Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-06-27

Oil whether poor or rich, and such civic
institutions as will secure to all men the
inalienable rights of life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
In the light of the qualities which
American manhood has displayed and
the tremendous victory which the
young men of America helped nightly
to win, it is shame even to raise the
question that such manhood may finch
and fail before the problems and diff
cultes ahead. We can face the future
with confidence The work of re-
building the world involves tremendous
difficulties, Treasure sufficient to sus-
tain the world for generation has gone
up in smoke or been sunk in the sea.
The destruction of man power not only
on the field of battle but also in the
starved and stricken areas is frightful
to contemplate. The frightful waste
must be repaired, and it can only be
done by severest labor, intelligently
directed, and by the largest possible
cooperation of all toward the common
good, We have no such easy task as
fell to our fathers, which was to take
possession of a continent held by few
weak tribes of savages and turn its
boundless wealth into a generous living
for themselves and the hordes who
came to them We have now to hold
our own among the peoples of the earth,
in country whose first easy wealth
lying on the surface has been exhausted,
and at the same time contribute to-
ward the rebuilding of Europe in the
lands that suffered most from the fight
which was ours not less than theirs.
1t is a tremendous undertaking and it
calls for stronger manhood on the
part OF our people as whole than has
hitherto been Necessary. But let us
have faith, faith in the men who did |
not fail us in France, and in the millions
them, and who will follow the flag
which has never been defeated, wher-
ever it may be placed in defense of
liberty and honor and right, and who !
will push that flag ever forward in
humanitys fight toward the glorious
and perfect triumph of Gods kingdom
in the world.
MEMBERS OF THE GRADU-
ATING CLASS: When you enter
ed college in September, 1915, men
were saying that Germany might
be held in check, but that her
armies could never be defeated.
They were dark days and there
have been darker ones since. The
war came home to us and Is of
your number have served under the
colors OF the As men who have
been attached to the class, 81 have
worn the uniform of the army or
navy, of whom 10 are still in the
service 1t has been a trying time
in which to pursue a college course.
But there has been this advantage,
that these years have seen the
greatest triumph of faith that the
world has known for many genera
tions. Above all things take that
lesson into the world with you.
Be men and women who give sub
stance to things hoped for and who
have conviction of things not seen.
Be among the men who believe.
Have the courage to order your
present life on the basis of good
hope for the future. You will new
er be defeated until you are defeat
ed in your soul. You can if you
will Keep up the spirit of achieve
ment which we have tried to teach
YOU is the heart of the true Mid
dlebury spirit. And may God lead :
you the way of some hard en-
deavor, in which faith is your only
support, but which leads to the
sure outcome of faith, which is
victory!