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'american Citizenship."

'american Citizenship." image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
February
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The father of his country has noreaeon tocomplainof the treatment accorded his memory yesterday at the University of Michigan. For years students have looked forward each year to the Washington's Birthday celebration always sure of a treat. Three years ago the law students, who hre charge of this event, brought Grover Cleveland to make the address; two years ago it was Stephen A. Douglas, who told us of the , immortal Washington ; last year Congressman Dolliver eharmedallby his eloquent and patriotic words ; tliis year it isa brilliantyoungBuckeye leader who more than rises to the high standard spt bv his predecessors. Indeed dents and citizéns alike imite in 1 ing what was certainly a masterly i dress. But a word must be given to the details of the splendid prugrain oi the "35th animal observance of Wushington's Birthdav" before proceeding to a brief summary of the oratiou of the day. It is generally admitted that the law students never do anything by halves. Nor did they yesterday. Large committees from both classes had been appointed and they worked hard to make the affair the success it certainly was. Here is a list oL comraittees and ushers from each class : keceptiox.- W. W. Wedemeyer, C. B. Henderson, T.F. Doyle, V. S. Clark, Lucien Gray. pbogram.- D. C. Reeves, Miss Agoes F. Watson, E. C. Wettin, F. D. Adams, A. J. Violette. invitation.- W. R. Thirkield, J. L. Deck, A. Bartels, W. H. Smiley, E. h. Evans. akrangements.- J. W. Bingham, J. K. fitcketee.H. B. Anderacm, W.M. Wheeler, E. L. Allor. DECOKATION.- VV. A. Keerns, M. L. Sullivan T. G. Burnham. H. R. Wair, S. A. Jetmore. Music- J. E. Blaud, B. B. Selling, A. W. Weir, D. F. Lyons, F. M. Tolleson. tihhrrs.- J. U. Wine, H. R. Crozier, C. C. Kennedy, E. S. Rogers, B. K. Knight, W. C. Michaels, M. Westover. L. R. Crawford, W. A. Finch, J. P. Manan, G. Wells. '96. keception.- V. T. Apmadoc, E. G. Ryker, L. R. Hamblen, A. R. Snaunon, C. J. Sclmck. PKOGEaM.- B. Lichtenberger, D. R. Williams, Mr. Miller.C. P. Rockwood, Mr. Watt. invitation.-W. A. Splll.E. M. Shelby, C. P. Lund, E. H. Holtzheimer, O. McHarg. ARRANGEMENTS.- O. S. Williams, C. L, Comptou, C. H. McBride, D. B. Woodworth, B. F. Deahl. MUSic.-H. Y. Saint, A. A. Huseman, D. I. Prugh, H. E. Nothomb, I. J. Trueman. decoration.- E C. Lindley, G. L. Sanders, A. A. Meeker, Ban'l Bessie, Misa O. V. Bates. ushers.- M. K. Sturtevani, ü.. l,. unoiupsuu, R. G. McDonald, D. R. Williams, H. Eggleston, L. B. Ely, H. W. Conner, F. L. Ingrahain, J. M. Kun, D. E. Ford, T. SI. Benner, LeClaire Martin. The hall was beautifully decorated by Stabler, of this city. Festoons of yellow and blue entirely encircled the gallery and hung in many folds across the platform. At either side of the big organ hung the colors of the Senior and Junior law classes, pink and maroon, and red and white, resnectivelv. Potted plants ■were massed before the speaker's stand. At one side stood a life sized painting of Washington, and a large flag was suspended directly Over the uiiddle of the stage. Shortly after two the speaker ascended the platform accorpanied by E. M. Walsli, President of the Senior law class, Prof. B. M. Thompson, and W. W. Wedemeyer, C. B. Henderson and W. T. Apmadoc of the reception committees. When the applause had uied aw,ay, Professor Stanley appeared and opened the program with three numbers upon the big organ. The professor is deseryedly popular with the studente of all departments and his masterly playing was warmly applauded and highly enjoyed. Then the Uniyersity Glee Club flled out upon the stage and sang a couple of favorites, and, recalled, sang a medley which everybody laughed heartily at and applauded. The University Banjo Club carne next- at least a part of thein (Uil. Two uumbers were given by this club, whicli is probably the best we have liad for years. President Walsh then, in a neat little speech, introduwd the orator of the day, the Hou. John J. Leutz, of Columbus Ohio, who, prefacing his address with a good story and a few words concerniiii; the days when he was a student at the II. of M., delivered an address on "American Citizenship ; its jiussiliilities and opportunities." He apoke in substance partly as iollows. If Hiere is any school in America fitted ,est to Hx in a man the anibition to go Eorth and make the world better it is Lhis great, national, imperial University; The darkness and distress of a Valley Forge has settled upon our couiitry. The continental soldiers looked for a leader. Üeorge Washington camo. ïhe great need of the ent time is for educated, capable leaders. Wasliinglon and after hiin Lincoln laboredlong to free our nation, but still we are in bondage. We are slaves to a trust and syndicale aristocracy. Holy opportunities confront us, for America is not y et purified to sanctification. The colonists in tlieir joy oL freedom