The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-11-06
PROFESSOR BURGIN DELIVERS
ADDRESS AT HATTIESBURG

} ,critical time in the life OF the nation
and in the life of the world we should
have called to the helm Of state that
splendid aristocrat, Woodrow Wilson,
who by character and training was
best fitted to direct our dcstinies,-
the peerless STATESMAN and matchless
leader who has written his name deep
in the heart of humanity, and whom
succeeding generations must recog-
nize as the supreme character OF our
age.
Intelligent Voting.
The tendency in late years in
America has been toward universal
suffrage, and the liberal movement in
that direction had its elimination only
recently in the wholesale enfranchise
mont Of women. | think, as indeed
you probably do, that there is a dan
ger that this tendency to extend the
suffrage has gone to an extreme, and
that soon more conservative policy
must he adopted. Certainly we are
grateful that all arbitrary restric-
tons. such as that of sex, have been
removed, but we must dep!ore tho
wholesale voting of both men and
women who are not possessed of pro-
per qualifications of intelligence and
broad social interest. am glad
therefore, that one Of the objects Of
the national league is to impose an
educational qualification for the suf.
frage, which, indeed, we already.
have in Mississippi, but which we APP
ply only to the negro element in our
population, allowing large illiterate
white element to vote unchallengcd,
We can never hope to improve the
quality Of our political life as longl
as we give the vote to those not quail
fed by intelligence to use it.
The Challenge.
Dcmocracy's challenge to you,
therefore, is, in word to make dem
ocrats, not in the partisan sense, to.
be sure, but in the broad sense Of
making men and women fit to live in
intimate relations with their fellows
in the local, state, national, and world
community. For the goal of demo
crazy is unity of the race into q
common world brotherhood, where
neither race nor color nor social posi-
ton nor hereditary status nor wealth
nor nationality, nor any other barrier
may be erected in defiance of our
common humanity. "But what task!'
you say, And what a challenged"
Nevertheless, it is the challenge of
democracy today, and with the grow
ing participation Of women in the life
of the nation and of the world, it will
be met with serene courage and stead. |
fast confidence in the ultimate
achievement of the ideal Meantime,
as women leaders Of women, as
mothers in our homes, as teachers in
our schools,--it is incumbent upon
you to aid as none others can in the
great task Of making democrats.
The Church.
| would advocate further that the
church which is so prone to criticize
what it regards as the waywardness
of youth, should face the amusement
problem in a constructive way
with the attitude Of not what it can
destroy but what it can provide. 1t
is one thing to proclaim that the
boys and girls of the land are going .
to the devil, and another thing to
provide wholesome amusements for
their enjoyment. Every church
should be built with ain idea of fur
nishng a recreational and social CEN
ter to its constituency, and facilities
should be provided for wholesome
games and recrcational activities. b
hope to see the day when every
church will have bowling alleys and
pool halls for its boys and young
men, and other facilities for all Of its
young people.--and when mothers
and fathers will join with their child
rcn in the enjoyment Of pleasure from
which the last vestge of commercial
ism has been drawn,--from which the
faint of profits has been expelled.
Gripping Picture.
There is a very gripping picture in
a recent issue of Century. A writer
has this to say of ex-President Will
son: Despite his failure in the ul-
innate execution of many of his
policies, history will grant greatness
10 Woodrow Wilson for his matchleSS