The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-27
LOCAL DEPARTM EMIT.


country, took plase yesterday morning at the
Thirteenth Street Baptist church. An auditory
blling the spacious edifce attended. Rev. Gee.
W. Samson presided, assisted BY the faculty Of
the college in academic gowns.
Music from Heald's Band opened the eIer.
cises.
President Samson addressed the Throne Of
Grace, offering thanks for the many blessings
bestowed upon the college, especially health and
life granted during the past year to all the stu
dents except one and beseeching continued pro-
lection in the future.
"Ths Mutability Of Literature, I" the theme Of
eidnsy W. Handy, o Maryland, was shown to be
hsh tongue, which from Its rise, 10 the time Of
Chauoer, until now, has so changed as to be to
this generation almost foreign tongue. H.
Mr.. Jshn 7. Beckley, Of Maryland, discussed,
In excellent style "The Mission Of the Beauti-
fal" Tho good underlied religion, the true
was the foundation Of science, and the beautiful,
OF art. But 1t was the mission Of the beautiful
to lead the mind to the good and the true
Beauty lured the soholsr along the path Of
science, and science pointed from the beauty Of
earth 10 Its source beyond. The young orator
traced with master hand the historic develop.
ment Of passion for the beautiful when pur.
sued alone, without reference to Its true end
the true and the good. Italy was set forth as
an example Of this tendency until art became
religion and the artist and art.critio was chris.
tened the Vntnos0. England was selected as an
example Of the opposite tendency and the mis-.
sion Of beauty declared to find Its last result far
beyond an earthly sphere In the beauty Of holi-
ness The graees Of elocution equAlled the vigor
of thought Ia the effort Of Mr.. Bockley.
"The Fate Of Other Republics - was pointed
out by Mr. W. Veirs Bouio, Of Maryland, as a
warning to our own people. He expressed fears
for the stability Of fros institutions when the
honest statesman was ostracised from public life,
and Nha pront0aia FawaFdad nv thu hnnOFa Of n
people whom he hattered only to betray.
Tho band responded with the Star spangled
Banner"
Mr.. Lingan b. Allen, Of Virginia, in tracing
"The Influence Of tho People on Art and Gov.
eminent, I" declared that popular opinisn was the
true criterion Of excellence In both art and liz.
srature, and instancod the obisel Of Phiodas
pleasing 1.-THE fierce democracy Of Greece, and
Homer winning from the rude population Of his
day, his sustenanoe by immortal song. Gov.
eminent too could only be firm whom 1t was
development Of the divine instincts residing In
the people, aud was founded on popular rights.
]. II. France, OF the District Of Columbia, in
az explication Of the Triumph Of Principle, I"
held that public opinion was no criterion Of
truth. II was the multitude who cried mot
this man, but Barabbas" and In later days
scowlsd upon the martyr as the flames Tapped his
life away, while he sinsly and alone smiled amid
his torture, the triumph Of principle and OF
truth. The young orator threw his whole soul
into his theme, and lost only those oratorical
graces, which were overcome by Int ,nse earnest
ness. Mr.. France received at the close Of his
speech some twenty boquets from fair auditors.
"The Opportunities and Duties Of Educated
Men," by Lee Chiswell of Maryland, afforded
the orator the opportunity Of noting the relations
of sympathy which bind man to man, as the
attractions Of physics bound atom to atom. II
vas In this sympathy that tho educated mind
found Its most pregnant opportunities and grayest
dutles.
Joseph II. Clarke, Of tho District Of Golum
bia, held National Literature to be the proud,
Get monument Of national existence. A free
Government afforded the best opportunity for a
national literature, and our own country prom.
hed o more complete development Of letters than
ever before existed, until American literature,
like American Government, shall become the
paragon Of nations. Floral tributes crowded
upon the orator.
Andrew B. DuyalI, Of the District Of Colum
biz, found popular Decisions" in every age Of
the world from the mythogiss Of antiquity,
through the rise Of MahOmet and the horrors oil
the French revolution, to the present timo. Ig
orator urged an unaagging warfare upon Its darl
strongholds.
An interlude Of q few minutes, which wa
filed by music was closed by Mr.. John II
Wright, Of Virginia, In whose hands THE Su
premacy Of the AngIO.saxOn Race and Its Mis-
tive theme, and was discussed with vigor and
ability. lie urged that the passing away oil
the Indian indicated Proyidential design tha
two races could not participate in the same gov
eminent, and urged the example of Mexico ant
South America as 0 warning against that mix
ture Of races which was the fruitful parent Of
anarchy. General applause, with few Misses.
That q nation protesting freedom should, In tn,
lame Of liberty, have committed whole regior
t. despotism was an anomaly which to the ent
Of time would mark the middle Of the nineteenth
century. Vehement applause, drowning fev
hissos. Lot US, he said, consult France, rocked
In the cradle Of revolution, and she will tell vi
that faction out Of power Is u demon In chains
huction invested with rule Is a MOoch OF destruc
ton In Roman Senate the sentiment wa
uttered, ~ am . man, spd nothing Ct nankind
IL foreign to me, and this was the feeling whiol
should animate all to live for others. to 1.-Two TO
their country and their race.
A. B. DuyalI, Of the District Of Columbia
then delivered the valediotory address, cOmpli
menting the board Of trustees and asking th
blessing Of Heaven upon them. To the presi
dent and teachers the Orator next addressed
himself in words Of affection, and then In httnI
terms bid farewell to hiS class. mates aud thanks
the audience for their attention.
After q lively air by the band, the Davis priE
medals for elocution were awarded to Andrew b
Duvsll and JOsePh.H. France, of the District q
Columbia,
DR.. Pinekney, who made the presentation, al
dressed the contestants, urging thtm to rsmem
Dor that honesty and earnestness were essenlia
to true oratory.
The following gentlemen constitute the boar
By whom tho prizes we're aVardea; Rev. "
Pinokney, Rev Mr. Miriek, Rev, Mr., Biting
Rev. Thomas Hume, Jr,, T, +. Dexter M. d
o O. wight and Edw Young.
The Eden iiis1iais, for excellence in Greek
were awarded 10 Joseph II. France Of the Di'
trist Of Columbia, and !. 7. Bsckley, OF Mar
land.
Tho Stoughton medals, for excellence In LatiI
tot. J. Bsokley and Joseph d. IL. France
The Gale medals, for excellence In Natur
eoienoe, to A. b. Duvsll, Of the District Of c.
lumbia, and Lee Chiswell, Of Maryland.
The degree Of Bachelor of Philosophy uPc
]. LoCopte, OF Georgia. At.
The degree OF Bachelor Of Arts upon Lee Chi
we'll, Of Maryland, and Joseph T. Clarke al
Andrew B. DuvAll, Of the District Of Columbia
The degree Of Master Of Arts upon John PO
lard, A. b., and John II, Wright, A. D.,
Virginia.
The honorary degree of A. NJ. upon Ed,
Young, of the District of Columbia, and WIN.
Bell, Of LouiSiang.
The degree of D. D. upon Rev. VIM. Llndsl
Of London, Eng Rev s. l.. Helm, oil Kent
VI Rev. Julius L. Grammer, Of Maryland Re
Rich. II. Bagley, Of Virginia.
The degree Of LII. ID. npon A. X. Rangat
Envoy Extraordinary from Greece, o token
respect for the virtues Of the people and Il
scholarship of the man.
President Samson then addressed the graduI
Ing class, saying that parting words were but h
echoes Of thS past sssOolStiOnar and must be