Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-11-03
From an occasional Cor. of the Tribune.l

From an occasional Cor. of the Tribune.l
CHARLoTTEsvILbE, Va, Oct l4.-The
annual Convention of the Delta Kappa Epsi
len fraternity, which was held here to-day,
was attended with especial interest, as it was
the first national convention of students held
in the South since the war. There were del
egates present from all the Northern Chap
ters. who were received with the greatest cor
diality by the Chapter of the University of
Virginia The weather was fine, cain, clear,
and touched with the first frostiness of the
Autumn. An excursion to Monticello was
one of the most interesting features of the re-
union. The public exercises took place this
evening in the grand ball of the University
Mr. Bayard Taylor presided aud delivered an
eloquent and felicitous address, which was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm. The orator of
the Convention was Henry Wickham, Esq,
of Richmond, aud Mr. Daniel b Lucas, of.
Charlestown, w. Va, was the poet and both
received their need of hearty appreciation
and applause.
The following is a report of Mr.. Taylor's
speech
Brethren of tie Delta Kappa Epsilon Fra.
ternity.: Few events in my life have given
me more satisfaction than the Invitation to
which reached me nearly six months ago, in
Germany. If | had not purposed returning
home in season, l should have been willing to
cross the ocean for the sake of accepting it,
| was drawn, not only by the tie that binds
me to our beloved Fraternity; not only in the
cheer that lies in an honor offered by the
young, the generous, the aspiring; hut also
perhaps most of all-because our ConveD>
tion is held here, in the lap of the Alma Mater
which unites the name of Virginia with the
memory of Jefferson.
So many thoughts crowd upon me, suggest
ed by the place and the occasion, that must
endeavor to select those only which I may
appropriately utter and you willingly hear
1t is not slight foundation upon which We
stand together the bond of our nnion is
all the stronger for its simplicity. None of
you now, | am convinced, undervalue it, and
let me assure you that |, after many wander
ings about the world, after labors which may
have somewhat sobered NY early enthusiasms,
after an experience of life which too often
develops distrust and selfshness, yield to none
of you in fidelity to the auimatng principle
of our Fraternity. We hear forever repeated
certain commonplace about ''the illusions Of
youth" But the illusions of the intellect
have their source in the Gullness of Young
and believing heart. What is it, in such
heart, that we should Dare to style 'ilusion Y
The ambition which seeks to elevate the man
Is 10 illusion Rivalry in the race for dis
tinction, friendship that wholly confides, and
believes itself eternal. manly honor aud hon
esty-thcse are no illusions Let the cynic
sneer aud the philosopher smile I've will
cherish these attributes of youth, until they
turn age itself into an illusion
The want of our tune and onr country is
the element of youth, in every field of human
action. You possess the faculties which can
help us the most, in these difficult aud dis
couraging days. | shall speak plainly, be-
cause feel strongly. l will give voice to
what many others feel, yet are still timid to
utter-thA trick and smartness are now striv-
ing to push old honesty out of the field of
business that Indifference to all matters of
public interest has fallen upon a large class
which once did its part from sense OF pride
and duty; that fat bufoonery assais the
best spirit of our literature TINT men who
make politics selfish aud mercenary pro-
fession sit in the chairs which once held
statesmen. | find the good growing fAint-
hearted, and even many who possess authority
and influence inclined to sit down idly and
let the worst come which they anticipate. In
the few weeks which have elapsed since my
return, / have been made ashamed by the
many private expressions of despondency, aud
by the lack of that courage without which no
people can be free or intelligent. In spiteuf
all that has happened--the bitterness of a
civil strife, the demoralization thar Pillows it
on both sides, misrule, corruption, aud the
pussillanimous submission tllereto b. the very
men vino recognize the evil and viii NOT fss
sist it-in spite of all this, the man IS * sc9sy
ard who distrusts the power Of the elemeat e
of an honest, manly and dignife ustioaaH
life still existing among US, or saste6i if l.d
fails to detect them
A merely passive virtue is scarcely q
at all. The young man who knows himself
to be true, honorable, capable. dare not sims
ply possess these qualities. An the greater
is the duty laid upon him to manifest them
actively in every possible form, and to con-
quer, so far as he may, whatever deceit, dis
honor or ignorant prejudice lies nearest to his
path of life The strength of each of you,
my brethren, if thus exercised,j is greater
than the proudest among you has ever reck-
oned The strength of all of US combined,
exerted against the evils we see, will jar their
foundations, though they seem never so firm.
1t is nearly useless to attempt to create
spirit which does not already exist. UnIess
you waiting for some such utteranees as
these, am speaking to the air. But am
nearer-snd always shall be-to the conf.
dence of youth than to the mistrust of man
hood which has thrown away the most pre-
cious possession of the human heart. APP
peal to that heroic element which can never
die-which includes duty, courage and en-
uursnce- There can be no lofty friendship
between man and man where that element is
wanting; and the sacred motto which en-
circles every member of our Fraternity as
With a belt of gold means far mnra than its