Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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TilK MILRSTONK. country and its marvelous process in science, art, and in all that makes a nation great. e have gained an ever growing admiration from all nations. following each branch of industry from its small beginning to the magnitude which it may now possess, we are shown that the progress of the Isist, great as it lias been, is but preliminary to that which the future promises, when entrusted to the rising generation of genius. Underlying all vast industries, however, are the broad fields of individual industry, where a single person, depending only on his own skill and perseverance not only is able to create an industry, but also to devise a means for making it useful. In almost every case but little money capital is possessed at the beginning, but there is a better capital than mere money in the self reliant genius of the invincible American. Look over the whole list of nations and show me one in which a boy can start from so humble a position as a log cabin or the tow path and reach the highest office in the government, as did (airfield,— “Horn in a lovely western wild, And cradled on a cabin floor, He labored when a little obi Id, To keep the gannt wolf from the door.” Vet the place for greatest improvement is in our settlement of the social and political problems. Although we cannot expect such a revolution as Bellamy experienced when he opened his eyes to a new civilization in the twentieth century, we look forward to the time when the backbone of monopolies of every’ description shall be broken, when no one may live without work, und no one be obliged to labor without receiving the full value of his services. We look forward to the time when the noble maxim of our forefathers that “All men are created free and equal” shall be one of the practical principles ot life instead of merely a fine spun theory quoted by every demagogue orator. We long to see uncorrupted elections, and straightforward men in public ottice, obeying the dictates of an intelligent constituency. We shall welcome the day when public office shall, in reality, be a public trust, and when the politician who would secure his election by a series of juggling acts in which the people are deceived—when such men shall be retired very hastily to deserved positions of dishonor and disgrace. He who is false to the people

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26 Til K MtliKSTONE. passed, but he still has enough to do to maintain the supremacy of our national reputation, to prepare himself for the intelligent discharge of his duties as a citizen; and his love of country is not cold and formal, but will stand the test of time. Benedict Arnold is as well known to American boys ns George Washington; and he is as thoroughly hated for his treason as Washington is loved for his patriotism. Show me the American boy who docs not reverence the Stars mid Stripes! As he beholds it floating in the breeze, its stars to him are real, its lines of white represent the heroic purity of his forefathers, and those of red are dyed with their patriot blood, shed in defense of a righteous cause. Should he be called upon, either to defend or assert his country’s rights, lie would yet hail the sword as a sacred weapon; for, if it has sometimes taken the form of a serpent and been gorged with the blood of the oppressor, it has more often been wrought into peaceful forms to assist the mechanic in his work or to deck the freeman’s brow. For truthfulness, Young America is also distinguished. In this respect, as in others, he follows the illustrious example of the Father of his country. Still, if we read the prominent papers or listen to the eloquence of campaign speakers, we arc led to think that some Americans have outgrown this natural tendency. When the farmer is told that the tariff makes high prices for grain and low prices for iron, and the iron manufacturer is told that it makes high prices for iron and low prices for grain, we cannot but wish that the Father of his Country had lived a couple of centuries longer, and given a few practical object lessons on his specialty in every community. In no respect, however, is the Young American more distinctly in advance of the boys of other nations than in inventive genius. What boy has not studied out the philosophy of a kite, made a battery, or spoiled his mother's knives trying to plate them; and what boy has not demanded a machine to bring in the coal, milk the cow, and do the churning? Few young Americans have not worked harder, twice over, building a machine to save him some little task than would have been necessary to do the work in the good old way. To these characteristics, however, we owe the development of this

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28 the milestone. he represents, or makes promises he has no intention of keeping or who attempts to prejudice a people by falsehood or incendiary utterances, is as much a traitor to his country’s best interests as was the contemptible Arnold. “Let us burn and destroy the idols of party worship; banish politics from the municipality and county, limiting it to questions affecting principles in the state and nation; place competency and integrity at ever)’ part of the public service. Let us adorn our courts with judges worthiest to wield the attributes of God; elect representatives that will reflect the majority of a free people, send to the senate statesmen whom history will immortalize and nations make their models, uphold them with a patriotism that will never tire, and guard them with a vigilance that will never sleep.” Let Young America be taught such principles as these from the cradle up, and our national fiber will ever grow stronger, our government better and more just, and our people happier and more prosperous. Lynn M. Scofield.