FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART V. 241 



It is not enough for any man to fold his cloak around him and say- 

 that it is well with me. He must ask his neighbor, "Is it well with 

 thee?" and unless wo do take on this higher and greater civilization, 

 unless we do occupy this higher and, as I think diviner point of view, 

 it will not he well with us. I am not a disciple of the maxim, "Let 

 well enough alone," for it never was well enough with any man, with 

 any nation or- with any people. I do not think, as I said before, that 

 I have the slightest doubt with regard to the future. 



When I see here sometimes my young friends lifting up into view 

 and picturing with all the eloquence and the enthusiasm of the young 

 the master minds of former times, those great spirits that dominated 

 former generations and former centuries, I know, although he does not, 

 I know that there are giants in these days as well as in former days. 

 I know that the man and woman of this age are treading their way 

 easily through difficulties and through intricacies before which these 

 great spirits, luminous as they are of former times, would have recoiled 

 in utter helplessness. So do not think that I have any doubt with re- 

 gard to the future, but I preserve my confidence simply because I know 

 that what you have to do. you will do well and you will do righteously 

 and conscientiously. 



I know that from time to time, as the laws of your country give 

 you opportunity to do so, you will express your opinion with regard to 

 public affairs; freely, independently, conscientiously express them so they 

 can be heard through the civilized world. I have no doubt with regard 

 to the future of the republic, or the future of this commonwealth, so 

 long as every man will, when the time comes, approach the polls and 

 there declare what he believes with respect to his fellow men and to 

 the government which binds him to them. 



And so my first injunction is not energy in business, because there 

 is another motive that prompts you to that, but it is energy in the dis- 

 charge of your public duty, not only energy but fearlessness and intelli- 

 gence as well. 



No, I repeat that although I am conscious, perfectly conscious, that 

 we have these great problems before us, — and they are all about us 

 now, — I look off into the future and I see problems vital and important, 

 but I do not see any that an educated and patriotic intelligence can not 

 solve; I see difficulties over there that are mountain high, but I soc 

 none that courage can not overcome; I see warfare, ceaseless, never end- 

 ing, perpetual warfare, but I see gallant soldiers in the army or reform, 

 in the army of righteousness, and, thank God, I see no defeat. 



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