Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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The Voyageur ln our own history we need only recall certain names, the roll-call of which is the story of our own mother island and our own race: Alfred-in the dim and misty past, Simon de Nlontfort and Wat Tyler-in the uncertainty of the Middle Ages: Pym, Eliot, Hampden and Cromwell-in the first of the modern struggles to make effective the power of the people, Burke-in the British House of Commons, speaking for the colonists, Pitt-summoning England to have Europe from an earlier enslavementg and others of as great or only slightly lesser stature. This list. of course, culminates in our own day with that leader who, by his own unaided voice, rallied England and the world just five short years ago to save itself. Other countries, too, have had their own leaders who incarnated the dreams and hopes of their fellow countrymen. They were dreamers. writers, statesmen:-Luther and Goethe in Germany, Mazzini, Garibaldi and Cavour in Italy, Rousseau and Voltaire in France, Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek in China, Gandhi and Nehru in India. These latter four speak for the numberless millions of the Orient. This roll-call of heroes could be continued,--men who dreamed, believed and dared-who counted not the cost-who, each in his own country, in his own time, in his own way, had a vision and never flinched. ln the history of the United States there are probably only two names that rank in this illustrious roll, prior to him whose name is now added. The first of these is Washirigton, the father of his country, who laid sure and strong the foundations of the Union. The second is Lincoln, who felt the lash on the other manis back-Lincoln, the backwoods boy-the first, the true, the authentic American. He was uneducated except by nature and his own efforts, but he inspired, and inspires still, all who believe in the essential dignity of all members of the human race. To these two we now add a third-one who carried the load, not merely for his own nation but who gave to that nation a new consciousness of its world responsibilities and who himself provided the example. History will enshrine his name as the equal of his two predecessors' and perchance recog- nize it as the greatest of the three. For twelve years and one month his story is the story of the American people. ln the sense that every true leader does for his followers, he in- carnated their best hopes and fondest dreams. Even though reviled by those who differed from him in his solutions, he nevertheless could not help but express, even for them, their own deep yearnings for the welfare of the American people. In every sense he was wise and eloquent in his teaching and through his wisdom at a most critical time in history, fit leader of his people. Nothing much more needs to be said. True greatness requires neither gilding nor embroidery. The facts of his life are well known. He was born in 1882, the heir of considerable wealth, educated by private tutors, then at one of America's exclusive private schools and at Harvard Univer- 18

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The l'oyoge11r An address delivered by the heaa'moster on the occasion of the Roosevelt Memorial Service. April 15th, I..9i5. N THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE there have been periods of comparative peace when life has moved along more or less uneventfully and with a lack of serious tensions. During those periods the forces of progress and reaction seemed to be more or less evenly balanced. These periods of peace and lack of tension were broken by intervals of strife and struggle which frequently have broken into open warfare. At such times in history the fate of nations, and sometimes the fate of all mankind. has seemed to hang in the balance. From one point of view the story of the human race is a simple story of masses of ordinary people, working. playing. living and dying, striving always, though at times gropingly, to improve their own lot, and always hoping to pass on a better inheritance to their children and their childrenis children. But at the great critical moments in history, the hopes. the dreams, the yearnings, the strivings of the masses are crystallized in the personalities of the great leaders of the human race. From another point of view, therefore, human history can be told in the biographies of its great men. At times leaders. men of tremendous capacity, have been mistaken in their judgments. These in their turn have thus helped to create their own opposites and in the battle of the Titans which ensues. the progress of the human race is either advanced or retarded. Individuals may be lost in the intensity of this struggle: there may be delay. retrogression and appar- ent failure. But as one writer puts it. 'cHistory moves in grim cycles and man is broken on the wheel. but the road winds up., not down, forward not back.-and it is worth the travelling. If it were not so, man would have let the wagon mire long agofi 17

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The Voyageur sity. He was early interested in politics and served as assistant secretary of the Navy during the last war. ln the full prime of his manhood he was stricken by paralysis while swimming at his summer home at Campo- bello. N. B. He could have retired from politics and lived a life of ease, but he struggled valiantly against his illness and carried with him the same courage into his political life. He was elected Governor of New York State and four times chosen as their President by the people of the United States. When he first took office, the United States, along with the other countries, was in the depths of the greatest economic depression the world has ever known. The financial system of his own country was in chaos. ln the international sphere Hitler had just taken office and was beginning that nefarious programme which Roosevelt, with a clarity denied to most men, early understood. Some disagreed with his policies both domestic and foreign, but he was never one to fear to adventure or to experiment. Said he in 1933: 6'We have nothing to fear but fear itself . And so the United States weathered that storm. ln the world of nations he recognized that the United States must emerge from its traditional shell of isolationism and accept responsibilities commensurate with its power. Said he: c'This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. He knew from the beginning that it was America's struggle. ln Britain's darkest hour he extended help which was just a prelude to lend-lease and the uncounted and uncountable contribution that America has since made. ln sight of the promised land he died, permitted only to see at a distance, the achievement for which he had worked, but not himself to enjoy it. And now he, too, belongs to the ages! His greatness none can dispute. Though he walked with kings and princes and men in high places, he lost not the common touch. The humblest citizen, not only of his own country, but of all countries, feels his loss as the loss of a personal friend. His outstanding gift was a capacity for friendship that united him automatically with all men everywhere. ln his relationships with people he was natural, unaffected, though never shunning the white light that beats upon the throne, he was himself. It is not difficult to understand his friendship with the negro servant who ministered to his physical wants at Warm Springs. It is not difficult to understand his affection for a little black dog. As one of the students said last night, ul wonder how Falla feelsw. From quiet homes and first beginnings Out to undiscovered ends, Thereis nothing worth the wear of winning But laughter and the love of friends. Another great quality was his courage. lt enabled him to conquer his physical weakness. Only once, do l know, that he ever made public refer- ence to the heavy steel braces on his legs or drew attention to the fact that during the whole latter part of his career, it was impossible for him to stand upright without support. 19