Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-04

'hN NullcS WnlCu Will lneNlluDlN lUll
upon all citizens of the new democracy.
The second UNDERGRADUATE speaker,
X. l.. Grismer. '16. OF this city dcliv-
cred an address on The Spirit of Am
erica Mr.. Grismcr said. in part:
MIR. GR1SMER'S ADDRESS
Every great nation of antiquity has
been built up around some lofty con-
ception. some compelling motive. This
has served as u master key to unlock
the door to every treasure room of ma
tional wealth. The life of ancient
Egypt was inspired by her belief in inn
mortality, Israel grew great through
her conception of righteousness. Greece
rose among the nations as the expo
nent of culture. while the contribution
of Rome was law, by which she ruled
empires for thousand years. And
likewise the American people have
been sWaycd by n controlling passion,
a dominant spirit. This Henry Van
Dyke has called the spirit of Self Re-
lance" and Hugo MunsterberE has
termed il the Desire for Self Drec-
ton" 1t might we'll be called the
| spirit of Self Dcvelopment" Early
i'm our history it found expression in
those three great institutions which
New England contributed to our civ
Iilzation--thc schoolhouse. the town
Injecting, and the meeting housc--the
schoolhousc where the future citizens
of our country could get their early
education and training. the town meet
ing where men could meet on a basis
Of social equality. and the meeting
house where the early Pilgrim fathers
and their descendants met to commune
with higher Being and to receive His
divine advice and guidance. Gradually
the little schoolhousc grew larger and
became more numerous until to-day we
have orr splendidly equipped high
schools and our famous universities 1t
was the wisdom and courage of such
educated men which fired the morning
gun Of the Revolution, and founded and
framed this Union.
Unlike other countries, America is
not the home of any one race. People
came to its shores from every quarter
of the earth and with every form Of
national ideal But they all had a
common desire--that here on "A soil un-
stained by tyranny and oppression the
idea of free self government might be
beaten out upon the anvil of expcr-
fence. No other nation has so needed
high strung patriotic emotions a s AM
erica. Only "A passionate patriotism
could have held our people together to
secure "A unity of conviction and action.
True patriotism. however is not love
of country, but love of countrYmcn.
The greatest asset of any nation is not
| its fertile soil. its great rivers its
mines, nor it's manufactures, much as
these contribute to wealth and com
fort. The greatest asset of any nation
| is is intelligent, self-res speeding, law
abiding citizens Without such no peo-
Iple can be prosperous. nor can they
! long endure
The patriotism of America is the pa
triotsm of peace, which. however, is mel.
Their a cowardly evasion nor an armed
truce, a peace which would not hesitate
to draw it's sword in defense of the help
less oppressed or to right IA brutal wrong.
The scientist the explorer, the merchant.
all display IL valor not exceeded in the
trenches or on the firing line. We shall
not. however. know the meaning of true
pa rotism or find enduring peace until We
learn that the whole race is bound to-
gethcr by community of interests and
Recommendations.
But the true spirit of America was found
in the meeting house of orr early fathers.
1t was the inspiration of a higher spirit
the supreme fact that in our national life
has ever Leen tho consciousness of SUI
perna tural leadership. The men who first
stepped upon this continent did so under
the banner of the cross and in the name
Of God. The life and strength of ma
ton is at every point tho product Of mora
forces acting upon it. That which to-day
sends forth to public and private service
men whom lust of office cannot buy, whom
the power of money can not tempt, these
forces we call moral and spiritual. Thi:
conception of people controlled by 6
great moral impulse and directed by al
unerring divine Providence, this is tn,
spirit Of America, the desire for the great
est possible intellectual. social and mora
Eevelopment under the Providence o
God
After "Champlain" had been sung
President Benton introduced the orato
of the day, VI. c. Robbins. gs of New
York, who spoke ON Education 70
World Problems" Mr. Robbins said il
part;
EDUCATION FOR WORLD PROBLEM.
, Never before since the founding o
this university. 15 years ago haV
the students and faculty locke
out upon world so full of compile
problems Millions of men are engage
in a titanic war which is draining tn
: life blood of the youth of the great na
tions of Europe and is directly affect
ing every continent of the world. Thi
: awful conflict has brought about tire
mendous changes in world affairs AM
will probably make still greater change
in the events to follow. The commerce
of the world has been diverted from it
regular orderly channels into new an
: unusual routes Some of these will be
come permanent, while others will quick
ly revert to their former courses at the en-
of the war. Governments have take
. over railroads and private industrie
Q which at any previous time would hav
been viewed with alarm. There ha
been n glorious rebirth of patriotism
: and devotion in the warning countries
while the self-sacrifice and suffering c
neutrals and -combatants has arous
ed the sympathy of the entire worl'
The United States alone of all the grea
nations Is at peace. Indeed, our cour
try is blessed with n material prospert
heretofore unprecedented
Surely in the midst of these startlin
y events. with the contrasting condition
. here and across the seas 1t is we'll I
stop for a moment and consider Il
:, problems which lie before us and