Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 15 A Backward Step. MARGUERITE TOFTE. COMMONWEALTH,” says Cicero, “ought to be immortal, and A forever renew its youth.” Is this statement correct, or must ]) every government in time perish? We know that nations of the past have been progressive and then have failed, and that many nations now existing are in stages of rapid decline. Some historians attribute the decline of Rome to changes in her form of government, to too rapid expansion, and to the lack of armed forces. But, by a closer study, it is very apparent that there was no limit to her expansion as long as her men were vigorous ; that her strength was not diminished, either as a kingdom, as a republic, or as an empire, except as her men became materially weaker. Her armed forces ceased to be powerful only when her men lost their virtue and patriotism. This, naturally, goes to prove, as Mr. Wood says, “that men, high-minded, virtuous men constitute and perpetuate the nation, and as long as men retain their manhood, so long the nation will live.” Now, possessing this knowledge, can not we avoid the awful calamity which has befallen the empires of the past? No nation to-day can boast of men of mightier intellect than our own country. No nation affords more opportunities. Look about you. Through- out the whole country are scattered colleges and industrial schools. Free schools are established both in the East and in the West with compulsory educational laws recognizing neither wealth nor title. There is every chance in this direction for our country to produce high-minded, virtuous men, who will elevate our moral standards and bring our people into a higher spiritual life. I said a little while ago, avoid the awful calamity which has befallen the empires of the past. What must we avoid ? What is the great foe of men and nations? For your answer go to the jails and penitentiaries and learn that seventy- five per cent of our criminals owe their downfall to drink ; or go to the asylums and see the thousands driven mad by intoxicants; or look about you and see the millions of homes made desolate by the blighting curse of intemperance. It is intemperance that is threatening American manhood, and therefore the life of our nation. Each day brings us face to face with the appalling liquor problem, and we are forced to recognize it as the supreme issue of the day. The principal cause of intemperance is the legalized saloon, its ultimate accomplishment being ruined manhood, ruined homes, ruined nations.

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14 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Calendar of Commencement W eek May 17 to 22, 1908 Sunday, May 17, 10:30 a. m., BACCALAUREATE SERMON at Christian Church, By Rev. Bruce Brown Thursday, May 21, 8:00 p. in., COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES at Memorial Opera House ; address by Dr. George Vincent, University of Chicago Friday, May 22, 8:00 p. m., ALUMNI BANQUET, High School Building Program for Commencement Exercises March High School Orchestra Invocation Rev. E. A. Oldenburg Music, Selected .... High School Glee Club Address, “ Fads and Fashions” . Rev. George E. Vincent, University of Chicago Music, Selected . . . High School Glee Club Presentation of Diplomas . . Prof. J. E. Roessler Benediction . . . . . Rev. S. I. Long

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16 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL We are to-day living in a wonderful age of big undertakings. At every hand is to be seen advancement, improvement and progress. Nothing stands still. But who are the workers? They are the calm, honest, thoughtful men who make this condition of growth possible. But, if High License becomes the highest expression of the moral law of our country, are we still going to continue our progress? Will not High License be a Backward Step? Forty-five years ago, our country stood in dreadful peril because of slavery. It was then that the noble work of Garrison, Sumner and Harriet Beecher Stowe was completing itself. While they were sacrificing their very lives in this great work, others were ridiculing and mocking them. But soon their fondest desires were fulfilled when the immortal Lincoln freed from the bonds of slavery millions of colored men. Look with me upon the present. Around us we see other Garrisons, other Sumners and many Harriet Beecher Stowes, sacrificing their lives in an even greater work for humanity — the Cause of Temperance. Some one has said that “looking forward into the not distant future, we shall see some second Lincoln striking the bonds of slavery from millions of drink-cursed men.” But grant for a moment that the saloons are diminished by High License. What practical difference does that make? Twenty horses can drink no more from twenty troughs than from ten, and if there is water enough and room enough, they can drink all they want at one trough. It is a question of supply and demand. Diminish the saloons if you wish, but that settles nothing so long as there is enough liquor for all. License, either high or low, is a fraud and a sham as a temperance measure and we can easily see that nearly all the tax of high license is shifted upon the laboring man. and what is more, not only him but upon those dependant upon him. In our Declaration of Independence, we are told that all men are created free and equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Have we then the right to license that which takes life, which forfeits liberty and which destroys happiness? Our government does nothing to protect the wives and children who suffer from extreme want, but instead the weight of the whole nation seems to be uniting to crush them. You say indifferently, “It can’t he helped.” Have you tried to lessen this crime? No. You propose to license the very evil which causes all the misery and in reality what right have you to license saloons? The saloon-keepers will say, “Well, it is not our fault,” and they will show you their license and say, “We are agents of the government.” The government will not license a thief and how much more right have they to license saloons? This evil not only affects the laboring man, but draws all other classes into its net. If you are sick, you do not call in a drunken physician ; if you