University of Wisconsin Superior - Gitche Gumee Yearbook (Superior, WI)

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vessel brings its thousands of foreigners. Most of these arc men of character who prove as good citizens, as loyal patriots, as any native born American; but with these come men who furnish an element most dangerous to our national life—men to whom government has meant tyranny; law, oppression; and obedience to higher authority, slavery. Here, then, is a problem that confronts us; that, unsolved, might mean disaster to our republic. It behooves us to deal justly with these unfortunates, to develop their characters and train them for responsible and effective citizenship, and, through the impress of our laws and free institutions, make them realize their obligation to the nation. When this is accomplished, the influx of foreigners will be a cause for rejoicing rather than for alarm. America will feel proud of an array of guests such as the world has never seen before—guests who come not alone to cat and drink, but to work—to harvest our crop, to dig our mines, to reclaim our land, to build our highways, to develop our resources, and with the fruits of their labor to establish American homes. The race problem, too, must be solved. No nation can be permanently secure while race prejudice dominates. The sectional differences which it creates arc bound to prove inimical to the highest interests of the nation. The North as well as the South must take an active part in the solving of this great problem; for both arc affected. Through ignorance, race prejudice, or mere forgetfulness, the negro has been too often unjustly dealt with. We have lost sight of the fact that he was suddenly thrust into a new environment much too ideal for his stage of development, and we have unfairly judged his conduct by our standard of civilization, which has been thousands of years in the making. If the negro is to attain to higher standards of living, we must give him time to grow. We can hasten his progress by extending him a helping hand. Education and training for practical and useful life should be our aim. We have already abundant proof of success along these lines. The work of Booker T. Washington shows us what can be done for the negro. He has accomplished more for his race than any other man. The negro is eager to rise. He docs not ask for social equality, but lie docs demand civil equality. By depriving him of the right of suffrage, we rob him of his only spur to self-improvement; by lynching him, we degrade and lower ourselves. But, through sympathy, brotherly love, and a practical education, the race problem will be solved, and the negro will no longer be a menace to the state. With the dawn of the twentieth century many new problems have sprung up that, unsolved, will become a force for evil strong enough to undermine the very foundation of our government—problems that arc the natural outgrowth of the tremendous social and industrial changes that characterize our age, such as illegal trusts and monopolies, unearned fortunes, discriminating railroads, and a host of other evils, due directly to the influence of these powerful forces. Following the exposure of these evils, a general wave of resentment has swept through our country, and many reforms have since followed in its wake. But the work is not complete. Much still remains to be done. The evils arc still here. Even after being apparently stamped out of existence, they reappear in fresh disguise, defying our laws and endangering the life of our institutions. Before our nation can be secure, it must purge itself of these forces that threaten its destruction. The trumpet call of the hour is for men of character, champions of right and justice; men whose principles arc above the purchasing power of money; men who have the courage of their convictions, and who dare assert themselves. The time calls PACE TWENTY-SIX

