Orations from the Pomeroy High School Graduation Class of 1902

Source – Pomeroy Herald, Pomeroy, Iowa, Thurs., June 5, 1902, p.5

Farewell to School Life
Eight Graduates Receive Diplomas – Beautiful Decorations – Excellent
Speeches – A Large Audience – And a Last Good Bye
The opera house was completely filled Thursday evening by people who had come to witness the fifth annual commencement exercises of the Pomeroy high school.  The front rows of seats had been reserved for the members of the board and their families, the parents and intimate friends of the graduates.  Arranged in a circle on the stage were the seats for the class, the president, principal and assistant principal.  Around and in front of the state were banked scores of potted plants, flowers and ferns, while directly overhead hung the class motto, “We win by merit,” appropriately draped with the colors, orange and black.  The decorations making in all a scene harmoniously blended, striking in effect and pleasing to the eye.  The program was well arranged as regards length of time and distribution of the various subjects and musical numbers, showing the careful forethought and guiding hands of the instructors.  The orations were well delivered and the class had such a variety of themes that each number only served to arouse more interest among the audience.  Prompted at 8:30 the orchestra began the opening number and the graduating class was escorted to their places.  The audience arose to their feet while Rev. A. A. Marcy asked the assistance of the Divine Ruler in guiding the footsteps of these young people now about to be cast upon the world to do battle for themselves and to encounter the trials and temptations so numerous along the pathways of life.

Cecil M. Stewart
followed with “Webster, the statesman.”  He described Webster as a man of herculean frame, rotund delivery of speech and conceded him to be the greatest orator that American has yet produced.  “A wholesouled man, withal so quick with pity for the poor he could not pay the rich, the very ideal of the patrician under our constitution; morally somewhat lacking and likely so see a question as a lawyer who would first choose his side and study his cause afterward.  Not sure-footed like his contemporaries, Jefferson and Jackson; declaring at the end of his years that he had spent his life in vain; this, perhaps, is Daniel Webster.”  He referred to Webster’s career as a statesman, his speech on Greece, his four months debate with Col. Hayne in which Webster delivered the immortal speech which has stood and will ever continue to stand as the supreme constitutional argument for national unity.  “When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments of a once glorious Union; on states disseverd, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched it may be, in fraternal blood.”  It was then he cried, “Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”  Mr. Stewart compared Webster with his opponents, Clay and Calhoun, spoke of this triumph over the latter and his defeat by the former, his party’s desertion and his final downfall and retirement from politics.  “This man has lived and in his living has brought many things to pass. His last words, “I still live” could not be truer if they had been spoken but yesterday. He still lives on and will continue to live on for time immemorial in the hearts and minds of the loyal American people.

Gertrude M. Lewarne
in her “Evolution of Woman,” completely captivated the reporter and we regret not being able to print the oration entire.  Not because of any superiority in composition on anything of the kind, but because it is so thoroughly in accordance with our views and ideas on the subject.  What can be nicer, truer, or more appropriate than this: “The twentieth century woman has thrust herself into politics, has gone to the polls and forced herself into contact with the rougher elements of society, has placed herself on an equal footing with the man, and yet has she the right to demand the reverence and respect that man pays to woman and to woman alone.”  The participation in public life can have not other result but the neglect of the home, and what is home but a kingdom where the ruler is a woman, and the subjects the sons and daughters of that household? The New Woman” is a fad, and like all other fads will soon fade away and will be succeeded not by the “Old Woman,” but by a type of womanhood grand and glorious in its influence for good, ambitious for the elevation of home and society, guarding and guiding the babe, boy and man into the right paths to be useful members of society, and having as its ideal in life and fulfillment of duties and responsibilities, not rights and prerogatives, and the uplifting of home, the cornerstone of the government.” Verily, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

Donald G. Mullan,
on “The Passing of a Mighty Generation,” gave a fine dissertation on the gradual extinction of the old guard, the veterans of the civil war.  “Generations as well as individuals,” he said, “have their separate and distinct personalities and characteristics; and having done their work, and accomplished that which was set before them, they are withdrawn to give place to their successors.” For the last time its representative has sat in the president’s chair, for the last time its military leaders have led our defense on the field of battle, and for the last time these men have dictated the policy of the United States.” It was a religious generation.  When Lincoln left home to set in the president’s chair, he said, “My friends pray for me.” And fitly this last great representative, Wm. McKinley, fell asleep whispering to himself the hymn of faith and trust, which inspired him as a lad, strengthened him as a soldier, and comforted him in dying.  In Theodore Roosevelt, the soldier, the reformer and Christian gentleman, we believe a new generation steps to the front which will be faithful to all that may be greatest in our future.

