Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-04
addresses by II. II. Powers of
MOrrisville and Il. l.. Grismer
of Observation-Disclosures by M.
c. Robbins of New York.
EXERCISES IN GYMNASIUM
Honorary Societies Announce
New NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Win
Inter-class Singing Contest
Julia Spear Prize Reading for
Women of Two Lower Classes.

Il
The annual exercises in correction
WITH the Observance ot Founders day
Mt the university were hold i'm the gym
'astum Monday mornius. Preceding
Tho exercises proper. the university bat
talon held n review and dress parade
~ the campus, after which the boulder
exercises were held around tho boulder,
he Oh and now members of the So
'ioty being present. President Benton
II few words congratulated the old
members ON what they had done for
the university. and the new men for the
honor conferred upon them, which they
should strive in every way to deserve.
The battalion then formed two columns.
through which the seniors, followed by
the other classes in order and the pub
lie passed into the gymnasium. After
music by the orchestra, and an anthem
by the choir. My Hope Is In the Ever
lasting" the chaplain Of the day the
Rev. G. w. Davenport Of st. Paul.
Church, read the Scripture lesson and
offered prayer. The assembly sang
the "l;nglish ode" after which the first
Undergraduate speaker, II. II. Powers
II, of Morrisvile, delivered an address
on "The New Democracy" Mr.. Powers
said, in part
MIR. POWERS ADDRESS.
As We glance back over the annals
of history, we find that not long since
the citizen and the law We're two widely
separated forces in the community. In
The days Of absolutism. the law was
made and regulated to suit the best in
terests of the governors, the interests
nf the governed being secondary. The
citizen obeyed the laws simply because
he found there was an authority to
enforce them. In the days of the abso-
lutte monarchy this attitude Of the citi-
zen was justified and logical. but it is
different in our country at the present
time. Under our system ultimate SOW
creiGnty resides with tn" people If
our laws do not solve the problems Of
the community. it is the duty of tho
citizen to change those laws.
on this. the opening of the 10Th CEN
fury we find a great wave of democracy
sweeping over the entire earth. This
undoubtedly has been occasioned largely
through the medium Of education With
new learning, there came, naturally
enough, a desire on the part of the
citizen to learn the workings of tho
law, and enforce the same. In our
country the advance toward democracy
has been much more rapid and It is
not only possible, but probable. that
the new era will recognize equal sui.
frage among men and women, not as a
privilege but as a duty. The direct pri-
mary, the initiative the referendum. the
recall. the election of United States
senators by popular vote, these and al
other reforms are the manifestations OF
coming era, democracy which shall
surpass anything the world has ever
known.
Another significant fact to note in gu,
country is the tendency toward a stront
centralized government. From the dele
gated powers which the State saw fl
TO give the central government in tn.
time of its inception, in time new prob
lens in connection with the growth O
the country made a clash between fed
eral and State rights inevitable, anC
this question was settled for all time
Since the time of the Civil War, Their,
Las been a rapid drift toward a NOR,
centralized government. This new
democracy will find itself peculiarl,
placed, as with n strong central govern
ment directly in the hands Of the PEG
pie. there will be a vast increase of re
sponsibility on the part of the citizen
Is he fit for this task?
Eut there Is a CLEAN of hope shinin,
through this haze of uncertainty, name
ly, the decline of the doctrine Of in
divdualism and the increased appre
citation of the term, Service" w
have found out that indivdualism /
rot justifiable, as no man is complet
master of his own destiny No ma
ram do as he plcases. and no man /
FREQ from 1t certain debt to society
Community interests are of pr.mar
Importance.
II Is quite probable that we ma
become involved In serious interna
tonal difficulties, and from this caus
arises the necessity of preparedness
purely as defensive measure. to main
tain peace. We hear much talk Of til
danger Of militarism, that It is tn
inevitable outcome Of preparedness, bu
IN our democracy. militarism canno
exist. If the people are to have con
lrol of governmental affairs they ca
establish their own public policie
Should they become unduly appreher
vive of the possibilities or militarisn
The mower is theirs to wipe the entir
army from the face OF the earth. ES
nerience all points to the fact that I'll
only preparedness that is adequate
that which involves national and con
pulsory military training. which make
the individual more fit to assume h
duties either under normal or abnol
NAL conditions 1t stimulates patrlt
,lsm and brings out all the finer point
I'm a mans character, beside giving hi
an education beyond all question.
With the new era of democracy an
The necessary increased efficiency o
tbe mart of the citizen. IL is only nj
,uraI that the public gaze should !
turned toward the educational cou
cf last resort, namely the college. Co
,ages must introduce courses incidei
IN good citizenship, they must tar
, rirmcr stand in national affairs the
,,ust take the lead in public advance
ment. Finally. it is hoped most or "A
that the colleges will assist IN pre-
uaring the individual, by giving hi
= n better understanding of the under
living principles involved In good cit
zeushlp. and help tho ordinary layma