Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-21

| - Cuticura Soap shavcs without mug. |
entirely surrounded by enemies"
Oh. what a school master is hatred!
There is a veritable reign Of pes
simism, skepticism and cynicism.
From every direction are heard the
outcres of destructive critics in
Weighing against the spirit Of the
times-against our manners, our
morals. our whole social life. 1t APP
pears fashionable to have a fling at
everything and everybody. We would
ent pessimists were not their pre-
cursors and prototypes to be found
among all generations of men,.
Amid all these indiscriminate
criticisms it is not surprising that
government of the people should be
assailed. Attacks Of this character
are two-fold; first, against the MA =
chinery of government, and, second,
against the moral standards Of citi-
zcnry itself.
The forefathers Of the American
Republic had unbounded faith in the
people. Indeed, they were the peo-
pie-bone Of their bone, flesh of their
flesh and blood Of their blood. They
established a government whose COR
nerstone is the people. The will of
the people, therefore, Is the supreme
law. But all just laws are from a
source higher than man: they are de-
rived from God. To train the will of
the people, therefore is the most
serious business in a democracy.
the teacher is the real lawmaker.
But we are all teachers, whatever
our sphere in life may be. The peo-
pie are eager to learn. They are
earnestly seeking the truth. They
make mistakes, but seldom intention
ally. On the whole. the people think
quite as clearly and act quite as in
Itcligently as their more fortunate
brothers. On all moral problems
they are far beyond their leaders;
and even when they move slowly,
invariably they move in the right di
rection.
The deadliest enemy of democratic
institutions is he who possessing
intellectual power uses it not for the
benefit but rather for the eXploita
ton Of his felowmen. There are nc
words in any, language severe enough
to characterize the man who for sell
fish purposes misleadS or deceives
the people; who deliberately teaches
them false doctrines. who inf1ames
their passions. by an appeal to racial
religious, or partisan prejudice. The
most objectionable offence against
good citizenship is the intentional
betrayal of the peoples confidence
through mendacity or Sophistry. II
is proclamation of everything sacred
What shall be the measure of &
citizens service? 1t shall be com.
mensurate with the gifts ana en-
dowments bestowed upon him by
Nature and by Natures God. One
citizen has strength of arm, another
brilliancy of intellect, and a thir(
mgnanimity of heart. To the extern
that one possesses these enrichments
he should dedicate them, to some ex.
tent at least, to the welfare of hi:
fellow men, the honor of the nation
and the glory Of God. Our indebt.
edness to our country is incompara'
bly, great; let us Zealously strive t.
make partial payment.
The story is told that at the close
, of the Constitutional Convention
after the immortal document hat
been adopted, Franklin, surrounded
by group of admiring friends
pointing to a painting of the SUI
, just back of the desk where Wash
ington had presided, remarked tina
amid the trials and the vicissitude!
of the Convention he had sometimes
wondered whether the painting rep
resented the rising or the settins
sun. but now" said he. Il know j
is the rising sun. the sun-burst o
our American Nationality" May
this sun of our American democrat!
never set.
God grant that it may continue t.
shine upon a sturdy people wht
cherish civil and religious liberty
who have an abiding faith in fellow
men and in popular sovereignty
who are devoted to the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution
of the United States; upon people
4 who exalt dignified manhood ant
kglorify virtuous womanhood. wht
kpractice all the domestic virtues
Ewho love the home and all its en-
kdearments, and whose sweetest mu
" sic is the laughter of children ant
M the prattle of little babes: upon :
N people who in time of peace fulfil
n the law and in days of strife arr
n ready to lay down life itself upor
the sacrificial altar of a common
colntry-of a common country
that a government of the people. b,
the people and for the people ma!
not perish from the earth.
Comforting Of Degrees
! The comforting Of the degrees tt
1.-THE members Of the graduating class
was made by President Roberts. who
addressed the class in Latin. The
members of the class left their seats
in the audience and marched across the
stage and were given their sheepskir
by the president Of the college. The
honorary degrees were then recon-
mended by Chief Justice Cornish. chair
! man Of the board Of trustees, and con-
fcrrcd by President Roberts acting un.
Ger authority of the board Of trustees
The honorary degrees awarded were
William oliver Stevens. '99. of Annap-
oils. Md, Lift. D.; Otis Williams Foye
,oS. of Boston, D. D.; Charles Frederick
aft Seayerns, 'O1, of Hartford, Conn
In the absence Of Mr.. Seaverns the
degree was conferred 'in absentum" to
be forwarded to the recipient. AT the
! nresent time Mr.. Seaverns is i'll at his
home and was not able to make the trip
TO Waterville to receive his honorary
degree Of A. NJ.
The announcement of prizes for the
vear was then made by President Rob-
erts as follows: The commencement
prize for excellency in English compo-
sition awarded to Miss Melva Mercedes
| Mann of Midtown for the women's di.
vision and Frederick Gardiner Fassett
Of West Medford, Mass. for the mems
| division. The prizes for the junior ex'
hibition were: First for the men,
Josanh Coburn Smith of Skowhegan;
second. William John Mcdonald OF
Colchester, Conn: first for the women
Marion Daton Brown Of Waterville;
second. Ervena Ioletta Goodale Of Wa
+orv;lIe- The Albion Woodbury. Small