
Just one other thing Li0coin-s life
teaches you, young msn. and that Is your
duty 10 the public good. I do not know
but that this Is the most important i'm
mediate lesson you can learn from Lin
coins life. I am sorry TO say that I have
observed among many young men. es-
pecially those brought up in our cities
and who attend our larger colleges. not
only a neglect OF but a contempt for the
duties Of citizenship. They hold a sneeT-
ing and sarcastic attitude toward politics.
They have no time for primaries or con-
ventions; and Yet they sit in their clubs
and rail at an occasional debagement Of
local. State. or national government
which they themselves do nothing 10 cor
rect More than this. they eriticise and
abuse those who are giving the best years
or their lives 10 keeping our public life
pure and strong or course. do not ex-
pect 10 be in the least wise influential
with this class. but ] am hoping that
these words will reach a good many
thousands OF young men in the country
and in the country towns who stETl be-
iieve in the vitality OF public virtue. and
who think. as Lincoln thought. that each
OF Us owes the best that IS in Us 10 the
nations welfare
obsessed by NatfOubOod.
AE great souls have sentiment and
some master sentiment in them becomes
the passion OF their lives The bigger the
10 l.
he becomes Obsessed. In the case OF
Lincoln Il was natiORhOod. He felt that
the hope Of mankind Is in this consoIi-
dated nation OF free people. working
out IN common a better. Durer. and higher
method Of living than the world has ever
seen. To me this is the most fascinat-
Ing phase OF Lircoln's life and character.
Our nation pure. free. righteous. strong.
ever increasing In sheer weight Of power.
ever ascending 10 a broader and truer
sense CT justice think that to be even
one little unit OF the millions that go 20
make mp such a nation is the dearest and
finest privilege that ever fen to the lot
OF any young man. And It is yours and
mine. How unfOrgivsble in the eyes OF
God and in our own cOnsciences If We
fail TO be worthy OF il.
So this is the sum Of the message which
Lincoln's life pours into the soul of young
men-be honorable Industrious. and
brave as an individual and - devoted
10 the nation that you viii give your life
for IT. and therefore each dav q portion
OF your time TO It. Simple ideas. these;
ancient. too, and trite. YOU viii say. Yes.
that IS true. But so IS the sunlight
ancient and trite; so are the teachings OF
the inefable one more than 2C00 years
old by now; so is everything that is fun
damentslly true entirely out OF date If
you regard il as you do new play or
new novel But no matter After all.
only the eternal verities cOunt-onlv those
virtues which live through the ages are
youthful.
Some sO-eslled truths disappear even as
they are uttered. Just as some men are
old AT the hour OF their birth Soch
truths and men are not the real truths
and the real men, The real truths are
those that are always youthful: the real
men are those VINO are as vital in mind
anj In spirit when their bodies approach
the grave as they acre Youthful in mind
ard spirit when they first encountered
the world. The problem OF life is Youth
fulness; the search Tor the phiIosonher-s
fountain Of youth has been unendinc. and
yet the fountain OF youth for brain ard
heart is near 10 every one OF US. We nav
drink and be immortal so far as the
spirit is concerned il We be sure that the
waters We quaf are those Of the slemen-
tai virtues Of industry, honor. and cour-
sge; and II we make certain that no
pollution Of unworthy expediency taints
the stream Of those noble Ideals from
which Il should be our daily practice 10
refresh ourselves