The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-24


tor There mother was proudly admirtng her
son, and there father was lo0king with an air OF
satisfaction on the son upon whom he had spent
so much money in order that he might graduate.
All had an interest in the programme, and were
amply repaid for the little discomfort they under
went on account Of the hard seats Of the chapel.
Ex-Presdent Woolsey. President Porter and men,
bers OF the corporation and faculty were present
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CHAPEL.
Alter prayer BY the President the class poet
was introduced. His name Is George Darius Reid,
OF She11eld, Conn.,, and he chose for his subject
Athens" The poem was fully up to the average
OF such college productions. His closing verses to
his class were received with great enthusiasm and
interest and were entirely free from assuming
anected language. The orator Of the day was
Henry Harger Ragan, OF Turin, N. Y, who spoke
on Republican Liberty"
The GRAFTON, although not a model of It's kind,
IL instructive in showing how the student who
desires to avoid the glartug error OF plagiarism in
its worst aspect must labor at history ana modern
facts before attempting 70 present discourse that
must must inevitably be severely criticised: After
would have caused Henri cling to shake his drdpedu
blanc IN historical defiance fr0mjhs baronia house
top at FIonsdorf, graduate Raglan said in reference
It has not been proved that republican govern
mens can be maintained BY every nation TO which
without serious eort on the part citizens. ON
the contrary thousand weaknesses nave been re-
thousand dangers which can only be avoided BY
the utmost care and skill. The perils OF popular
over When once PROSPEROUS start has been made de-:
they can never be wholly past. An influence which
to-day Ii harmless may tomorrow destroy the ma
t1on. We have prospered wonderfully for 100 years;
but what OF tnatf Many republic has lived longer,
ana yet, IN the end persisted miseraby. There are
dangers yet TO be faced more serious than any that
have thus lar encountered.
we naturally turn to ask how this liberty can
the ranks Of active e and take mon
the responsibilities as well as the privileges OF
American citizens. the question Is most pertinent.
course, lar beyond the powers OF any one OF us.
All that can hope to do ia TO point out rudely and
It appears to me, we, as American Citizens, mas
best serve our country ana the cause OF popular
The nrst thought that suggests itselfis, that, in
respect to many OF the duties OF citizenship,
American citizens need to be more conservative.
BY conservatism do not mean mere hanging
back in the race, mere dragging upon the wheels
OF progress, but active, thoughtful! EFFORT to keep
ideal conservative conceive to be him who re.
ss' ~ g7s ta.s ss
be an improvement, who takes care, rather TO
secure and preserve what he mas already gained,
than 20 grasp more ct the RISK Of losing all. Nor
CONSERVATIVE could not put stop to progress II he
would. What he can do, and what, lor the good
ing false or destructive Is accepted under the name
OF progress. such CONSERVATISM Is the crying need
OF American politics. It Is needed IN the elections.
But there is need OF conserve tism In other re-
spects. In our zeal to extend the blessings OF
institutions to all mankind we have thrown our
doors wide open and lavished upon every conner
not only more than justice or benevOlence could
require but more than is consistent with safety TO
our institutions were conceived forbds that we
should shut them up to our own exclusive use.
ana set nave right 70 DC
prodgal OF them. Is II benevolence or wisdom to
place impor tant political privileges involving cor
responding duties, in the hands OF men who are
incapable Of compromising their value or mean
ingf 1t Is universally admitted that the one thing
Tic is high standard OF Intelligence in Its citizens
What are we doing to secure this grand desid-
eratums Our school system, 1t is said, Is perform
every year to all the privileges OF citizenship whom
our school system does not reach. The American
anything extraordinary in thus deliberately
s9s S5oSOrnoa 81 q ignorance ana moral
republics have found enough Corruption in their
own native born citizens to insure their destruc-
the world to come In and make their home with
US and take possession OF the safeguards OF our
liberty a. All the changes that have thus far been
direction OF greater laxity. We have gone too far
IN this direction. Wisdom and prudence demand
u
firm step toward conservatism. That 1t would be
extremely difficult to take such step affords no
sufficient ground for refusing to make the attempt.
II conservatism can be applied to the elective
franchise at ALL this is preemnenty, the place for
it. To extend the term OF residence now required
to twice or even thrice that period could AFFORD no
Just cause for complaint and would, unquestion-
ably, give material check to the degeneration Of
Finally, If we are to maintain our high position
among the nations OF the earth, we must preserve
q high standard OF national honor Would that we
n "a In ftao nrotn ,i,,x~
like revival OF that stern old Puritan virtue
which sustained the nation in Its infancy ana gave
1t the vfgor OF its early manhood Would that men
might learn that expediencv is not the only thing
tie be considered In the affairs OF This world that
there V such thing as right and that It has u
place IN public as well as private concerns! What
Is this we hear about the ''p0licyn OF paying
the national obligations Can that nation nope
to prosper that stops to debate upon the spolicy"
Of Keeping its PROMISES II the United states
is ever to become o truly great nation it
must not hesitate between right and wrong in its
public measures; II must have more truth, more
honor, more maniiness in Its public men. The
danger to this country Is not that the government
set up in Its pace-tne fate OF the ancient repuD-
lics-tut that II will become byword among the
nations for the corruption and .imbeclity OF us
politics. We may not be destroyed, but we shall
certainly be dsgraced II we do not rouse ourselves
TO shake on the demoralIzing tendencies OF the
age and revive something AKIN to purity In our ma
tlonal councils.
THE pRrzRs
-, After the singing Of the parting ode, written by
Frederick Addison Cline. President Porter an
nounced the following prizes
For excellence in composition during the year to mem.
bers OF the Senior Class - 1855
FIRST Rank-Robbins Adds Wilcox. Thatcher, Curtis
(equaD
Second kank-Spaulding, Walden, Whiting White
more, Farnam. W. Foster, Kennedy and leal leauaD
FRIES tor decamaon 70 the sophomore Csss-Frst
Senior Mathematical Prizcs-First prize Thatcher,
$50; second, W. Kelley, $40 '' ''
winthrop Prze for the Junior Claas--Grif1u Blodget
Prize IN Modern Languages Georgc H. Benton
Thatcher. "-'' "' "
The Hurburt Scholarship Thomas d GoodhiIl
The Third Freshman prize, Charles 81 Camp
Prizes for English composition in the Sophomore
CAss-FlrSt prize, Gleason, Hadiey, Howe. Marvin;
y cSnd = GayiorS Hyde Sage, smith third Bingham
Mathematical Prizes In the Sophomore Class--First
prlxo, hadieyi second haxson; third, Kondrck.
inc bsrkeiey scholarship arded TO Fox, Of the
The Clark Scholarship TO Thatcher. Of the Senior
pehtorl, Robbins and Thatcher.
Junior Class " = -
The Brised Scholarship to Hadey, OF the Sophomore
nnr kolnU