Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1916)
o The Commoner- ZxOitr191M i Citizenship in a Republic Abstract of an addreet delivered Vj William Jennings Bryan at New York, July 4, 181 6, be fore the National Educational Association. It Is worth crowing halt the continent to be able to join with the teachers of the United States in celebrating this, the one hundred and fortieth anniyersary of our nation's Independ ence, and I appreciate the honor done me by President Johnson in extending the inritation that brings me here. Your association repre sents 600,000 teachers, the instructors of the great majority of our twenty-five million school children. You stand next to the nation's spirit ual advisers in tho importance of your work the head being second only to the heart in the influence which it exerts on human destiny and happiness. "Out of the heart are tho issues of life," says the wise man, but the heart needs a trained mind to assist it if the life is to be largely fruit ful. The heart directs but education multiplies the individuals' power and capacity for service. As educators you deal with morals as well as with mind and manners, and you share with the ..clergy the distinction of being tho most poorly "paid of all public servants, if payment is meas ured by salary alone. This injustice may be remedied in part and should be remedied as far as possible, but there is one factor in the equa tion which can not bo eliminated. The preacher and the teacher, find a satisfaction in the con sciousness of being helpful to others, and this satisfaction is, in itself, no small compensation. It Is a great privilege to be able to enter into the life of the young, to lead their thoughts into right channels, to mold their opinions on vital questions and to implant in them the ideals -which control their lives. This opportunity, and the joy which comes with it, must be taken Into account in estimating relative success. What educator, approaching the end of his career, would exchange -ihis place- in the hearts of Ms pupils for all the money collected by one1 who has absorbed from the world without contribut ing in like proportion to society's progress? While the teacher is primarily concerned with the development of mind and character, he can not be indifferent to that which affects the. body's welfare. Physical exercise is so essen tial that the gymnasium has come to bo a part of every well equipped school, and the teapher is expected to share In the enthusiasm" which athletics excite. Just now an effort; Is being made to substitute military training for the games of the play ground. I hope the teachers in our public schools will not yield to the clamor for militar ism; it is not the voice of the people but an echo from the battlefields of Europe. The tem porary excitement of a world war should not he allowed to disturb our permanent educational system. The school is not a transient institu tion; it will still abide with us "when the battle flags are furled." PEACE and not war is the normal state of man, and the teacher may well insist upon the postponement of any proposed changes in school methods until such changes can bo considered with calmness and deliberation. It is unreason able to ask the school authorities to act in hot bjood or in fright. The people are not likely to favor frontier precautions unless thy are con vinced that we must again face frontier dang ers; and they can hardly bo convinced of this so long as the leading political parties decline to endorse such a program. The "adequate" re serves asked for by ono party and the "ample" reserves favored by the other party can be ade quately and amply snp"lnd wic'nut robbing the cradle or recruiting in the graded schools If It Is thought wise to give more attention to the physical development of our youth, the means can be found in a closer imitation of the .Greeks, who by their national games provided contests which contributed to physical develop ment. This association might with propriety consider the wisdom of encouraging such a system. State and national prizes would stim ulate an honorable rivalry which would be im-i mensely valuable to our boys and girls, meas ured by progress towards physical perfection. Ten million studeats contending for the honors awarded for skill and endurance in athletics would materially rase the average of health and strength. As the teacher deals not- only with students but with embryo voters a term which will soon, be applied to women as well as to men it Is In keeping with this day that I submit for your conslderatlpn a few fundamental propositions In connection with our government. I am led to do so by the conviction that we delay too long the teaching of the science of government. A majority of our voters do not go beyond tho eighth grade of the common school and, there fore, assume the responsibilities of citizenship without a clear and comprehensive understand ing of the principles and methods of the gov ernment under which they live. I am sure I voice your sentiments when I plead for greater simplicity in the treatment of this subject, that it may be brought to tho attention of the stu dents at an earlier period in their school life, I venture to present ten propositions. 1. The social Ideal towards which the world Is moving requires that human institutions shall approximate towards the divine measure of re wards and this can only bo realized when each individual is able to draw from society a reward proportionate to his contribution to society. 2. The form of government which gives the best assurance of attaining this Ideal Is the form in which the -people rule a government deriv ing Its just powers from tho consent of tho gov erned the form described by Lincoln as "A government of the people, by the people and for tho people." This being the people's govern ment, it is their dnty to live for it in time of peace and to die for it, if necessary, in time of war. 3. The chief duty of governments, in so far as they are coercive, is to restrain those who would Interfere with the Inalienable rights of the Individual, among which arS the right to life, the right to liberty, the, right to the pur suit of ,happiness, and the right to worship God according to the dictates of one's conscience. 