Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-05-30
COMMON SOLDIERS
OF THE COMMON GOOD
sAcckLAuREATE ADDRESS BY
REV. ROBERT S. FISHER.
Delivered to the High School Gradu-
yates at First M. e.
4 Church.

the theme of Common Soldiers of the
Common Good" The address con-
tanned many passages descriptive of
the heroic scenes of American history
and numerous suggestions of possible
usefulness to be achieved by the grad
yates. The large audience gave excel
lent attention throughout the hour in
spite of the extreme heat of the even
ing. The music rendered by different
members of the choir was well re-
ceIVed. The prayer was delivered by
Mr. Phillips. pastor of the Christian
church and the audience was dismissed
by Rev. II. NJ. Campbell of the Presby-
terrain church. Mr.. Fisher who is not
timid about innovations appeared for
the address in full garb of white which
was in fact quite fitting for the temp
perature of the atmosphere. \ portion
of the address follows:
Release that river. | say YOU must
release that river or some day it will
give YOU trouble: thus spoke Theo-
dorc Roosevelt to the officials of Kan
sas City as they stood beside the levied
banks of the Big Muddy" known to
geography as the Missouri river. \
little later the town was terrified to
find that the prophecy had been cor
rect and the streets were lined with
people who were homeless or bankrupt
because of the raVages of the angry
stream. The miner who sat i'm his
cabin and watched the mountain
shower up at the rivers Nurce did not
suspect the result. nor did the Ncbras-
ka farmer who smiled as the waters
bathcd his harvest field. nor did the
Missouri school boys who waded the
rising creek which later flowed into
the stream. Yet il was the agCrcga-
ton of the smaller waters which made
the flood In fact il was the sum to-
tai of the single drops which fell and
sought their level which finally COM
posed the raging torrent Under the
majestic sway Of the law of gravita-
ton old nature was demonstrating The
power of individual units to create the
mass.-and the power of the mass to
accomplish action.
Charles Darwin in the discovery of
the law of evolution perceived this and
more, namely that as the law of gray
itation was the rule OF mass so the law
II evolution was the law of progress
with an upward trend and that within
this law there were gathered the phil
osophy Of life both physical and
psychic. The individuals make the
mass and each generation leaves tht
impress of its total power on the next
50 that the progress Of the race is thei
Increasing sum total Of the mental
moral and physical forces Of the be-
ings which live and cast their influ-
encc into the common store. This
operation is not always perceptiblc but
is as sure the existence of forces
themselves. while under this plan ev-
cry individual becomes responsible for
the totally of the human problem
and its solution.
For centuries the Roman empire
lowered in tyranny and the popuiace
covered in fear. But all the while
the hate and resentment of a people
were being registered in silent power
until one day the mass rolled in an
avalanche down the sacred hills of the
city while an empire fell and a repub-
lie took it's place In France the poor
and despised peasants reeked in their
squalor and mobiles drank the blood of
their suffering. The worm turned and
amid cries Of Down with the Ever
monde" they made music wierd as the
guillotine cried out in shrill screams.
The mass had prevailed.
In our own times two men stand as
monuments of this doctrine that the
forces will prevail and that no obstacle
can stay them. The present occupant
Of the White House was large i'm ex-
perienee when he came to his seat but
small in conception of the popular
hn ads inic hot
ceded him had Travelled with the
massed thought of the masses but this
new occupant began to tell the people
that they we're wrong and that the
bosses were right,-indeed to under
take 10 sweep back the ocean with
broom. He is today one Of the most
unpopular presidents since James Blu
chanan The mass was bigger than
the man. in place of the weakness
OF this man was the strength OF Theo-
dOre Roosevelt. Roosevelt came to the
scene when the world was sick of the
Hanna Platt ilk of craftsmanship. He
found the mass of the American spirit
for reform and he moved with the
mass. He knew the popular heart and
moved with the resistless tide of pro-
gress only to become at the end of his
term the greatest private citizen in
the A;,prld.
Do not be discouraged because the
problems of your age and mine loom
large before you. Do not sit down be- |
cause you are not a Lincoln or a
Roosevelt to fold your hands and pine |
for more talents. Take the talent |
which you have and use it, Let the |
Master who blessed the two loaves and
the small fishes multiply what you
have until it does more that you could /
ask or think. Remember all the time
that YOU are an individual upon whom
in part depends the quality and guam
tity OF the mass that moves progress.
that you arc indeed common soldiers
of the common good whose treachery
may mean defeat or whose loyalty may
mean success.
Some duties of present import are
at your door and i'm your hands II
YOU are faithful ii may ere long be
your glad privilege to reform human
tv at its very hearth its commerce
and industry. in its society and homes.
n its politics and citizenship and even
n the bringing again to its religious
ife the spirit Of Jesus so nearly thrust
ut i'm the mad race of modern self
shness You can be honest yourselves
nd demand honesty in others you can
,verthrow the rule of gold in your
urr hearts and anplx, the golden rule