Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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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-

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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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THE MILESTONE. 11 anee and bloody conflict. Frequently the narrative closes with, “My boy sleeps in an unknown grave somewhere in the South.” Recently the nation has mourned the death of three of its greatest ones. Twenty years hence few of the soldier hoys will be with us for “With drum-beat and heart-beat the soldiers go forth.” Let us ever cherish their memories in honor and love. Many noble deeds are recorded but the actions of the countless host will be known only in Heaven. As succeeding generations learn of those who placed their lives on their nation’s altar fresh laurels will be added to their fame and their names will quite overshadow the early patriots. Our national character is to-day on a firm basis. Ry studying the fate of fallen nations we can profit by their experiences. Buskin has said, “Do not let us degrade ourselves voluntarily and then mutter and mourn over our shortcomings.” We are now advancing rapidly. Every liberty-loving country is watching us and wherever a new republic is founded the United States is taken as a model. And thus the seed sown by our forefathers is springing up and bearing fruit for the harvest, “Some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold.”