Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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To our living limits, young Dent (ioodloe. C’urlry. Junes. Ijung. and llvsli|». Ik- ever llic pride and glory of Ainu Mater. I deprecate tin- recent attempt in some quarters u|mn a plea of sincerity and truth to destroy the splendid idealism with which the American youth went forth to war. hy asserting tliey were afraid not to light. I rather •hcrish the idealism of the great leader who siid, Thai our object i- to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life oi the world, as against selfish and autocratic power: that they went forth to light tor democracy, tor the right of those who submit i authority to have a voice in |heir own governments, for the rights and lilicrlics of small nations —as well as the great. Victory of the Allies was a triumph, in j«art. at least, of those great ideals. I lave we colored Americans a right to claim a slum in the fruits of victory? I lave we a right to sjieak of the lessons of war? When the age-long conflict between the Teuton and «aul for dominion and power ami glory had once more set Ivurope allanic. and the conflagration was extending wider and farther to other nations, and the whole structure of our modern civilization menaced, when the honor of America was assailed, her prestige among tiations challenged, the rights of her nationals upon the high sens violated in contemptuous disregard of all law. the colored American asked only tor a chance to prove his fidelity, loyally, and devotion to meriran institutions and ideals Half a million men filled the ranks of our armies; two tUuisaud went over the seas to serve in France and Italy. Whether with Dej»ot brigades, the Stevedore regiments, the Kngmeer-. so-called, doing the menial work of the army, they did tu t complain, they were happy in sticlt service. Along that far-flung battle lines. from the Y-er to the Marne, with the lighting units of the army, they bravely met death in every conceivable shaj»e. Their hli n | and I tones, mingled with the sacred soil oi France, will nourish a tree of lilierty for a thousand year-, and nuke “liltcrtv. fraternity, ami equality a thing worth lighting for. and. if need Ite. worth dying for. I.ei us l»elicvc that in falling upon the field oi l»attlc. their uplifted eyes caught the vision of a liltcrated world.” in which equal justice and democracy shall rule. not lor some men. hut for all men ; not for white men alone, hut for brown, black, yellow, and all the children of men.

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(went) millions more, inniim‘ ! ami wounded in this unholy ceremony. Tltev fought ii]X»n the seas, and U-neath the ocean's depth; they fought ujion tlu earth, and in the heavens al ove. As Senator Henry Calx it I .odge. one of the greatest statesmen of his time—or of any time has said of the war with deejx-r significance, as I think. (Jther.s things, the impalj-ahlc possessions of the mind and heart, have m like fashion been wounded and crippled. Indeed, the liiiman intellect was f»r«istitnted as never la-fore to baser purposes. Science itself, which has added so much to the comfort and happiness of man, was turned to his destruction. Not only was chemistry o m|»cl)cd to coiitrihutc her share, in poisonous gases, deadly bacilli, and more terrible explosives; hut the aeroplane. the autocar, and wireless telegraphy, twentieth century developments, must jiay their tribute also to the (Vod of War What shall he said, too. of the debasement of the higher man. the lessening of all moral restraint, the practical denial of the teachings of the Christ? The great war was an eclipse of the moral world Might Ixvame the sole test of right The im| al|iahle possessions of the mind and heart have suffered most. When I stood here last, I did not hear the | eaceful Ik-IIs calling men and women to the recitation hall, or chnjH-l for a |x riiwl of study and meditation; hut this campus resounded with arms, with tlu- tramp of marching men. I heard the bugle call to the assembly, and there | asscd in review the Students’ Army Training Corps. I.r» men. the very pick and flower of our schools and colleges Howard University, nestling within the shadow- of the Capitol, supported increasingly, by the Nation itself fot the education of the colored youth, could not fail to answer the country's call for trained leadership and unselfish service The spirit of her great founder and iuspiror. that great Christian soldier and patriot, (ieneral O. O Howard, a name worthy to stand in history by the side of Godfrey dc Rotiillion and Sir Philip Sidney, keeps its vigil lure. In his spirit the men of Howard went forth to the war. The University will ever cherish the memory of Fairfax. Proctor. Davis. Summons. Cork, and Carter, wlio gave their all to country and humanity To make the next age liettor for the last. In the words of another line of Lowell's commemoration ode. We welcome back our bravest and our liest.

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The problems of tin world today are not only economic readjustment, the reconstruction of devastated regions, the restoration .•» jHtblir onlcr these follow naturally in the wake oi war; hut the rebuilding of our civilization along lines which give !i i|k of its jieriiiancncc. and i T| ctiiity. The cademic classes of 1! | go forth with an opportunity for service such as conies t » few generations of college-bred men and women I I lessons for the hour, the lesson that I would have you go forth this day and impress u|»on your fellows, i the lesson taught by the great Workl War, that the maintenance of the supremacy of the laws is the lir t duty of man. When William the Third ascended the throne and proclaimed himself ruler by divine right, he exclaimed, “He who opjxiscs my will I will crush him. Ilis will was to Ik the lex suprema. There is none s«» low n-dav a the all-highest of yesterday Xo single will ran rule the world today the collective will of all alone may make the law far all. The German Kmpirc. built upon Wood and iron. jicrishcd by hl »od and iron. because she thought that might made right, and that the end justified die means The command. “Thou shall not steal” applies to nations as well as individuals. The war taught us that the law of co-ojieration of friendship and gixn! will among nations i essential t » flic jn-acc ami happiness of the workl. (Irdcr is the first law of heaven, and must Ik made the tir t law of earth, or there can lie nothing hut social chaos and anarchy in the world. Individuals and nations must learn to oliev the Laws, which they tliemsdves have made for their own protection ami happiness. If there an anywhere classes of moil outside the jmle of the law. none are safely within its walls, lawlessness and violence produce lawlessness and violence. I.aw is universal, and if it is not everywhere, it is nowhere. From the earliest times, when the shepherds gazed upon the stars at night, through all the ages from I‘tokrins to Cojk. miens. Gallilco. Kepler. Newton. Hcrschel. and Kinstein. men have lieen trying to discover the laws of the universe. Out there in that vast and ont|ity space we call the sky arc many worlds besides our own. There is no war. or clash of worlds. Iiecause inch olicys the law of its Ix-ing. Tlu simple law of gravitation keeps each planet in it orbit The attraction of each for the other keeps it in the jxult marked out