1918 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1918 Yearbook
Description
And today, my dear people, we have for our inheritance a land of freedom
and prosperity, a nation in every sense of the word, a world power. We
are its citizens; American citizens! With what pride do we proclaim our
title to the world. And is it not a just pride? All the hard-ships of
Columbus and the early settlers, and their fight for freedom were made to
provide us with a country. Every drop of blood shed in the Revolutionary
and Civil wars was profusely poured forth, that this nation might be
preserved for us. Every one of our ancestors from the first inhabitants
of the land, onward, has contributed to our magnificient inheritance. Ours
is a country envied and respected by the whole world, a country of wealth
and prosperity, of beautiful winding rivers and quiet lakes, of healthful
air and climate; but above all, a country of liberty and democracy, where
we ourselves rule, make our own laws and enforce them, and enjoy the
privilege of religious freedom. No czar, emperor, sultan, or feudal lord
may claim us as his subject, for here the wishes of the masses reign
supreme. Every individual is a monarch rather than a slave.
Such are the wonderful privileges of our citizenship, and surely we
will not hesitate to give in return our unswerving loyalty to the flag. Let
each one of us become thoroughly Americanized in thought, word and
in deed. We can find no better models for our emulation than our patriotic forefathers, in whom indeed was realized Ideal American Citizenship.
As the Father of our Country, the noble George Washington, most
wisely advised us, religion and morality are indispensable qualities of the
patriotic American. True it is, that the ideal of autocracy is organized
paganism, but the ideal of democracy is organized Christianity. Love of
God, far from weakening love of Country, goes hand in hand with it, and
makes the patriotism of the Christian man glow most brilliantly. No one
will deny that the God fearing moral and upright man, with the true
sense of his duty to his Creator, will respect the civil law of the nation.
Another essential to the preservation of our democracy is intelligence
among the citizens. Our many grand institutions of learning excuse no
man from acquiring a good education. Constantly there are questions
arising, which are of the utmost consequence to the foundation of the
government. We are called upon to choose either side of the question,
to make use of our supreme privilege of casting the ballot; and how can
we vote honestly and intelligently, if we do not understand the issue at
stake ? Our country is helplessly dependent upon us, its people—if we fail
it in its needs, inevitably will it fall. Let us then follow carefully the
political affairs of the nation; as politicians in the truest and noblest
sense of the word. Let us in selecting our candidates for official positions
be sure to choose men, capable of the work, men who are true American
citizens, and who will never fail to promote honestly the Country's welfare.
For some years past we have enjoyed the blessings of peace. Our
country was gliding along undisturbed and each individual was engrossed
in the pursuits of his daily life. Happiness and prosperity were manifested to a considerable degree throughout the land. Far across the
waters, war with its terrible trail of bloodshed and destruction was play-
and prosperity, a nation in every sense of the word, a world power. We
are its citizens; American citizens! With what pride do we proclaim our
title to the world. And is it not a just pride? All the hard-ships of
Columbus and the early settlers, and their fight for freedom were made to
provide us with a country. Every drop of blood shed in the Revolutionary
and Civil wars was profusely poured forth, that this nation might be
preserved for us. Every one of our ancestors from the first inhabitants
of the land, onward, has contributed to our magnificient inheritance. Ours
is a country envied and respected by the whole world, a country of wealth
and prosperity, of beautiful winding rivers and quiet lakes, of healthful
air and climate; but above all, a country of liberty and democracy, where
we ourselves rule, make our own laws and enforce them, and enjoy the
privilege of religious freedom. No czar, emperor, sultan, or feudal lord
may claim us as his subject, for here the wishes of the masses reign
supreme. Every individual is a monarch rather than a slave.
Such are the wonderful privileges of our citizenship, and surely we
will not hesitate to give in return our unswerving loyalty to the flag. Let
each one of us become thoroughly Americanized in thought, word and
in deed. We can find no better models for our emulation than our patriotic forefathers, in whom indeed was realized Ideal American Citizenship.
As the Father of our Country, the noble George Washington, most
wisely advised us, religion and morality are indispensable qualities of the
patriotic American. True it is, that the ideal of autocracy is organized
paganism, but the ideal of democracy is organized Christianity. Love of
God, far from weakening love of Country, goes hand in hand with it, and
makes the patriotism of the Christian man glow most brilliantly. No one
will deny that the God fearing moral and upright man, with the true
sense of his duty to his Creator, will respect the civil law of the nation.
Another essential to the preservation of our democracy is intelligence
among the citizens. Our many grand institutions of learning excuse no
man from acquiring a good education. Constantly there are questions
arising, which are of the utmost consequence to the foundation of the
government. We are called upon to choose either side of the question,
to make use of our supreme privilege of casting the ballot; and how can
we vote honestly and intelligently, if we do not understand the issue at
stake ? Our country is helplessly dependent upon us, its people—if we fail
it in its needs, inevitably will it fall. Let us then follow carefully the
political affairs of the nation; as politicians in the truest and noblest
sense of the word. Let us in selecting our candidates for official positions
be sure to choose men, capable of the work, men who are true American
citizens, and who will never fail to promote honestly the Country's welfare.
For some years past we have enjoyed the blessings of peace. Our
country was gliding along undisturbed and each individual was engrossed
in the pursuits of his daily life. Happiness and prosperity were manifested to a considerable degree throughout the land. Far across the
waters, war with its terrible trail of bloodshed and destruction was play-
Publisher
Wagner's Printery
Date
1918
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/6703