Eau Claire High School - Beaver Tales Yearbook (Eau Claire, MI)

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“The Trail of Democracy” between these castes. A class distinction, something like this, only more liberal, has always been known even in our democratic country. Just as the Civil War factored so greatly in the elimination of racial castes, so the late war with Germany has been in- strumental in breaking down this other barrier to social equality. Where previously there had been only ill-feeling and bitter rivalry there is now a better sense of equality. The war seems to have opened the eyes of many people so that they can see the good points in others as well as in themselves. But after all this has not come about through war alone. What was gradually being accomplished without the intervention of the War has only been hastened by it. The real, underlying cause of this change has been the intellectual development brought about by the democratic principles taught in the schools. And in this democratic edu- cation, America has led. It was stated in the Ordinance of 1787 that “Religion, mor- ality and education being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Then to prove that this was really meant it was provided that one section from every township in this Northwest Territory should be set aside for educational pur- poses. And as said, the public schools had to be made good enough that wealthy people would send their children to them rather than to private institutions. So they were made good enough and the wealthy people did send their children to these public schools. Thus all classes of children have been educated together in the schools of America. They have been taught the same principles, by the same teachers in the same school rooms. Why then should they not feel that they are only equal? Thus stands the situation today. Much has been accomplished, but much is yet to be done. Classmates, the future is up to us. In the past, men have handled trying situa- tions successfully. They are doing it today. In the near future, we must meet these situations. We must solve these problems, the solution of which will mean either the advance or decline of democracy. Can we take up the work and carry it through suc- cessfully? It is for that we have prepared and must continue to prepare. We must be ready to meet whatever problems may arise. Then we shall keep the ball rolling toward its goal, and the Trail of Democracy will not be interrupted. Twenty-three

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Valedictory “ l'he Trail of Democracy’’ LOIS CLARK 1 hrough all history the one great ideal of the human race has been democracy. All people, regardless of nationality or place of abode, have worked toward this ideal— a democracy, not of government alone, but of social, intellectual and religious equality as well. Progress toward this ideal has been very unsteady, sometimes so slow that no marked advancement could be noticed for a century or more, and sometimes so rapid that every few years seemed to bring forth something previously thought im- possible. Nevertheless the principles and truths governing the thoughts and actions of men have been and are still being unearthed. And it seems always to be when they are most needed and the minds and hearts of men are best able to use them safely and intelligently that these principles are worked out. In earliest times tyranny ruled supreme. One individual, regardless of his char- acter and mental ability, has, by his tyrannical ability to make people fear him, or by his inheritance of a powerful position, held complete control over thousands or even millions of his fellow men, oftentimes many of whom have been his superiors, mentally, morally and physically. Then came a time when these men demanded rights of their own. Their demands seemed trivial enough and to keep his subjects from revolt many a ruler allowed them to settle questions of minor importance for themselves. But truly “Great oaks from little acorns grow,” for encouraged by these small successes, un- consciously and unnoticed by their rulers, they gradually developed greater ability, thereby showing themselves ready and capable of handling more important problems. Thus the whole system changed, so gradually that few noticed, but so decidedly that a jealous ruler, finally realizing that a change had taken place, and wishing to regain his former absolute authority, found himself facing a difficult task. In our own country it has been the same as elsewhere. History has proven that for us. The Separatists of England, having found religious freedom in America, were willing to endure great hardships rather than return to their former subjection to the church of England. The English government, having once allowed Virginia a General Assembly, found that it could not permanently take that right from her. In Massachusetts Bay colony, for a long time only stockholders in the Massachusetts Bay Company were allowed to attend General Court, the legislative body of the colony. But by the “Watertown Protest” and other remonstrances on the part of the people, all this was changed and representation given to all freeholders. Since then many equally important changes have come about, in the government of the world. In the past few centuries great progress has also been made along social and re- ligious lines. Not very many years ago people were compelled to worship after the manner prescribed by their rulers. They could not choose for themselves the church they would attend, but must obey the commands of whatever church was sanctioned by their king. Today everyone has the opportunity of making his own choice in his religion as in other things. Everyone that has read or heard anything about life in India knows that in that country the people are divided into castes, and that there is no intercourse whatever Twenty-two

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Salutatory “Prosper i ty’’ JUANITA GOINS What can be a better recommendation to any community, state or nation than to have it said that it is prosperous. If the community is prosperous, we know there are people—real people—behind it all. So it is with the state or nation, as all of the greatest and best things always originate with the people, not the country as a whole. Classmates, we, who are graduating, have a keen responsibility upon our shoulders. It is in us the people have placed their trust, hoping that we will rise to the occasion and do our duty, whatever it may be. The United States, at the present time is in a very pleasant condition compared with the less fortunate European countries, but we have our problems to contend with —and serious ones too. The great wave of prosperity which has swept over our coun- try is in a large sense accountable for so much unrest and discontent, resulting in strikes. Along with high prices go correspondingly high wages, so that the people as a whole really have little to complain about. Perhaps it is not right to say all the people, because farmers, teachers and a few others have not been raised accordingly, but a better time is coming for them, as soon as their real worth is recognized by the public, for who plays a more important part in the development and sustenance of a nation than the teachers and farmers ? Not only in this country is our capital in demand, but abroad as well. There is much building and reconstruction work going on, both in Europe and the United States, and all this requires capital. Foreign countries must feel that we are prosperous or they would not place so much dependence in us, and our own people must have some- thing of the same feeling, in order to attempt the things which they have. This great work of reconstruction is not going to be finished in a year, and our capable readers of today cannot always be with us. New' men will have to rise to meet the responsibility It is the graduates of today who will be called upon to carry on this work, so we should strive to give the best that is in us. The results of prosperity are not always for the best. It is shown by actual fact that the National government is spending four times as much as it did before the war. State and city are following the same example, and it is needless to say how many in- dividuals are doing the same. What is to be done? The people seem to forget that al- though the cannon has ceased to roar and the majority of our boys are back to their homes, we still have battles to fight. People should take advantage of past history and profit by it. All of the great panics came after a period of great prosperity and in- flation. Can we not save ourselves from falling into the same pit? We need a better and more proper appreciation of the common everyday things of life. There is more needless spending and a greater tendency to speculation than ever before. Does it look as if America could afford it? With the cooperation of our more experienced friends, those to whom we are deeply indebted for their help and sincere regard, during our school days, we, who are about to venture into the vast unknown, will be able to do our bit toward bettering conditions and to master more successfully, the work which is ret before us. Twenty-four