Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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THE MILESTONE. 9 of all Europe. This great king revised the laws, established schools, and founded the first university in Europe. With h 11 these improvements frugality and nobility of character were everwhere taught and practiced. Under Charlemagne’s successors a greater portion of the kingdom was lost and the remainder fell from its high estate. When the Bourbons came into power the country was once more elevated, the aim now being to make the people happy and prosperous. As the nation increased a grand political scheme was devised to unite all Europe into one vast Christian republic; to refer every petty dispute to an international congress instead of settling these vexing questions by the sword. After this the empire again began to decay, the poor were oppressed, the clergy and nobles became corrupt. The court presented such scenes of gayety as have never been surpassed. The poor man. the taxpayer, was oppressed, completely ignored and slowly reduced to slavery. This is always an infallible token of weak governing power. The laboring class is the strongest element in a nation and as long as its rights are respected all must prosper. Finally the national character was so degraded in France that the worship of God was set aside. The Goddess of Reason, a woman of the town, was placed on high. A nation with men and women in such a degraded state could not exist long and in the time of Louis XVI. the citizens are no longer men but demons. Where in history are recorded such brutal deeds as those committed during the Reign of Terror! On the other side of the globe exists a nation that has furnished more noble characters than any other. In its infancy the foundation was well laid. The men were willing to endure every hardship for the sake of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own conscience. The women shared their husband's burdens and were robbed of every comfort. This they endured that they might live in a land where their children should be untainted by infidelity and licen tiousness. Is it strange such a people should grapple with the most powerful nation on the globe and be victorious? They knewr they were on the side of right and that God is always with the righteous. His blessing was invoked ami freely

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NJ tional ©l] amcter. Jennie Bawden. [This Oration won the Gold Modal at tho Hitfh School Oratorical Contest of North Nebraska, April 3, 1891.] The life of the individual is symbolic of the life of the nation, for by the character of the citizen the national character is judged. How thoroughly the early Romans understood this! From infancy the child was taught to endure all hardships and to believe that what was done for the nation no matter how much it interfered with personal enjoyments was just and right. All were subjected alike to the severest tests. The sternness of Horatius who stabbed his sister for weeping over the death of an enemy of his country seems to us inhuman. But the effects of such loyalty and patriotism can never be effaced. Step by step Rome rose until she became mistress of the world. As Rome advanced in power, gradually, almost imperceptibly. fliis sternness, this honest poverty which had elevated the Roman character gave way, the extravagance and effeminacy of the conquered nations taking its place. What a contrast is there between the frugal meals of the early patricians and the magnificent banquets where a single dish cost hundreds of dollars; between Brutus, tearless at, the execution of his children, and a senator weeping at the death of a fish. To secure office bribery was carried to such an extent that a Roman said: “Ah, venal city, and destined quickly to perish if it but find a purchaser!” Barbarous tribes began to make serious inroads and at length the imperial city was sacked. France under Charlemagne was the most powerful country

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10 THE MILESTONE. given. Self was forgotten in the zeal for general welfare. Good conduct, high principles, kindness, forbearance, self-denial, and the love of justice infused those patriots with strength and courage. We think of Washington as the greatest of these early heroes, but there were other noble men of whom history makes no mention that did their parts well. What could Washington have done if those privates had shirked in duty, for no “Purpose is so great but that slight actions may help it.” Wise Benjamin Franklin advanced the cause with his witty sayings and genial manner while working whole-souled in foreign courts in his country’s behalf. All the Revolutionary heroes have joined that “Innumerable caravan that moves to the pale realms of shade.” “They have taken with them to the grave their powers, their honors and their errors but they have left us their adoration.” After the war was ended a great work was before the infant nation. Now was the time to show the training of the stern Puritans and the peaceful Quakers. It required all the sternness, all the charity of both sects to place the government on a firm basis. When the crisis was passed had those forefathers returned to earth they would have realized their lives had not been in vain. Years after w hen even the proud Mistress of the Seas had been humbled it became evident that the greatest enemy was at home. While sections of the nation work in unison.all is well, but when internal strifes come then is its greatest danger. Many years before the civil war Henry Clay produced his famous Missouri compromise: later on came the Omnibus Bill. The fiery eloquence of John C. Calhoun stirred the south as Patrick Henry had aroused the people in old colonial days. All the power of Daniel Webster could only check not stay the storm. With the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln it burst and Sumpter fell. You all know the result. If the majority of the citizens of the United States decide a certain thing must be done, the world may depend upon its being done. The stern character implanted by our forefathers is immortal. Slavery was abolished, but at what a cost? In almost every home there is some one to tell of patient endur-