Speech for the Polytechnic Society, "Some Reasons Why Success Should Answer Our Efforts," by William Wightman Smoak

Speech for the Polytechnic Society, "Some Reasons Why Success Should Answer Our Efforts," by William Wightman Smoak

Speech written by Smoak and recited to the Polytechnic Society titled "Some Reasons Why Success Should Answer Our Efforts."

A1979.7, Box 2, Folder 1

The Citadel Archives & Museum

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https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1139

Charleston (S.C.)

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Some Reasons Why Success Should Answer Our Efforts, What We Should do as Polytechnics.

In reading of the immortal doings of the Great, one often stops to admire those qualities which predominated and which enabled them to accomplish deeds immortal.

It is an [illegible] quality in our makeup that causes us to admire gallantry, chivalry, or heroism. Often in hearing brave deeds recounted or reading of those whose lives were a sacrifice to duty or patriotism we are led to exclaim, with all the earnestness we are capable of, how grand! how noble! It is this same admiration that kindles in our breasts a desire to imitate them, the same spirit that has handed down for centuries Caesars splendid generalship, Platos reasoning, and Demosthenes oratory; that has kept alive Napoleons achievements, Washington’s devotion to his country and following the muse of history brings us to the late struggle and encircles the brows of Lee and Jackson; of Stuart and Ashby, of Farley and Hampton, with wreaths of glory.

Fellow Polytechnics, I shall not attempt to define what this is and it is needless to tell you that every boy in this hall feels that possibly some day he may wear a similar wreath. My object is not to show that you have as-

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pirations for that were needless but to exhort you by all the state or national pride you have to aim high. Man always strives to become what he imagines himself and to imagine what he will accomplish some worthy object makes life for him brighter and the world better for his habitation.

“When we go forth in the morning we lay a molding hand upon our destiny” and commencing lifes morning as Polytechnics we are laying a molding hand upon the destiny of ourselves and our society. Our actions will result in good or evil, and some other boy will try to step in our footprint. Some recruit will take you for an example to follow.

We can only judge the future by the past. Our predictions must therefore be based on precedent. We have noble examples, as Polytechnics, to follow. Some of the men who in the historys of this society, have been members of it have attained high and honored positions.

Polytechnics we may be rocking as in a cradle, or we may have rocked some mind whose genius will yet be on every tongue, whose name will adorn historys page

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as one of the bright, particular stars in our commonwealth. The mother always bears a close relationship to the child and the child should honor its mother, for it owes her a debt that is hard to pay.

Polytechnics be careful, you cannot rock too greatly this cradle that may contain an infant Demosthenes, or a modern Thos. Jefferson. Here is the place, while at school to lay the foundation of your life, all that anyone may say to the contrary notwithstanding.

A man reapeth that which he soweth, and quoting Dr. Bays, “The word luck is a misnomer.”

You are making history, not only for the society but for each member of it individually. Every Saturday night there is a page written and judging from the few meetings we have had up to now it would be well were the recorder to make a [illegible] that would cover the entire page. We have some good questions to debate, but look what the result is. Men came down here without having ever given the subject a moments study and get up to speak. They think they have succeeded well if they can get a laugh.

Fellow members it is only necessary

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To mention it in order for you to see how utterly disgusting such is. Were you to come down prepared as declaimers and debaters the few who do not believe in order in the society would be forced to listen because they would be interested. I think you each one are responsible for the misconduct that we have lately had. A man who has an active brain must find occupation for it, and unless it is occupied with listening he will concoct schemes to busy his own little self, irrespective of law and order.

Gentlemen, perhaps I have seemed somewhat forward to-night in speaking so freely to you senior members as I have, but you cannot but see the reasonableness of what I have said. Many times the tongues of babes have uttered wisdom.

I rely upon the chivalry and manhood of every one that hears me to night to put a stop to the useless waste of time we have been indulging in, and replace the Polytechnic where she ought to be - upon a pinnacle of respect and honor. Let us so live as Polytechnics that when the times comes for us to take our departure from these [illegible words] we can do so with pride and not be forced to hide in shame your face at the mention of Polytechnics.

May her future history be as her fact!

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Examples we should follow as Polytechnics.

In reading of the immortal acts of the Great, we often stop to admire those qualities which predominated in them and enabled them to accomplish immortal deeds.