4. In so far as governments are co-operative, they approach perfection in proportion as they adjust with justice the joint "burdens which It Is necessary to impose and distribute with equity the Incidental benefits which come from the dls-' bursement of the money raised by taxation. , 5. Competition is so necessary a force .in business that public ownership is Imperative wherever competition Is impossible. A private monopoly is indefensible and Intolerable. 6. "Absolute acquiescence in tho decision of tho majority" Is, as Jefferson declares, "tho vital principle of republics', from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and im mediate parent of despotism." 7. As- acquisconce In the permanent exist ence of a Wrong is not to be expected, it is the duty of every citizen to assist in securing a free expression of the will of the people, to tho end that all abuses may be remedied as soon as pos sible. No one can claim to be a good citizen who is Indifferent. Civic duty requires attend ance at primaries and conventions as at the polls. 8. The government being the people's busi ness, It necessarily follows that Its operations should be at all times open to tho public view. Freedom of speech is essential to representa tive government, and publicity Is as essential to honest administration. "Equal rights to all and special privileges to none" Is the maxim which should control all departments of government. 9. Each individual finds his greatest secur ity In the intelligence and happiness of his fel loe the welfare of each being the concern of all and he should therefore exert himself to the utmost to improve conditions for all and to elevate the level upon which all stand. 10. While scrupulously careful to live up to his civic responsibilities, the citizen should never forgot that the larger part of every hu man life Is lived outside of the domain of gov ernment, and that he renders the largest service to others when he brings himself Into harmony with tho law of God, who has made service the measure of greatness. Mr. George W. Perkins knows what he wants. Ho says he is willing to tako the republican candidates since the republicans gave him the platform he desired. But it may be, pf course, that the sort of a platform that Satisfies Mr. Perkins may not satisfy those progressive whose Interests are not those of Wall street. Candidate Hughes' efforts to assume a genial and cheery demeanor with the newspaper boys was an earnest effort, as the dramatic critics say when kindly disposed, but that Is about the best that can be said for the performance. DISTRIBUTE THE COMMONER In a recent lssuo Tho Commoner announced that it would make a nominal charge of 2 conta per copy whero a number of copies were desired for free distribution. This special rate was mado in response to numerous roquests from readers who desired to uso a number of copies for distribution among friends and neighbors. This rate will bo continued throughout the cam paign, and will mako it possible to uso The Com moner widely In tho pending campaign for dis tribution among tho voters, Tho Commoner will make a valuablo campaign document to place in the hands of tho votors. Campaign committees may tako advantago of this rate, but should place their orders as far In advance as possible. Copies of Tho Commoner will bo sent In bulk or mailed to separate addresses If desired. Below will be found a number of letters from Commoner friends who have taken advantage of this rate and are doing their part to spread the gospel of progressive democracy: W. W. Hyatt, M. D., Willisburg, Ky.: The June Commoner Is a hummer. There can bo no hot ter campaign document than this. I shall try to make up a fund to get a number of copies for distribution. Keep up the good work. A Commoner subscriber at Ottawa, Kans.,, writes: "Please send me forty copies of the last issue of The Commoner for free distribution; 1 enclose $1.00 to pay for thorn. Ira R. Humphroys, Chairman Democratic Ex ecutive Committee, Rcidsvllle, N. C: We desire , 1,000 copies of The Commoner containing ftHe proceedings of tho democratic convention at St. Louis, with ex-Governor Glynn's speech, Mr. Bryan's etc. W. H. Nobo, Now Orleans, La.: Please send me fifty copies of The Commoner for June for free distribution. I cncloso check to coyer the cost. N. D. Batchlor, Winton Park, Fla.: Enclosed find stamps to pay for sending copies of the June issue to tho onclosed list of twelve names. P. F. Gulnon, Hamilton, Mont.: Enclosed find 50c in stamps to pay for twenty copies of the, June issue for distribution among my friends. I will get subscribers later. C. D. Stevens, Spokane, Wash.: I enclose 18c to pay for six extra copies of June issue of The. Commoner..' . ; Sol. W. Horn, Denver, Colo.: Herewith find re mittance to pay for extra -copies of the June is sue of Tho Commoner to be mailed- to the- ad dresses given. H. N. Peckhara, Parma, Ida.: Please send me twenty extra copies of the June issue of Tlie Commoner. I enclose 50c to pay for tho same. H. Sutherland, Holyoko, Colo.: Enclosed find' exchange for $1.00 for which send mo forty copies of Tho Commonor containing Governor. Glynn's keynote speech. I wish to distribute them free, mostly to republicans. A subscriber from Laramie, Wyo., writes: "The last number of The Commoner Is one of the best campaign documents 1 have ever seen-. Enclosed find money order for $1.00 for which send me a bundle of forty copies as per your offer of 2c per copy. I want to place them whore they will do the most good. J. B. Egan, Pt. Jarvis, N. Y.: Enclose $1.00, for extra copies of the June Issue of The Com moner. . i F. E. Welles, Schnectady, N. Y.: Enclose $1.00 for which please send mo forty copies of the June Issue of The Commoner. Will D. Gould, Los Angeles, Calif.: Your June Issue Tvery much appreciate. Enclosed find $1.00 for which send mo additional copies. W. H. Whltworth, Jronton, Mo.: I enclose, $1.00 to pay for forty extra copies of the June Issue of The Commoner. J. I. Van Meter, Cbilllcothe, O.: Herewith find remittance to pay for extra copies of the June issue of Tho Commoner, at your special rate of 2c per copy. I wish them for distribution among friends, whero I hope they will do good, C. TJ. Jervis, Woodbine, Ky.: Enclosed find re mittance for extra copies of the last issue of The Commoner. It Is the best paper I have ever read. We are looking forward to a great victory this fall. f Copies of The Commoner way 1e m- (?) cured by campaign committee where de-. .& sired for free distrlbntlon as campaign literature at tfie special rate of Scper ') cony, ami will he mailed in bulk to ose ft 0 (3 address or to separate addressee. 3 e'" i , , h