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(luring which our nation grew from a mere strip of land bordering the Atlantic to its present vast area. Even the sea did not check its growth. Alaska has since been added; and, of late, Porto Rico and Cuba, Hawaii and the Philippines have also come under the protecting banner of our republic. The truest proofs of our nation’s greatness arc to he found, not in its rapid territorial expansion, but in the work it has accomplished for humanity. History records no other nation that has done more to emancipate mankind from ignorance and superstitition, and to deliver the weak from the tyranny and oppression of the strong. No sooner had it freed itself from foreign despotism and established its own independence, than it became the liberator of other peoples. Its support made possible the establishment of the South American republics. Its righteous indignation expelled the last vestige of Spanish cruelty from Porto Rico and Cuba. Its statesmanship prevented the dismemberment of China, at the close of the Boxer rebellion. When all other nations held aloof, its friendly intervention enabled Russia and Japan to bring to a close the most terrible war of recent times. These are the achievements that justify our claim to greatness. This has not been achieved without heroic effort. Nowhere has there been a more loyal, a more truly self-sacrificing people, who have braved more tempest to preserve their freedom and their inalienable rights as men. In the course of its brief history our nation has encountered many difficulties; but its loyal citizens have ever been prompt to respond, and after every struggle it has emerged a more confident and united nation. Through eternal vigilance and unswerving loyalty to principles of justice, it has attained the crest of the highest wave of enlightenment, and become the most prosperous and powerful of nations. With such a glorious past, what is to be the future of our republic? History records many great nations that have left little or no trace of their existence. Assyria, Persia, Egypt, and many other nations, famous in their day as leaders in the world’s progress, arc today little more than names. Of Greece and all her glory, what is left us save ruins? Even Rome, the greatest of them all, has perished. We reap the fruits of her toil. We have her laws, her art, her literature; but Rome herself is no more. What caused her destruction? Foreign invasions? The hordes of the northern barbarians? No; Rome, and Rome alone, was the cause of her own downfall! Has the inglorious fate of these great nations no lesson to teach us? Shall we not heed their timely warning? We, too, arc threatened, not by invading enemies, but by that mightier and more insidious foe which worked the ruin of so many proud empires. Shall our nation, too, crumble through the corruption and decay of her own people? “Tell me what your young men of twenty are thinking about,” says Goethe, “and I will tell you the future of your state.” Upon the earnest purpose of our people depends the future welfare of our republic. As the character of the aggregate is determined by the character of its units, so the wisdom of our nation is determined by the wisdom of every individual citizen within its borders. If our nation is to continue its great work for humanity, its people must be as true to its ideals as were those who responded to her call in past crises. If we arc true to our country’s call, our nation will not falter in its mission; but if we become corrupt and indifferent to the voice of duty, our nation must meet the inevitable fate. The future security of our nation depends upon our ability to solve her problems. One that most directly concerns her destiny is the problem of immigration. We have become a cosmopolitan people, not alone in nationality, but in ideals. Every incoming GIT CUE GUMEE PAGE TWENTY-FIVE

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for men of the mental calibre and moral courage of a Lincoln; men who not only keep abreast of their time, but who blaze the way for progress; men fit to mould the destiny of a nation. Under the guidance of such leaders, the future greatness of our republic is assured. This, indeed, will continue to be the Land of Promise, the refuge of the oppressed and downtrodden of all nations; a place of opportunity, where the humblest may, by energy and application, rise to positions of trust and honor; a place where democracy permeates the whole structure of society; a place where aristocracy and caste arc unknown, where all are equally free and independent. May this always be as true in the future as it has been in the past. Then our nation will forever remain an inspiration to the millions who are struggling for freedom in their own lands—an embodiment of their highest ideals of justice and liberty. Business fKeeting Business convention of the Inter-Normal Oratorical League, held at Superior, Wis., March 20, 1908. Meeting called to order by President Winter. The following committee on credentials was appointed: Ellis N. Calcf, Paul Spencer, George Wchrwcin. Recess. Report of the Committee on Credentials.—The committee reported favorably on the credentials of the following: Burford M. Gilc, Whitewater; Ben A. Arncson, Whitewater; John W. Warnc, Plattcvillc; George Cleary, Plattcvillc; Jennie Hogan, Superior; Ellis N. Calcf, Superior; George Wchrwcin, Oshkosh; Garret A. Stelsel, Oshkosh; Henry N. Bclgum, Milwaukee; Robert Haukhol, Milwaukee; Paul Spencer, River Falls; Charles Sakrison, River Falls; Anna Hanson, Stevens Point; Robert Morrison, Stevens Point. Report accepted. Committee on constitutional amendments appointed: Ben A. Arncson, Robert Haukhol, Robert Morrison. Committee on printing appointed: John W. Warnc, Garret A. Stelsel, Burford M. Gilc. Recess. Report of Committee on Printing.—The committee on printing reported that no bids had been made for the contest number. Report accepted. Moved and carried that the “Gitchc Gurnee,” of Superior, be allowed to print the minutes of this meeting, and the orations, pictures of orators and officers. PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN