Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-23
Address by NenatOr Morrill,.

The Massachusetts Agricultural College at
Amherst held its commencement last week
The graduating class numbered thirteen.
Hon Justin S. Morrill, delivered the annual
address before the Social UDion.
After Introductory remarks, touching the
advantages of city and country life, and
caimjng it was most fortunate for the
yonnc men he was to address that they were
horn to take part in the history OF mankind
far the next half century, MIR. Morrill, an
noanced his subject as few thoughts upon
:. Some of the Opportunities and Perils in the
Pathway of the Young Men of America" 1t
would be admitted that the new world had
made some improvements and had avoided
some defects. Notwithstanding little noise
and friction incident to the movements of
new machinery, an advance is to be found in
repubcan representative institutions, in the
general education of the people, in the hu-
mauity and equality of both civil and crimi-
nal law, in civil and religious liberty, in the
conceded rights and position of women, in
the support of the helpless poor, and finally
in the nearly universal thrift and prosperity
of the people. The opportunity for the ac-
nnIrement of the branches of a common school
education was so nearly universal, that they
were often too soon thrust aside as of little
consequence But DEFICIENCIES of rudimental
Enowledge make more advanced requirements
pretentious, and yet colleges cannot be ex-
Dected to give much time to these fundamen-
tai studies Deficiencies will adhere through
Hie The art of speaking and writing the
English language with absolute purity should
never be lost sight of. Blunders and vul-
garlsms, barely once tolerated, are prone to
To- n
Far beyond the old curriculum Of the COM
mon schools has it become necessary now for
Americans to extend their course of studies
Once that limit for all included much and
suficed, but other nations have started on
cur track, some are already abreast, and un-
less we push onward, our position in advance
will be lost More is indispensable even to
ordinary usefulness. Colleges, and better
colleges, must be brought within the reach
of larger numbers. A thoroughly educated
man commands greater success, greater re-
wards, and, what is better than either, greater
respect, than the illiterate.
1t should be the paramount object of edu-
cation to give to every man, whatever and
wherever his destiny is to be, the key that
will unlock all his faculties, and present to
the world full man, elevated in character
and expanded in intellect. The old college
classic theory fell short Of this, and aristO-
craticaly resisted the introduction OF modern
sciences, as though they were poor relations.
This theory, which so long held sway by its
dignfed antiquity, 1t should be admitted, :,
was the best the world once had and was
not barren ofmany good and great men, how
ever diapidated and inappropriate it may
now be lor indiscriminate application. The
classics should not be disca ded, but they
should live and let live. The former exclu-
sveness was offensive. Tue distrust of the
university Of Oxford of any deviation from
the beaten track was until recently very con-
spicuous, and few American colleges moved
with much more alacrity or with less fear of
change. The sciences, pure and applied,
now demand recognition and hospitality.
Whether the beauties ascrbed to ancient
tongues are real or ideal. they should not
absorb all the enthusiasm OF DoyuUud. study
them, but not wholly at the expense OF mod
ern languages.
Itis one Of the fortunate conditions Of
society here that most OF us must work and
do something for livelihood. We are lor
the most part happily unacqualnted with
matrimonial estates and with consequent he
redltary languor and softness. Industry is
the birthrigbt of an American, and ease and
through which nearly all of our young
men pass, and which they are proud to have
passed, gives much of solIdlty to character.
The final results, mental and all others, in a
national as well as personal point of view,
have fewest examples of absolute failure and
most of comparative success. But the pur-
suit Of colossal fortunes engrosses too FULLY
our attention and makes too loud noise in
the world by its brassy triumphs. The ap-
petite for wealth should not obtain the mas
terry, and needs to be checked lest its growth
should choke ard dwarf all the nobler senti-
ments of the heart and extinguish that moral
rectitude which is the only basis OF true and
lasting greatness. The apparent rank con-
ferred by wealth ln our republic is more un-
deserved even than ancestral titles. Though
it may spring up IN a day, it is gone in a
night. 1t is as transient as the summer
rose, or the song of the bobolink, and its
garments of purple and fine linen often hide
an intellectual beggar. Is it not peIver-
81 OF the noble faculties Of man to devote
them exclusively to the sordid work of gain,
or TO q lie OF epIcurean selfishness, as though
1t was enough Tor one, standing at the very
apex OF creation. to cat, to drink and to
dep?
Butintellectual excellence, superior knowl-
edge, reliable Judgment, cultivated imagina-
ton, are attachments more worthy of ambi-
tiO1. One of the noblest faculties OF the
mind, which education enlarges and invigo-
rates, Is common sense. 1t is the capital of
tie scholar, of the successful business and
Professional man, aud the only solid basis of
the statesman. Not brilliant nor dazzling by
the splendor of its effects, it yet silently
carries the scepter in the constant leadership
OF the mIghtiest as we'll as the most trivial
transaction of life. Our own people and the
race IRON which we spraDg are as much dis
hngulshed, perhaps, for common sense as
anY OF the inhabitants of the globe. But
MS faculty is held to be so common as to be
Ol'en thought less worthy of cultivation than
genius One hundred may attempt the role
ol genius, Wit and Imagination, and SO will
vigorously fail, but 100 may modestly and
faiely aspire to common sense and the wrecks
not prove more than an inconsiderable frac-
'oh. Irue genius is not to be underrated, ,. but
'ne base bonds, stamped only by frisky &C.
.TaueitIes, are to be resOlutely shuned, and
'4e sooner young men count themselves out
VI 'ne role OF inspired geniuses and believe
snat they achieve will only be achieved by
nsfo work, the sooner will they be on the
"ue road to eminencc. Taste is almost
.uoliy acquired by education. The savage
w:l, Spa The litsrate are strangers to its charms
"i'nout 1t the mechanic, the author aud the
Os ota'Or make no headway. We may be proud
many American authors but there is much
~a'n ahoat, claiming to be especially Amerl.
0sn' which does not contribute to the growth
u good taste. There is too brisk market
NJ n 'ne literature Of Mrs. ;Malaprop and Jacl
owning. The style of clown is more easily
inflated than that of Addison. Some inter
sin ,ss may be felt in the Augustan age, but who
,Ia ni inquire alter that Of Sam Slick? Ths
on" o,o"nlsh mockeries of stupidity and grotes-
,b d1e ignorance will inspire nothing higher
o,1l .Hn would the original models, and that ii
cng. ry contempt. The opportunities of youth
tJrIneu the plano of &c. r. h.