Luella A. Greenside’s
oration was on “Our Martyred Presidents,” of whom she said: “There is but one test by which to measure any man who has lived.  He should leave more goodness, more humanity, more liberty, then when he was born.  He should leave the world better than he found it.” She paid a glowing tribute to Lincoln, and of his career said.  Lifted up by the pure force of his genius to the height of his ambition, he became president of the country and ruler of the people he so dearly loved, and whose hearts he had won by his good humored sagacity and honest manliness.  He left behind him a fame beyond that of any conqueror, and a grace higher than that attained by mere culture.  She described Garfield, as a man with great endowments, of superior intellectual and physical strength, a natural leader of men and one born to command and influence those around him by the magic of his voice.  She recounted the assassination of McKinley, and the manner in which it had brought to light his undiscovered virtues.  And as we glance back over the great and mighty works of our martyred presidents, every American who appreciates liberty, every American who believes in true democracy, should love, respect and honor these true men who willingly gave their lives for their country, and should, with a never tiring tongue, recount their virtues.

Edwin A. Davy
on “Our Origin and Future” said, “America is today the greatest producer of wealth, the largest contributor to the intellectual and moral forces of the world and the most pre-eminent in her origin.  To study the origin of nations it is essential to study the history of the early Semetic races.  The speaker spoke of the gradual development of the human race, the part each class or faction had taken in it, the contributions each has made, and to whom and to what we are indebted for the advanced civilization and Christianity which we are permitted to enjoy today.  He mentioned the assassination of McKinley at Buffalo and suggested as a remedy for anarchy and anarchists, - education.  “For where proper education holds sway their violence and lawlessness are the least.” Because of this hideous crime, the country is so thoroughly aroused that a great effort is being put forth to check this violence until through the proper education of our people, ignorance and lack of self control will no longer fill the country with such terror.  The red flag of the anarchist, that flag without a shade of redeeming purity, will be buried and forgotten, to be resurrected only when God call his followers to appear at his great judgment seat.  And in that future day our freedom will become sweeter, our prosperity more genuine, and the American law, once the symbol of justice, will be as never before, a symbol of perfect liberty.

Laura H. Gutz
had for her subject “The True American Aristocracy” and she demonstrated in language both forcible and eloquent and in an argument that admits of no controversy, the fact that the fundamental principles of Americanism are correct, and superior to that of any other nation on the face of the globe.  She spoke of the corruptness of the foreign nobility where birth supersedes genius and merit, and the degrading effect such a course has on the masses as shown by history in recounting continual uprisings, revolts and assassinations.  Let the foreign countries invite such a character as Richard Croker, she said, that he may crouch at the throne and lavishly spend his millions that he may enter the society of the nobility.  America and the good American people can live and prosper without him.  One man’s voice avails no more in the formation of our government, because he lives in a palace, than does that of the man who pounds stones on our streets. American people realize what a fatal effect this degrading element has on the development of a country.  The true American Aristocracy means quality, resulting in justice, freedom and liberty.

Harry V. Caldwell
in “The Dawn of a Great Industrial Era,” gave a graphic word picture of the remarkable strides that have been made by America since the close of the civil war.  The oration aptly exemplified the maxim, “united we stand, divided we fall.” To read the composition of Mr. Caldwell and follow out the line of thought is to convince us more firmly than ever of the necessity of a concentrated action on the part of the citizens of the United States in order to be fully recognized as a world power.  We have attained that position now, not as an equal, but as a superior. “While England may be compared with our country in many respects, she cannot compare in industry and the condition of the laboring classes. We stand pre-eminent in all lines in industry and economy.”  The dim dawn of a great industrial era is at hand. The economic sun is fast rising above the horizon of strife, discord, and impracticability.  He will soon break in full glory upon a people enjoying peace, prosperity, wealth and happiness.

Nellie E. Holmes
has an extremely difficult subject,, “Savonarola.” Difficult from the fact that this great Domician monk, who lived in the period from 1460 to 1660, is a character almost unknown to the reader of modern literature, and for this reason her oration was not appreciated as it might otherwise have been.  She gave a description of the reformation, the trials endured by its followers, the birth of “Savonarola,” his career, final capture and death at the stake.  Of his death she said, “A large crowd gathered around to see the barbarous sight, Savonarola, cool, collected, but still true to his religion, was led forth to his doom.  The people rose against him, not because he was sinful, but because of his greatness; not because he wanted to deceive the world, but because he wanted to redeem it from vice and corruption.  Thus died one of the greatest martyrs the world has ever known, the forerunner of the reformation, and the only one who followed the example of Christ; who tried to redeem the world, not by the sword, but by kindness; not by fighting, but by preaching.” 

Elmer E. Nelson
delivered the junior address, but we were unable to get a synopsis of it.  The musical numbers by Messers. Weikert and Forche were very pleasing to the audience, as was the vocal solo by Miss Dickey.  The consensus of opinion seems to be that the commencement of 1902 was conducted on a larger scale than anything heretofore attempted. They were a complete success and with that we close.

Dr. Martin in presenting the diplomas remarked that he was in favor of the old fashioned commencements; spoke of the breaks, intermissions and difficulties encountered in the past school year.  Thanked the faculty for their conscientious work, complimented the ladies in keeping up with the sterner sex and concluded with “In years to come you will look upon these with pride and satisfaction, and they will no doubt bring back many memories of the happy and pleasant days which you have spent in the Pomeroy schools, especially of the year 1902.