The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-01
THE FAMOUS ABOLITION COLLEGE.

THE FAMOUS ABOLITION COLLEGE.
Commeneement Week 1T Oberlin-The
College Excrctses-Personal Sketches
General Cox. tho Republican Candi-
Power Of the Coiiege-The Colersd ALUM
nt-The Social Problem, SO.
Correspondence Of tho Chicago Tribune
OBERLN, Ohio, August %, 1896.
have been spending week q that original fountain
Of abolition, Oberlin College has been commence
occurs only once in Ave years. when unusual number
Of alumni and friends assemble; and being moreover the
nnt gathering since the end Of the war could not be
but enthusiastic faithful report OF all the exercises,
could be made, and you find space for IT, would not
fail exciting deep interest in thousands Of your read
era give you meagre outline 9.3 a,H
Mr. Charles G. Fnney. the world renowned evangelist,
now years old, is still President He retains
fresh couptenance strong voice. Keen eye young
TO graduating classes Sabbath afternoon, the 2Oth
hour and twenty minutes long, yet the attention
Monday A. n. General J. D. Cox the republican can
ddate for Governor Of Ohio sonin law Of President Fin
ney and agraddate Of the college addressed the citizens
There curiosity to hear him. as his recent letter
has disappointed Of his best friends He is very
easy and graceful speaker with pleasant voice and win
ming manner His speech was the same in substance
as his published letter, and not satisfactory To the
audience generally Yet reply TO question by one Of
what He said that if the question of negro suffrage in
Ohio treated by itself he should be ready to as
far the radical in securing the coIored man all
union of the party, but vote under protest.
Monday afternoon and the previous Saturday after
noon were given up 70 the literary societies OF the col
Haydns Oraiorio The CREATION.
Tuesday morning the Concio ad Clorum was delivered
by Rev. DR.. Fairfield Presde of dsdale College,
Michigan, able and eloquent production. Tuesday
afternoon thu public exercises OF the graduates Of the
Ladies' Course were held 1t was beautiful sight to see
procession Of several hundred young ladies' all dressed
in white, marching to the church About thirty gradu-
ated.
alumni by Rev. G. G. starbuck, of New York city
One of the most instructive and interesting addresses
Of the week the historical address given Wednesday
morning by Professor J. NJ Ellis Of Obern detailing
part which Oberlin has had In the great struggle
through which the country has passed is surprising
that Greeley made reference Oberln his history
But il the abotonss brought the this institu-
ton certainly had hand in it. 1t not originally
founded anti slavery school, but very early in its
history Theodore d. Weld spoke here twenty nights
succession and stamped the slavery image it
forever The early students spent their winters in lee
turing against slavery often enc0unterng mob violence
Cultivated ladies went to Cincinnati to teach In colored
schools when they could lind respectable white
who spread themselves over Ohio and the adjoining
States all carried into ther school districts the leaven Of
anti slavery At least ton thousand advocates of the
oppressed have gone forth from the place The minis
tiers who out from the Institution though not
Of ono idea, preached an antsavery gospel.
Obcrln furnished secretaries for the American
Missionary Associaton-which organized to prose-
cute missions without completely with slavery-and
large Ss lie sssscss o
She identified herself with the liberty party
when Brney was the leader. Holding the
balance OF power between two parties in the
county she secured antsavery representative in the
State Legislature and thus secured the election Of Chase
to the United States Senate More recently one Of its
and two Of It's professors are representing the gov
ernment in foreign countries-BraSl and Hayu. In
dom and shared the sursrngs OF the patriots One was
Imprisoned in Missouri. Others wcro imprisoned and
msSesa IN Ksns0os ana 10 0nS the
70 show rs power and zeal executing the Fugitive
Slave law. The result was signal triumph OF freedom
and more intense hatred of that law than The
place always prominent station on the underground
railroad while that was in operation. No blood over
shed then over fugves but every artdce OF warfare
practised and slave was ever carried back from
In The war no COLLEGE has prouder record AZ the
rat call the citizens Of 0berin raised companies and
thousand dollars and during the less than ve
companies from that small place OF about three
thousand inhabitants and to- vicinity Company OF the
praying company and 70 evince the value OF TEN
pcrste habits intellectual and moral culture the list OF
dred and df,y members which belonged to it rst and
last only three died from disease and two OF them in
eight fell IN battle 1t is believed that in
Not less ten per cent OF them fell In the
vice. but II not known that single Obsrlin man failed
to maintain and honor his principles.
Professor Ellis was followed by Rev. James A. Thorne,
Of Cleveland, Theodore d. Weld and J. N. Langhton,
celored lawyer Of Ooern in remarks Of thrilling elo
NsS''~S-""c 'lS~"v'
Others in matter or manner An appeal was then made for
funds 70 finish paying for tho new and elegant Ladies'
the audience retired to the hall for collation. Tho i'm
pronptu speeches at the table were all spicy and appro
pratt and $500 moro were pledged for monument to
Wednesday evening came the long looked for address
Of THEODORE D. Weld before the college societies Thirty
years aap probably man In America equalled him In
fascinating eloquonce paralysis OF the vocal organs
has kept him silent and in obscury for the most Of
tho time since sad loss 70 tho anti-siayery
Il was known that he had partially reganed his voice
the to hear him again very great He 10
bald shiny head snow. white beard and mustache but
With heart young in its feelings His theme
sas "Our Work What and How covering the state Of
thursday was the commencement proper. Thrtyh
Petos-twenty.two gentlemen and thirteen ladies'
one the lad being colored Seven gentlemen gradu
ssssufom the theological department-one Of them
orsS they had the usual variety Of themes for their
ure Of ,lent and skill displayed The coored graduates
49, ven the whites spoke and read we'll Indeed In oil
oreo pens and the comparison Of their efforts led to
she same Inclusion
q sy' SOLVED me ro soc. problem o. tho
sney nsve Srcd equal rights and privileges In all de-
snmenss % he institution About one-twentieth OF
sSe n;e been colored They SIC side BY side In
the clssses the lecture and the public assembes
Inc sescnes ASSURE me that they find no difference in
and scue md ,S n =. among them s are IS quick
Many o. ne oppressed rare have found refuge here
Lncy ADO ~ al employmsns side by side with whites
Tney are oacksmths nasons carpenters and business
men Ciored men have done more than whites in the
WORK o. erecting the now ladies' Hall IN nne build.
inG o ne way, 12oxl20, in half quadranaular |
iofm, Sur three stories high, and containing rooms
, ,cs Acj ladies' beside dining hail. assembly
Ia nan il his coored lawyer in the town. an
~ ~ hss sd"csssd Az: IN the place coIored black
sishroagh college BY III own children supporting them
ore Of the lady sduatss this ye o On ~ .nS anvil
nulstso, has been employed part Of ING co,lege
ne preparatory department and has - Sae,r
s.s o. the most capable and popular teachers Ss ,n
sMsion. she was born slave In Washington. N.
neter was going 10 sell her South but she persuaded
dsisen to buy her hired her time bought her freedom
rslared Tor college in Providence, r. L. and has lust
raduated from the collegiate department OF Obsrin
DAD OF fory-nine freed slaves from plantation in
Noru Carolina was at time eft al the depot almost
dumEd down In the Streets and LETT with little money
~ tneSands Of each take care Of themselves Thev
never kew OF their coming = "'
Ana NOV n n ho Vo<s ~ ,vho