It is an innate quality in our makeup that causes us to admire gallantry, chivalry, or heroism. Often in reading of some heroic deeds or in hearing some brave act recounted - something done by men whose whole lives were a devotion to duty or patriotism; we are led to exclaim, with all the earnestness of which we are capable - how grand! how noble! It is this same admiration that kindles in our breasts a desire to imitate them - this same spirit that has handed down for centuries Caesar’s splendid generalship, Plato’s reasonings, and Demosthenes’ oratory: that has kept alive Napoleon’s achievements, Washington’s devotion to his country, and following the muse of history brings us to later struggles, though no fiercer those of the individuals who contested for gladiator’s honors; but in all the bright examples we see, History wreaths no nobler laurel, nor places a more kingly crown than that with which she encircles the brows of our own departed heroes Lee and Jackson, Stuart and Ashby, Farley and Hampton - perennial crowns of glory!

Fellow Polytechnics, I shall not attempt

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to define what this is and it were needless to tell you that every boy in this hall feels that some day he wear a similar crown and he will though it be placed there by only one faithful heart that has sworn fidelity to him. My object is not to show that you have aspirations, but to exhort you by all the state or national pride you have, to aim high. Man always strives to become what he imagines himself to be; and to imagine that his mission is above the common herd that he will accomplish some worthy object makes life for him brighter and the world the better for his habitation.

“When we go forth in the morning we lay a moulding hand upon our destiny” and commencing Life’s morning as cadets of the S.C.M.A. and members of the Cadet Polytechnic Literary Society we are laying a moulding hand upon the destiny of ourselves and our Society, that will surely make for us Life’s day radiant with successes or [illegible] it with shattered hopes and disappointed ambitions. There is no thing so noble as a life well spent, and no way of spending it equals that of industriously occupying our time. Let us find something to do and do it so that we will end our existence amid the plaudits of a grateful people rather than to be hissed off the stage by an indignant populace.

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The results of our actions will be good or evil influences. Comrades you are setting an example. Some one will try to step in your footprints. As Polytechnics some recruit will take you for an example of this. One whose behavior had been model was led astray and he seems to have fallen by the wayside. We can only judge the future only by the past. Our predictions must be placed on precedent. Let us hope that in this case history will not repeat itself.

We have noble examples, to Polytechnics, to follow. Some of the men whose names are enrolled on our books have won for themselves high and honored positions. Polytechnics, you may now be rocking as in a cradle some mind whose genius will yet be on every tongue, whose name will be emblazoned on every tongue historys pages, as one of the bright particular stars in our commonwealth. The mother always has a close relationship to her child and her child should honor her, for it owes her a debt that is hard to pay. Polytechnics, be careful. You cannot rock too gently this cradle that protects maybe a Demosthenes or a modern Thos. Jefferson. Here is the

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[illegible], while at school to lay the formation of your life all that anyone may say to the contrary notwithstanding. “A man reapeth that which he soweth” and quoting Dr. Bays, “The word luck is a misnomer.” You are making history, not only for the society but for each member of it individually. Every Saturday night there is a page written and judging from the few meetings we have had up to now it would be well were the recorder to make a [illegible] that would cover the entire page. We have some good subjects to debate, but look what the result is: Men come down here and attempt to speak, who have not given the subject a moments thought, and they think they have admirably succeeded if they create a laugh either by their wit or extreme ignorance. Fellow members it is necessary only to mention this state of affairs in order for you to see how utterly disgusting it is. Were you to come down here prepare as declaimers and debaters, the few who do not believe that “Order is Heaven’s first law,” would be forced out of respect for your earnestness if for no other cause to listen to what you have to say.

I think every member of this so-

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ciety is more or less responsible, for the breaches of decorum that we have lately seen. A man who has an active brain must find [illegible] for it, and unless it is occupied with listening, he will invariably concoct schemes to busy his own little self, irrespective of law and order.

Gentlemen, perhaps I have seemed somewhat forward to-night in speaking so freely to you senior members. However, you cannot fail fail to see the justice of these accusations, nor the wisdom of the course that tends to do away with such excessive waste of time. I rely upon the chivalry and manhood of each one present to so amend his ways as to have no more wasting of valuable time in our meetings. You have it in your power, Gentlemen of the Polytechnic, to place her upon a pinnacle of respect and honor, the height of which would enable you to see the nobility of her calling and to glance along the dim vista of future years and achievements and view her as she will be many years hence. Comrades, so shape your work in here as to receive in leaving the “well done” of your grateful companions. For the Polytechnic I say in closing: May her future be as her past.