Valparaiso University - Beacon / Record Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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age quad agis fama semper vivat PAUL S. KANTZ my

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19 CLASS ORATION WEALTH AS A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. RAYMOND G. BRESSLER. E ARE standing tonight in the radiant glow of twentieth century Cm progress. The events of the swiftly fleeting days of the present era will soon fill out the pages of that volume which records the most wonderful period in the history of man- kind. The history of the past is sufficiently full of evidence to convince us that the downfall of nations is a result of internal disturbances, rather than from any incursions by external fees. The American commonwealth, with its democratic principles, takes great pride in the fact that there is no power mighty enough to invade this country. But we dare not underestimate the forces within that are slowly and surely pursuing their courses, receiving an addition here and apparently administering relief there, until they burst upon us with tide wave strength. The great social problems rise before us in stupendous magnitude and demand a solution. By whom should they be solved? What part do we play in the role? When are we to make our entrance? These are some of the questions which confront us at the present time. They cant be solved during childhood, but in childhood we mould our character and lay the foundation for future usefulness. Children feel the infiuenee of external conditions much more keenly than do older people. They have comparatively n0 responsibilities. But as they develop they assume a more and great responsibilities. They begin to perceive a deeper meaning in life. They arrive at a better conception of local conditions, and guided by that they form their ideal. This ideal is almost certain to be in accordance with their surroundings. Thrice blessed is the young man, who has been raised in a community where the people have the welfare of their country at heart; where politics, religion, and civil education perform their proper functions; where a man meets his fellows face to face in all transactions. That young man will then have a better idea of what ought to be and will be better prepared to cope with some of these great social problems. The time when we must take our glimpse of the larger life has come. Shall we join the mfriends of humanityH and tour the country preaching

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21 In order to train for good citizenship. The citizenship for which we should strive is marked by at least three qualities: morality, patriotism, and intelligence. A highly intelligent nation may become a highly immoral people, failing to hold its own in the struggle for survival. Individually the Greeks were the most intelligent people the world has ever known7 but their public life became corrupt, their standard of domestic life was lowered, their patriot- ism waned, and in spite of their intellectuality they lost their national prestige and power. On the other hand, an ignorant people can never become a strong and socially effective people. Russia of today has virtually taken its place among the second rate powers of the world. A large percentage of its population is made up of the peasant class, who are steeped in ignorance. The explanation of the result of the late Russia-Japanese war is to be found chiefly in the fact that every Japanese soldier and sailor could both read and write. He was consciously intelligent. The vast majority of the Russian soldiers could neither read nor write. I A citizenship which is intelligent, or moral, or patriotic will not alone insure the future greatness of this country. It must be one which combines all three. . In order to establish a good home. The home is the fountain from which everything must spring. In its peculiar relation to the child it can do more for him than any other institution. The care and education of the child devolves upon the home and home-makers. True, the Sunday school takes upon itself the spiritual education and the day school the secular education, but the destiny of the child is well nigh determined before it ever enters school. It is altogether impossible to accomplish anything unless there be harmonious working between the school and the home. Lord Curzon says, ttIt would have been just as bad to have sent a knight of olden times into battle without armor as to send a young man or woman out into the world in this age without having a good educationf, And the only way to get a good education is to have a good healthy atmosphere in your home life. One of the greatest dangers which confront this nation today is the laxity of the home discipline. In all large cities, among the unfortunate classes, there is Virtually nothing which can be called Home. None of the higher and nobler thoughts of life are ever instilled in the minds of the children. They live on the streets and from the streets they get theirideas. Should this nation fall into the hands of such people it would fail. This nation may be overrun by the influx of foreigners, but such is the Vitality of the Anglo-Saxon race that instead of being overwhelmed by numbers from without we welcome them. May we encourage them to entereto enter, and, as soon as found worthy, to receive the stamp of our nationality. The