The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-17
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.
THE ADDRESS OF BAYARD TAYLOR AND OTHEl
PROCEEDINGS.
REPORTED for the Dispatch.l


CHARLOTTESVILLE, October 16, 1874.
The twenty-eighth annual convention of
the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity assem-
bled in the Temperance Hall, in this town,
on Wednesday last. Delegates from New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Connecticut, West Virginia, Kansas, Mary
land, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and North
Carolina were in attendance. The business
meetings Of the Society were held on We'd
nesday and Thursday. ...
On Thursday night the public exercises
took place in the public ball of the Uni
versty, and, by invitation extended, a large
audience was in attendance at an early hour.
The stand was occupied by Bayard Taylor,
ESQ.,, Of New York; H.-T. Wickham, Esq,
of Richmond; Daniel 2. Lucas, Esq, of
CbarlestoWn. W. Va; the Chaplain Of the
University; aud the members of the Com
nttee of Eta Chapter.
After prayer by Rev. AIr. Steele the
Chairman of the committee introduced Bay
ard Taylor, Esq, the president of the So
ciety.
MIR. Taylor expressed the qualification he
felt at having been selected to preside on this
occasion. lie was IN Germany when the
notification of bis election came to him, and
if he had not been home in season he would
have crossed the ocean for the purpose not
only on account of bis love for the Society
or the principles it espoused; but because it
occurred here, at the University of Virginia,
the idol of the immortal Thomas Jefferson.
He spoke of the cynical sneers at the So
called illusions Of youth. The great want
Of the country and time was the element OF
youth. Trickery and dishonesty had Well-nlgh
driven Old Honesty from the field. Misrnle
and corruption held high carnival In the
land, and men of mature years were despond.
ent of the future. He deplored this fact,
but he considered man coward who mis-
trusted the power of well-drected virtue
and honesty to break down every obstacle.
1t was every mans duty to exercise a.periect
virtue; one with imperfect virtue had no
virtue at all. Courage, patience, and endu.
rance were what we needed. He re.
ferred to the time when Germany was
fawnipg and cringing before France !;
her old men were respondent, cowardly !;
her Young men took the country into
their own hands; formed society the eie.
ments of which were cheerfulness and hope
fitness. When men despa!red they sang
songs. and by their actions and words dis
peIled the phantom which depressed the
country. and the result was the creation OF an
element in the nation which eVentusiiy
placed her where she now stands-the con.
oueror of France and one Of the hrst
Powers of the world. Why should not TINS
fraternity act in the same way? The liberia
ton of Germany was the work of her young
men: and the redemption OF America WIN
be the work Of our young men. -, -
He had no patience with the unfaith III
the power OF human influence. The depEes'
sion in this country was manly due to the
impression that the higher walks OF life were
filled by the corrupt and dissolute, from
which honest men shrank. He thought LUIS
the more reason why the young men
should enter them, that their influence
might purify the turgid waters: Inc lgno.
rant millionaire enjoys and admires the man
OF intellect, however much ne may sneeI ~ ~
his smoney yalue.n IL is not the assent OF
the lips which is to accomplish the REFORMS
80 needed, but the earnest work OF Inc
heart. o,,zo.
Mr. TAYLOR then spoke Of the demoraalza-
tion following the war. be thought Tug
hest of the men of both sides were lost, anu q
their places were FLIED by the hungry Yui.
lures which feed upon such 4 condlfsson 1 q
affairs, He impIored the young men 20 sa y !
aside the prejndiees OF former Tune ano
come forward and take hold Of the duties o.
the present. He had been born oI ths gss
graphical line, where bis sympa.ales " ala