Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1914-07-02
1hs Future American.
[BY WALTER. s. TATuM.]

If we should at some time wake
up strangers to. America and A.
merican ways and customs, our
astonishment would be beyond
anything which we would now
dare dream. The characteristics
of American life would appeal to
US perhaps uobly and perhape un
desirable. No one who is used to
our customs has likely ever come
to realize what one must face or
contend with that he may be call
a worthy citizen of America. No
occasion has dawned upon
our minds to show us the respon-
sibility as well as the great right
of American citizenship. Thefoe-
fathers could notcomprehend the
posterity,who were to form the
republic of the world, we pride
ourselves upon our lineage. The
Puritan and Pilgrim fathers, the
patriots of Bunker Hilland York
Town, the defenders of liberty OF
1912 and 1898, and the states
menifrom the struggling 13 colo
MES to our present reformers of
world renown and honor.
1t is not considered, it is left
untouched, how important are
thsttrainings leading up to the
standard ofmaking an American.
The doubly-boun duties, not
common to people of other ma
tions, the responsibilities and
rights of attaining greatness are
overlooked The caste systems
OF ancient nations, and the pres
ent IDEAS ofnobilityin the nations
OF the East are not found in this
Republic. Here every man who
has ambition and judgementmay
rise from the lowest depths of
poverty to. the highest attain
ments offered to man. Nolonger
does man find himself born into
a set class, butinto opportunities
offered by a free people.
The great life work of famous
Americans was not accomplished
in a day, a month or a year,
"but they, while their compan-
ions slept, we're toiling upward in
the night" The little troubles Of
childhood, the hardships ofyouth
and manhood, the meeting and
mastering OF difficult PROPOSE
tions, have all been the stepping
stones 0ofsuccess. Had they not
met trials to overcome, their work
would not be what it is. | have
often thought that the man who
attained most i'll this world, was
the man who met with and mas
tered the most and greatest OBJ
stacles. The young American
cannot attain to nobleness by be-
ing idle, but must meet with OPP
position by a determination to-
overcome He must strike up a.
gainst the real problems OF life.
He must accustom himself to the
great rush of the business popu-
lation. He must be able to meet
great difficulties, .surmount diff
cult problems and smile at mis-
fortune. 1t is not the person with
great book knowledge, but the
man with good practical sense,
who is the true American.
The Latin aud Greek scholar is
giving back to the advanced ideas
Of progressiveness. Thr old edu-
catorofpompan and showh whasgiveu
place to the new man Of attain.
ments The study of old and un.
necessary things are past giving
way to the things ofpractical life;
as the building of great metropo-
Titan cities, the administration of
laws and governments, the main
tainance and upbuilding of the
Christian world, and the feeding
and clothing Of the masses of liv-
ing souls, crying notforthe beau
ty and worthless side of educa-
cation, but the practical endow-
ments for success and happiness.
It is not the popular poung per
son who attracts attention BY