Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-06-10
COMMENCEMENT DAWN
FOR THE SIXTEEN OF "A

hand, his admirers add luster to
his virtues, and on the other hand,
his enemies magnify his faults; but
when time has interviewed and
the men of his day have passed on
then il is that, from the distance
OF the years, we place him in his
true position.
Those living in passing genera
tons have never appreciated their
institutions in their true relation.
Every actor in the moving drama
is a partisan. He looks upon the
successes and failures of the pass
ing hour through colored glasses.
Chandelier, in his barnyard king
dom, observed that when he crow
ed. the rays of morning light broke
across the eastern hills, therefore,
he knew that he called the sun 10
drive away the darkness. and he
strutted through his flock in the
pride of power and position.
Passion and prejudice influence
the most conservative and prevent
them from justly measuring the civ
ilization in which they play their
part; but, when their power and
glory have faded, when their laws
and customs have been swept into
the wreckage marking the shores
of eternity; when their cities and
institutions have been buried by the
drifting sands of countless ages;
then it is that the historian, look
ing back through the centuries,
finding here broken bricks and
stones with curious markings and
there the crumbling ruins of nigh
ty cities, may in these lifeless ma
tsrials study the strange works
of long dead people and impartially
pass judgment upon their civiliza-
ton.
"On the banks of the winding
Euphrates a great king once rul-
ed over a powerful and prosperous
people Through industry and de-
termination they carried the living
waters, bearing the rich soil from
the distant mountains, far and wide
over the sands until the desert
bloomed and smiled under the mel
low sun and rewarded their pa
tent toll. Fertile plains stretched
away on every hand, and as they
prospered they slowly reared the
proudest city the world has ever
known. Year after year it grew,
until it became the center of a
great civilization. the home of the
worlds wealth and culture. TRAY
elers from distant lands came to
admire the towering temples, the
broad streets and the great walls
marking the city boundaries.
"The hanging gardens, rising ter
race above terrace in imposing
grandeur were the wonder and de-
light of the world. Rare plants
were gathered from the ends of the
earth and planted by the side OF
he lotus and the almond. Through
he feathery palmtrees the linger-
ing light of the Oriental sun play
ed upon serene and subtle flowers,
whose fragrance filled the soft air
in harmony with the music of tenn
pie bells. The treasures of the
world were gathered there.
"All that wealth and industry
could procure, Babylon possessed,
but in the enjoyment of their plea
sures, the people became vicious
md proud. In his palace the King
made annoyance, selfishness and
tyranny his daily companions. JUS
ice, charity and truth knocked in
vain at his gates. To them he was
as cold as the marble walls around
him. Surrounded by luxury, he for
got the virtues by which men and
'ations endure. At the very pin
1acle of his power and prosperi-
ty, he heard the awful sentence;
God hath numbered thy kingdom
and finished it. Thou art weighed
in the balances, and art found want
ing. Thy kingdom is divided and
given to the Modes and Persians."
The careless reader assumes that
fate, causes men and nations to
fall. They serve their purpose
and die according to their destiny.
But it is not fate that sweeps them
nto the ruins of the ages. 1t is
suicide. The Babylonian King val
ued material prosperity too highly
md humanity too lightly. By his
own acts he brought about the ruin
Of himself and his people. To en-
dure, the individual and the nation
must build on the foundation of
human sympathy, fidelity and JUS