New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-03

First 0radaase of the LsIa1aAAas Stat
DSiversity, - the GonmSnkement n
+ sseisesias Bssen ReugesJ uae -. asa
Ladies, gentlemen and Cadets-You hav
| gathered here to-day in brilliant concourst
to do homage at the altar OF learning an
civilization, and to render due honors t
/ those who have reaped rich and beneficen
hatyests in the productive fields of know
edge and science. tits an object gratlfyin
| to behold and beautiful to Contemplate
| scene fraught with rich hopes Of fair pros
perfty'1an event indicative of noble aim
and efforts. The Louisiana State Universit
| has ADDED another year of usefulness to tn
| calendar of its existence. Its worthy an,
efficient professors have sent forth upon tn
arena OF active strife another class of hope
full and aspiring youths, trained in all tn
accomplishments ofpolite and useful educa
| ton. ~ 4 - 81 49, 9 e'''| 80
am deeply sensible of the unmeritet
honor conferred by the faculty of this insti
tuition in inviting me to deliver this address
l am equally sensible of my incapacity to d.
| juslice to the occasion. If l fail in the task
1 must entreat you to pardon the choice o
the professors, and my presumption, for tn
| reason that we stand to each other in tn
relation of pupil and teacher, and venture
to say the selection was prompted by jus
tiiable preference for one who has been
willing and faithful student, and accepted
with avidity by him who rejoices in THU
opportunity to show his gratitude and atfec
ton for his Alma Mater. ~.
1t is not my intention to speak in its spe
cial praise to-day. Its prosperity is toe
we'll established; its reputation too fair and
firm to need the tribute of my feeble sup
port. But were it my object or my province
to 90 so, could point proudly and approx
ingIy to the growing strength OF this uni
versity; step by step, perfecting it's interior
Developments, steadily increasing its use
fulness, gaining wider and fairer reputation
every day, until now it stands an institution
permanent and firm; strong in it's merit,
safe in its usefulness, beautiful in the objects
to which it is dedicated. True. it
had its hours of trial and misfortune.
But a few months ago its beau
tiful home converted to ashes by the rava-
ges of q terrific confagration. But its exis.
tence is nevertheless promising and secure,
for it has slower of strength" in the zeal
and energy of its professors, who will not
let it 60 down. We may safely say that the
clouds have passed away. and that, as far as
human foresight lets US judge, the future of
the Louisiana State University looms up in
bright, unmingled prosperity from the
troubles of the past. Let us hope that in
this we may not be deceived. As a citizen
of Louisiana, pray for the lasting welfare
of this institution. Louisiana has too
much at stake to ignore the advantages of
thoroughly educating her brave and gener-
GUS sons. She can not afford to remain be.
hind-ha in the great march of events
which distinguishes the nineteenth century.
We live in the midst of q universal revolu-
ton. Wherever we turn there is change,
progress, development, discovery and crea-
ton. From day to day the world of matter
yields in the unequal conflict with ruling
intelligence all but omnipotent and infinite.
The age is eminently practical; all science
is reduced to practice, and is estima-
BILE and esteemed only in proportion as
Wealth, riches, money is the all-potent
star of the hour; the desire to possess it the
ruling passion of mankind. The complica-
tons and refnements of society have multi
piled our wants; plenty begat extravaganza,
and varied abundance effeminate luxury.
Enjoyment stimulates desire, and pervert-
ed taste gratifes itself by pandering to the
appetite of degrading passions. If not
naturally prone to evil, man is forever eX.
posed to the ordeal of fierce temptation,
besetting him in all mis- ways. Like un-
daunted ministers of sin, our passions lure
us to the earth, and that which is noble,
infinite and god-Eke within US is drowned
in the wild eddy Of sensualism in which We
are borne along. We look for happiness
where happiness is not. We seek it in
fruition and enjoyment, and should find it in
content and hope; we feed on visions OF
vain ambition realized, and happiness dwells
with submission and humility; we hunt it
in the gifts of time, and It abides with the
Infinite and the Eternal. Such are the dan
gers of material prosperity. 1t lures
duces the mind from the contemplation of
that which is noble and sublime, to seek
delight in the destructive current of sensual
qualification. Conscious of the power which
it cOnfers, and the distinction with which it
is honored, riches tends to create in its pos.
SCISSOR a bold front of independence and
self.sufficiency, which, unchecked by
milder influences, become fatal to the more
humane principles of kindness and modera
ton. The source and prop of power. it is
the mother of despotism; food and nourish-
ment for coarse desire, it opens untold ave-
nues to vice; the object of every life; the
issue of all contention, it rears "eternal dis
cord" in the human family.
This is one side of the picture; it be-
hooves us now to look upon the other.
Wealth, under the guidance of virtuous
principles and benefcent purposes, is the
fountain of civilization and progress. Art,
science and literature have bloomed and
ripened to rich fruit under its benign pat
for virtuous and intelligent
ends. becomes mans greatest power,
exerted for his greatest good. What should
we do to turn the channels of our fortunes
to such noble purposes? Wealth in abun.
dance lies at our feet. What should we do
to make it indeed the hsrbinger Of bliss, of
happiness and content, instead of the in
strument of social and political despot-
ism; the licentious food Of base and per-
ID hn TO
moral humiliation, luxury, venality and
vice?
The answer is simple and self. evident. We
must educate-we must elevate and refine
man. We must teach him that the visible,
The material world, is but daytime show,
like some vain illusion when he
links he holds it in his grasp. We should
each him that there is beauty lotfier than
he beauty of form; an exaltation higher
han the vanity of man; a nobility more
honorable than that of rank, station; that,
rom the sanctuary of refined and purified
oul,:: only and alone, can emanate that
,eatlic consciousness of glorified immor-
atty, without (which the universe were a
rackless waste and life less than dream;
indeed walking shadow without form,
ntent or purpose" Religion alone is made.
luate to produce this effect Without intel
igence it is little better than blind, IRA
'ional idolatry. Ignorance is the. parent of
prejudice, superstition and fanaticism;
It's simple credulity lays it bare to the ap-
Of artifice and vice and it yields It
self plant tool in the hands of power, of
Prolific source of degradation
and distress, 1t has drenched the world in
blood and reared up piles of human misery
and shame. Its very glories are tainted
with the stain OF guilt; excess marks its
path; cruelty and despotism the culminat.
ing evils of it's needless course. Review the
history of the past, Call up before your
minds eye the struggles of mankind and
while your heart leaps with rapture at the
Iriumphs of truth, your sympathy sheds
tears over the ruin from