Wilmington High School - Hourglass Yearbook (Wilmington, MA)

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. ,a -ghtning bolt, causing unemployment and the accumulation T large deb's. Because we were at liberty to free ourselves from this istable position, there has been no economic strife like that found n many parts of the world today. There are many elements present in this country which illustrate ir ideals of Americanism. Our government has provided a system of ree education which is both practical and helpful. From high school, student may enter immediately upon his life's work, or he may contin- s his education in the state universities which are open to everyone. Tter the student has been offered an opportunity to learn a practical zcupation, he has a good chance to prove his abilities, there being any openings in most occupations with a good chance for advancement nr those who learn rapidly. Giving everyone an opportunity to show me best he can do is one of the privileges offered to every American. We also have been given equal privileges in personal and civic ntters. Our constitution, whose doctrin is protected by the Supreme nurt, gives us freedom of speech, religion, meeting, and petition. 1 order that the government would not become too greatly centralized md threaten our personal liberties, states rights have been given .most an equal footing to those of federal rights. If any attempt s made to deprive us of our just rights, we may appeal to the courts. ie roof iemocratic part of our government is the privilege of elect- mg our .lic officials by direct vote. In so ion to these privileges we have been given working condi- .ons whicg W more leisure. Our economic system provides shorter :urs of work re time to spend as we desire. Faster transporta- .on facilities h vrtened distances, making travel for business o :creation more pleas Labor-saving machinery has taken the drud- l-I Ll .at apr i , of met tur and of. BPS ing 4 I

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0Wf:T IS - rnlu 5i:T?N TNQ Cline of lfeO crtcrss to vou 5 'oct cordial velcorc on t Lt, our 'ff'v t sn dar. iftey Voir vsars of STV n NG pvc T: 'Y to look ?C1 rd to ovr uri fn utien lr lift, f -fc Isl . to share thishappiness with you and thank you for your co-operation. I wish to talk to you tonight on the sub- ject, Nwhat is Americanism?U , Lincoln difined it as, HA new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.n He said what was in the minds of the founders of our nation when they drew up the Constitution of the United-States Because of the work done by both Lincoln and the founders of this country we are now living in a country where equal oppor- tunity for success and happiness are bestowed on us. Throughout our history, the rights granted to us under the Constitution have halped keep our nation urified and demo- cratic. During the early weakness of our nation, the attrac- tiveness of these rights gained the supfort of the people to- ward the strengthening of the Union. Our nation was again in a weak condition when the question of slavery caused a split in the Union and a Civil War between the North and the South. The men who fought to preserve the Union did so be- cause they had a strong patriotic belief in a Union which gave them equal rights. Today, when the economic status of the world is unbal- anced these rivhts are like a beacon in the darkness. ln, D 1929, a depression hit us with the force and the disastrous

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----1. - -----' -'M' 'HA' T . V--,..---- - W ' - ' -vevvs-s-.-.n-.4 !!!!lElll!nllllgnnp--g-T' AM ,aal- -me ' ' - - A ' ' --vr , Q, A I ........-vw gpsmm-vw---,.- an .. new out of many occupations, which were once re garded as burdensome asks. There are free museums and libraries for those who wish to Sggud their spare time in reading and study. The high standard of li ing of the people of this country has created a demand for all sorts 2 gf luxuries and various forms of entertainment. This demand has bear . is Emct by recent inventions in such as automobiles, radios, moving pic- gtures, refrigerators, and all sorts of electrical appliances. Clubs .and other social organizations have done much toward bringing all typa 4 1 : fof society in closer touch with onc another. I Q As we look back upon these ideals of Americanism, we are glad we fare Americans. - I E Edmund Vigeant - f P 5 2 I 1 5 Q 2 Q 3 i E E 5 E E E n 5 fi c 2 S ia Q 1 2 3 F 2