The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-05-31


guarantee Of success. No doubt our
national success is in some measure,
due to our limitless natural resources,
but / would remind you that there are
countries whose resources are as big,
nay bigger than ours, and yet they
have not realized the prosperity that
has been enjoyed by America. Rus
STA is a very good Illustration Of this
truth. The wonderful development
and success that we have experienced
as nation, while in some measure is
due to our natural resources, is due
more to the fundamental principles of
righteousness and justice and liberty
, that were laid at the foundation of
our constitution. And today, we are
in this horrible war, not for the pur-
pose of aggression, not that we may
grab spoil for ourselves, but because
that passion for righteousness in
which our nation was born is nightly
felt by all true citizens: Not in neu-
trality, neutrality is impossible where
right and wrong are concerned, but
in righteousness is the secret of all true
permanent national success. Right
eousness exalteth a nation" declared
, one of the sacred writer's long ago,
and it has been confirmed by every age
that has rolled by.
But further, this principle, Fright
eousness Essential for Success" is
binding, not merely in national, but
also in personal sense, and here l
have a very earnest message for our
young people, especially the class of
graduates. Of course the question
arises at once, what do we mean by
success? Who is the man who sue
ceeds? Is he the man who, because of
superior advantages of good home,
wealthy parents and splendid edu-
cation, moves on to conquest? Is this
success? Not necessarily so. A
young man or woman may have all
these advantages, and yet in the last
analysis be sad, tragic failure.
Or along commercial lines, does that
man succeed who, by merciless selfish
ness, by robbery, by fraud and graft,
becomes rich and powerful? Is that
man successful who, by pandering to
public opinion, and by sacrificing his
principles and trampling upon his con-
science is able to run with the mob
and so gain. cheap popularity? The
world answers these questions in the
affirmative, but God and religion say
no, and while the world is setting up
it's monuments of mammon glory, the
Lord says, "Thou fool, thou poor, poor
fool, this night thy soul shall be re-
quired of thee" Friends, hear again
the sure and certain principle, Fright
eousness is Essential for Success"
Then what is success. Listen. There
is only one form of success that means
character development. The only sue
cess worth while is that which is ex-
pressed in terms of true manhood and
,womanhood Young men, young
women, whatever tempting bait is held
out to you, whatever reward may be in
sight in terms of dollars and cents, or
in the way Of social or professional
advancement, Oh, believe me, it is not
success, but hideous staggering fail
ure if it involves. furnishing of your
characters. Righteousness is the one
necessity for real success, and in one
sentence, righteousness means true
character development. If you would
have unquestioned success in life, if
you would experience that success that
leaves behind it->no sting, no blush Of
shame, if you would have that success
that will result in the commentator OF
all honest men, and win for you the
final "Well Done" of the Great Judge,
then hear the truth, follow after
righteousness. Seek to live true,
noble, Cody lives, and real success you
cannot possibly miss.