Milford chronicle., 1947-07-04
Address Of Paul DoLan Delivered
To 1917 Graduating Class Here

Because of the many requests to
see the entire address in print, we
are publishing herewith. the speech
delivered by Paul Dolan, of the
University of Delaware faculty, at
the recently held Commencement
exercises of Milford High School.
Commencement addresses should
be short. l intend to be brief and
come to the point quickly. 1t is in
deed a privilege for me to be here
this evening when the members of
the graduating class are at a time
in their lives when they stop for a
brief moment to contemplate their
future. AS a man sees his future so
largely is his life. Today we would
do well to look to our future for it
is not an overly pleasant one. We,
as Americans, stand on the threS-
hold of a challenge which may cas-
lily change our entire course and
bring us to that brink of despair
which is the very edge Of chaos.
Well do we wonder how it could
ever have happened that this great
nation would find itself at the cross
roads of it's very existence, especial
ly after emerging victorious from
the most devastating of all wars. 1t
takes but a moments reflection to
see the cause that has led us to this
end.
In 1887, the founding fathers of
this nation, after a long, weary
summers toll, brought forth a dOcu-
ment called the Constitution of the
United States of America. In it's
preamble it set forth principle OF
government, which we in our hurly-
burly and quick ease have well nigh
forgotten. AS you will remember,
the preamble starts off by saying
that it was the PEOPLE of the Uni
ted States who ordained and esta-
blished the Constitution. Not king,
or small group of palace advisors
or politicians, but the entire citi-
Zenry body as it was then reco5ni-
zed. This cooperative spirit of joint
enterprise stood forth in bold re-
relief during the past five years
when the threat of foreign foe
struck home. Once the dint of bat
tie died, however, we were all too
eager to put away the words of wis
dom of our fathers and desired to
return to the lush moments of pre-
war ease and conspicuous con-
sumption. We began Immediately TO
try to Out-do one another in tho
senSeleSS, unsuitable striving to get
our hands on material things. We
forgot the fact that 100000 fellow
Amercidns would no longer strive
for those petty things of life but
had found priceless reward in the
full knowledge that they had given
this country another chance to
make good. This is the challenge
that confronts us today. CAN we
make good in this self-centered
self-seeking world whose only
creed is material gain, whose only
slogan is ''lOok out for me?"
Well do you ask how could the
people of the United States, furni-
shed with the magnificent heritage
of the constitutional principles of
government, which are our birth
right, let themselves down so path
etically. On this point let us be very
definite. 1t is the PEOPLE of the
United States, not the politicians
or the businessmen, or the labor
unions, who let us down. It is OUR
SELVES. We have the power and
we have the responsibility of gov
ernment, but we have failed miser-
ably because our creed has been the
creed of the individual, the ego the
great l AM.
Back in ancient Athens some q
300 years ago, man named Aris-
tOtle wrote the only primer of poll
tics that has ever been worth any
thing in the teaching of govern
ment. He expressed his views in easy
style, but he minced no words when
it came to what made a govern
ment GOOD government. His for
mula was .direct-unlesS the citizen
ry body participated in the govern.
ment and worked for the common
good of the p0lity. no happiness
could result. We in this country
have extended citizenship far he-
Vond the narrow limits Aristotle
would have recommended but re-
@ardless of the extent of the mem
he"shiN in the state. the formula
still holds-unless the citizenry
BODY participates in the govern
ment and works for the common