from England forgot the bondsinen at home. Great things must yet be accomplisbed betere we may be free. For centimes the people of the world I have been taxed to support kings, nubles and priests bnt never has any power on eartli taxcd its people for the thorongh education of their cbildren. Laws on onr statute ljooks sliould prolaimthat to-daythe object of governnent is not to laake dollars and dimes, mt to malie noble men and wornen. A government ws the right to perpetúate ts motive forcé. In this matter of education Michigan has done nobly. If half a loaf is good, why not have the wbole loaf? Would to heaven we could et out tin-plated ltepublicans and our sugar-coated Demócrata in the U. S. senate to act upon the wise words of Solomon: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all tliv setting, set understanding." On all sides political preferment and money are bartered for, to-day. Men will do anything for money. Aristotle taught that man was bom to be a citizen. We teach tbat he was bom to be a civilized cannibïil eating bis fellows. Tbere are statesmen and politicians. The one lies awake at nigbt thinking liow he can do sotnethidg for the good of the people. The other lies avvake at iiielit thinkinehow he can get the pie to do soniething for him. Oliver Wendell Holmes said once tbat he believed the mission of America was to vulgarize humanity. Grote wrote tbat self governmeut was a failurePriest-craft and king-craft were bad enougli but tbe trust-craft of our own ime is far worse. Wben the French Biistile feil religión carbed tbe people ; wben tbe present Bastile of Wealtli is levelled to the ground nothing will bold tbe enraged people from leaping at tlie tbroats of tbe men who crj', "tbe people ba damned." O, Judas, wby did you hang yourself? Only 30 pieces of silver for betrayal ? What an opportunity you have miased ! You miglit have become a U. S. senator, had a whole people to betray, ' received barrels of gold and Hved even Uien in the bosom of the best society ! The two words Taxation and Slavery stand out from the pages of history in eharacters of blood. They differ only in degree. Both are appropriation. ation gave body and soul to the Deciaration of Independence, threw the tea into Boston harbor and brought the Eebellion to a suc.cessful issue. A trust is a taxing power, a worm in the core of prosperity, a spy in the arniy of progress. The time is come for laws to place the burden where it can best be borne. We need a law which will lay taxation on the actual cash value of tangible property involved in the pnse. Herethe speaker told several incidents to show how iguorant inany of our voters are. In view of such stupidity. he eontinued, -whatshall be done? Purify the ballot by adding the woman's vote. Keep cbildren out of the shops and mines until tliey are fnll grown mentally and physically. Let us have universal and thorough education whatever it costs. What is a man if he livo solely to sleep and feed? Here Mr. Lentz bracea the growth ot education m i rauce and Germany- wliere the teachers oí all the world are taught, and sliowed the wonderful results of education in those states. To-day an age is not needed to work reforma. Boodlers all overour country are trembling from the assaults of Dr. Parkharst in New York. We must ruw to understaml that children shall be the hope and not the menace of this govermnent. Child labor and braina shall uot fix rates or direct laws. Typesettiug machines, electric cars- all these are butGod's instrumente, a nevv re cipate labor from the ten liours day- to enlarge heads instead of feet- to pro duce men and wornen instead oL slaves and serfs. Let us have tax laws tbat will benefit hurnanity. Let us have men who are notafraid to meet the assessor. Let us make America an aristocracy oi hearts and brains. Theu Mr. Lentz paid glowhiK tributes toGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln, declaring tliat once in a generation God raises up a leader to lead the people back to honor and right. Such were these four men of glorious memory. The closing minutes were devoted to velation by which He intends to emanan eloquent and powerful appeal to the audience to go out into the world determined to battle bravely for the right ; ready to meet and combat every evil, and to be true, faithful, honest citizens. We owe tliis to our manhood and wo" manhood, to our state, to our Aima Mater, The last words of the eloquent I speaker were greeted with a storm of applause, which lasted some time. It seemed that even a University audience cotild not tire in its expressions of adiniration for the brilliant and patriotic peroration. When Quiet was restored the remamder of the program, consistins of songs and imisic by the glee and banjo clubs was carried out aud the ciowd dispersed, higlily pleased with the whole celebration. The arrangements were perfect and everything passed ofl sinootlily. Klegant souvenir programs were distrümted to the laws. Millard did the priiitine;.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier