8
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
gret to ay that among the latter class you
will find many men of this government
who air themselves very proudly upon the
floor of the lower house of Congress at each
annual occurance but we have only to look
to actual instances to the great results that
spring from these instUuMous. Follow up
as the Honorable Superintendent has in
formed me today. Follow them into the
various industrial walks of life, and there
the record tlks for itself. We find them
in the army, we find then in the navy, we
find them in mechanical and in clerical
positions. We find them in the professions,
in law and in medicine. I have found
them distinguished representatives of the
people in the Congress of the United States.
I recall one of your own blood, the Honor
able Charles W Curtiss. of the State of
Kansas, who is an interesting character,
has a bright mind, and a magnificent struc
ture of humanity, and there he stands,
proud of the Indian blood which courses
through his veins, and with m go through
many instances of history. Boys, you are
i being fitted for self government, and this
government and these people who surround
you and all of us should encourage you in
the efforts you are now making. In study
ing the principles of self-government aim
to study these reu'ts and remember it is
history, that those whoclimbed the highest
began the lowest Let that incite you and
stimulate you onward.
Look among the white race; look at An
drew Jackson; at poor Henry Clav, called
the mill boy of the slashes; at Abraham
Liocoln, the rail splitter; at Edison, the
great electrician and scientist, and at the
philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Look
at them all. It is the history of this country
that those who climbed the highest began
the lowest.
You may ask what chances there are for
a boy in 1903. I answer, far better than
for a boy of 50 years ago. Competition is
close, but yet at the same time opportuni
ties are vastlv greater today than 50 years
ago. If you do not have the capacity, op
portunity will ba of little value. Birth
and ancestral honor do not count, unless
there shali be the merit, the virtue, the
capacity, for in this age of industrial pro
gress, this age of rapid transition, it is ca
pacity that counts; honor and capacity.
Jf we seek for those who are to control the
destiny of the 20tb century, we will not find
them in the club room or in palac?s we
will find them on the farm and in the
work-shops, we will find them in the vari
ous manual employments, we will find
them to be boys in jumpers and overalls.
Let me say to yni again hs another advice,
exeioiae self-contiol. Nothing so fits the
man as to be the controller of himself.
Remember the teachings of Alexander,
the Great, how he conquered and controll
ed the world, yet he could not conquer
and control himself and he died the vie
tim of his own weakness and conceit.
Again let me suggest to you that, wha'
ever is worth doing is worth doing well.
Remember this In all your thoughts, that
what you undertake to do, doit well, for
the world, as I said before, counts upon
your capacity and in ueh you will eitlur
rise or fall. The world to-day pays more
for accuracy than for inaccuracy, it pays
more for the man who is correct than for
the man who is liable to error.
Be c ntented in the beginning wrh the
indus'rial operations in which you are so
practically fitted in this magnificent in
stitution here. There i where ymir 1 i v 8
will be best, and there is where your for
tunes will be ihe better guaranteed.
Again, I advie yo i, use plain words ii
the expression of your thoughts Langu
age is merely the instrument for expan
sion. The Anglo 8uxon tongue in rich The
Anglo-Saxt n u ngue abound in ample Inl
titude for the finding of useful words. Use
plain word to express your thoughts.
Therefore, do not imitate the high sound
ing and incomprehensible phrases, hut
coutent yourself with expressing in plttiii
language which we find used in the com
munity about us.
Now pupils, a few moments more. Love
your country and its flag, study its con
stitution and its his'ory, learn something
of the terrible rrdeal through which this
union went from baptism to a splendid
careerof glory and prosperity nd wealth.
Andnow in conclusion,1 permit me tosy
I feel honored in having taken this humble
part and hi being present to day. I say io
you, boys and girls, look forward wit h
hopefulness, You have joc behind you
great and generous government that wi!
assist you through these crucial tents Ui
til you go forth and fly with your on
wings and in the end mav you he nhle m
say, we have had a fair ehaiee i rid a far
play in the race of life.