The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-14
High School Glass Graduates
High School Orchestra
neutrality-suspicious. DaW.


Four score and seven years ago our
fathers brought forth on this earth a
government dedicated to the PROPOSE
ton that all men are created free and
equal.
Today, the descendants of those ia
theirs are striving to establish that
principle, not on this continent, but
thruout the world that henceforth we
may have peace.
An undertaking of such magnitude
out by any nation without a unanimity
of mind and work The war has
brought much talk of the achievement
of American unity. 1t would be far
nearer the truth to say that it has re-
vealed American unity.
Our nation has arisen with splendid
determination to this great occasion.
Our men have entered the army and
navy, our women have joined the Red
Cross and have taken the place of
men in the fields and factories; they
are also helping the government in
School boys and girls have gone into
the fields to aid in this great task Of
food.
When the call for money was sent
forth by the government, men and
women, foreign born and native AM
erican, responded eagerly and gener-
ously to the Liberty Loans, thus show
ing the confidence of the entire ma
ton.
But this unanimity has not always
been among us. When our fathers
fought for liberty against King George
III. there was a strong party of Roy
alists opposed to our fighting for our
rights. In each succeeding national
crisis there has been a strong faction
to the policy Of the govern
ment. Today, in this greatest of our
crises, we are united against
a common enemy, because to people
Of just and humane ideals, there can
be but one side, one issue, on the ques-
ton raised. We are united people in
spite of the fact that these states
have been formed out of huge terri
tories one by one, many times with
different economic interests, and we
are nation in spite of the fact that
for three hundred years the people of
the old world flOcked in thru the gates
Of the new, people of every period and
every border, from every town they
have come, many peoples to make one
nation and to be welded together, and
blended into our common life by the
power of our democracy.
We have been engaged in great
democratic experiment of making our
fishing our motto, &c Pluribus Unum"
And now today, this spirit of free
dom strengthened in the foreigner by
our institutions and opportunities,
in the hearts of the native
born the deeds of our fOrefathers,
the greatest menace freedom ever had.
And realizing this, we truly believe,
United we stand, divided we fall"
The class of 1918 realizes that this
has been most unusual year for our
country and for us as individuals.
A year ago we had just entered the
war and we believed that it would be
over long before we were ready to
graduate. However, during the last
few months, many of our friends and
schoolmates have taken up arms and
sailed across the sea to fight for the
cause of humanity, and this going
away of our friends and schoolmates
have brought home to us the realiza-
ton of the seriousness of the times
Our country has called upon the
men, women and children for help.
Our President and his co-workers in
charge Of the war have emphasized
the necessity of trained workers. All
of us cannot fight in the trenches,
neither can we all be Red Cross
nurses, but nevertheless, we all are
willing to take our places in the
world, to the bit assigned to u.s.
Now training being completed we
wish to thank those who have been
instrumental in it's attainment.
Members of the board of education,
the class of 1918 extend to you their
thanks and appreciation for the beau
tiful building and efficient corps of
instructors.
Members of the faculty, we thank
you for the kindness and patience with
which you have guided us thru these
years.
Parents of the class of 1850 you
we owe the greatest debt. We cannot
express our appreciation for all that
you have done for us, but we hope to
show you by our work in the future,
that we are truly grateful.
Fellow students and friends, the
class will long remember the many
pleasant times we have had together
and we hope that the classes that fol-
low us will have as many happy ones
to look upon
Our hearts beat with sorrow and glad
ness,
mingling of pleasure and tears:
Fling wide the great portals we're
leaving,
The scenes Of our happiest years.
Hope paints us glorious future,
Our pathway seems scattered with
flowers,
Fling wide the great portals, we're
leaving,
Our childhOOd's lOveliest hOurs