The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-07-22
AMERICAN IDEALS
Commencement Day Address By Cal.
vim Coolidge. Governor Of the Com
NOW ezlih Of Massachusetts

Tae address at the University oi
Vermont commencement day exercises
wss delivered by Calvin Coolidge. q
native NermonteI. now Governor OF
Massachusetts and candidate for the
Office Of vice president Of the United
S.ates His general theme was
American Ideals, and his address
follows in full
Vermont was fashioned by men with
M overmastering desire 20 be free.
They had their hardships and their
problems but these differed from those
OF the original colonists, whose chief
effort ia their formative period had
been for existence. Here il was for
independence. There was never any
doubt about their ability to survive in
their contest with nature. What was
10 be the outcome Of their contest with
men was not so sure. They could exist
but could they be free and independ-
ent ? The answer was found in the
deep determination Of hardy people
10 deserve freedom by readiness TO
die for il and to preserve freedom by
establishing government Of laws
supported by institutions for public
enlightenment. Ungoverned they
founded State, unlettered they estab-
lished a university With the direct
ness of men inspired they drew free
dom from the source that exists
throughout all generations, knowl-
edge Of the truth.
The University Of Vermont is the
direct product Of the American Revo-
luton. The Declaration Of Independ-
eDce was little more than a year old
when the Constitution Of this State
was adopted II established a Com
nonwealth founded Of property, edu-
cation and piety. The men of that
day did not believe in monarchy
They did not believe in despotism.
They believed in liberty under the law.
They did not believe in ignorance
They believed in intelligence. They
recognized that the people were COM
ing into a new estate. Thereafter
they were to rule. There was to be a
democracy bat their ideals was TO ere
ate Of democracy an aristocracy They
believed the people should rule because
they believed the best should rule. 1t
was their purpose to secure this result /
BY education and enlightenment. To
this end schools were provided by
town. by county, by State, the common
school, the academy, the university.
The people were to be educated at
public expense. So II happened that
this university first conceived amid
the terrors of revolutionary war was
TO be chartered in 1871, not as the
function of a church but as an instru-
ment Of the State, religious institu-
ton but not denominational, TO minis
ter TO the intellectual requirements Of
the people. a royal university to edu-
cate the King.
There are two methods Of education.
One is the laboratory or experiment
station method. When problems arise
they are sent there where the methods
of exact science are applied and the
answer returned. The process is Of no
consequence, the answer alone is de-
sired. This is the method OF author
ity. Those who drink at that well
thirst again. 4
Life is not IN exact science. In ;
ethics, civics. economies and politics
all the facts are not known. For deal /;
ing with these questions we need col
leges OF the liberal arts to which men I,
90 20 learn the process for discovering !
truth. These institutions are estab- I
lished to teach men 20 think. to create :
within them well Of water everlast-
ing. This is he justification Of that
democracy which is the foundation Of {
our republic. Q
Duty Of the College Bred S
The paramount duty Of those Who c
are college bred Is to apply the process D
for determining the truth TO problems q
n the present time. They ought 10 =
and comprehend the mean '
ing Of current events and recent his ]
tory and 50 understand help interpret G
1 wisely for the public benefit There i
never was greater need than at the .
present time. in
The world has just experienced the s
IA most cventfui years in human his p
roy Whole continents have broken \
s1th the past Dynasues have ended q
Empires have fallen This has come p
10; from the pneooneeived plan q q
nan That plan was for the aggran- p
iizemeuf q poWer. FER earthly glory. Il
or 3 place in thc sun. for military B
Il came ~ the irresistible n
.hock q var In which the artificial n
suuan reiztionship was east aside and o.
Ro real prevailed. II despotisn has q
- 81 becn banishcd from is rule q
,vcr people q; lcAS, il no longer wears Il