National Republican., 1875-06-18

on the piano Of q march by MI John Francis
Rev. Mr. Perry, of Baltimore, next invoked d.
vine blessing, and the programme was continued
as follows: Solo, BY Mrs. d. s. Jones; salutatory
and ovation, mystery, by Hugh NJ. Browne, Wash
Langston; oration, ''Let your light shine" BY
Price A. Leftwich, of Newark, N. J.; oration,
THE Uncommon Age" by Joseph w. Norris Of
snd yaledictpry by FurmRnn ). Shadd, Of WASH
ington, D. e.; solo, by Miss Mcdaniel
Prof John NJ. LangstOn, LII. D., acting presi-
dent Of The University, next
CONFERRED DEGREES
on the following graduates: Hugh NJ. Browne, of
Washington, ID. C.; Price A. -Leftwichr of New
ark n J.: Joseph W. Morris, of Charleston, 5.
C., and Furmaun J. Shadd, Of Washington, d.
c. In conferring the degrees he addressed the
graduates as follows:
Gentlemen: In the name Of the trustees Of
the Howard University, by authority ~ Of -!aI law
to present to each one Of you diploma admitting
YOU to the degree of Bachelor of the Arts, con-
ierring upon you all the honOrs, distinctions,
Scholarly degree the world over.
He next delivered the following address:
ADDRESS OF PROFESSOR LANGsToN.
Gentlemen graduates: My congratulations of
you on this occasion are Of a threetold character
First, congratulate you upon the happy termi-
nation Of your academic course Of study. You
leave now our college halls, the scenes Of your
early trials, dissppointments and triumphs, with
the respect confidence and sympathy Of your in
structOrs, to whose wisdom and labOTs your sue
cess as students is largely due. he record of
course and conduct. For some philosopher has
said, THE habits formed in studentlife are
those which are seldom cOrrected-VerY tnfre-
Quently changed"
NeXf, / congratulate you that you are found
worthy of admission TO the large, increasing, in
fuental, and honorable company Of those who
are known as the literally educated. Henceforth,
numbered with this class, your duty becomes
peculiar, while your influence may be wide
spread. As the welfare Of the State is in the
Keeping OF the patriot, that OF the republic OF
letters is il the protection and support of those
who constitute its body polite. You will spprec-
ate this consideration and demon. .trste your al
legiance by your devotion and achievements.
In the third place, congratulate you upon the
close Of a necessary and important, though less
digniied and responsible period, as commonly es-
teemed of student life, and your entry upon that
other period when the things which pertain to
scholarship, indeed, are to be cultivated with
thorouEhness and perseverance, where your re-
sponsibility and duty are commensurate with the
dignity and honor Of your standing.
This is your commencement" This language
implies at once an ending and beginning. You
did commence, for 1t seems but yesterday that
you were rejoicing in your departure from the
preparatory TO the college department of the uni
1ersity; and now after four brief years you rejoice
in your departure from the college to the pro-
fessionsl course of study, not to the earnest and
arduous duties OF life. You commence this day
that path whether Of professional study or life
labor, which determines your standing and fixes
your place in the estimation Of your fellows and
In history. 1t may not be Inappropriate, there
fore, to warn you Of two or three things which
may prove to your hndrance, even mine.
In the sacrifices which you have made, IN the
pertinacity with which you have pursued your
course, as against
DIFFICULTIES DIsHEARTENING,
some times appalling, succeeding where others
AFTER, it may be, manly and desperate strug-
gle, have failed-yOur determination to be and
accomplish something great and noble is fully
shown. Eight years only have passed since l
NTTnn nf NM hnF in nnn Of hn T1rThI IN
schools Of this city prosecuting elementary
study. These eight years seem but a span Of
time; but they have been iEs1ght to al Of you
developed and toughened your intellectual and
moral muscle. Your Intellectual and moral
vision, too, has been made sharp, so that you
discern readily and appreciate keenly such con-
sideratiOnE as l now present.
One Of the ablest critics Of our country, schol-
patiating upon intellectual Character" holds
with truthfulness this sentiment: ACTIVITY for
an object which is activity that constantly in
creases the power Of acting and keeps the mind
glad, fresh, vigorous and young, has three deadly
enemies-intellectual incidence, intellectual con-
ceit and Intellectual fear" These he character
lies "a trio Of malignants." Against these
would warn and guard you. Whether you de-
vote yourselves to the learned professions, the
cultivation Of science, authorship or business,
your success and your achievements will depend
mainly upon and be very largely proportional to
your energy, industry and perseverance Of en-
deaVOr. And here We have, first Of all, to over
CONF 8 eo0EtlLutlODal tenQeDcy-a temptation oil
nature. Man seems by nature inclined to indo-
lence. Then, most Of us must struggle against
unfortunate hRbit-habit Of procrsstinstion and
satisfaction with that performance, which is
neither worthy Of our native nor acquired ability
The rule should be the best performance possible,
one testing and Illustrating mans full power.
ActiTity-cOnstSnt, vigorous wise, lsbOri0us &C.
tiVity-oi the min in acquisition and excogitstion
is indispensable to judicious, proper observance
of this requirement. To fail here is to violate
the Constitution itself-the highest law which we
are held to duty-to despise that allegiance to
which mankind holds us as educated men. 1t is,
too, to fail in the cultivation Of those mental
powers which bring US
THE HIGHEST cAPABILITY,
endurance and success. Selfish considerations
as well as patriotic and benevolent, conspire TO
compel obedience to tLis rule. Let such consider
ations exert the largest influence upon your minds.
''Seest thou q man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope Of a fool than Of him, !" runs
the proVerb; and in no statement has the wise
man shown greater Discrimination and truth than
in this. If one has made some progress in study,
in intellectual development and acquisition, and
thereupOn becomes conceited, he feeds thereafter
upon past accomplishment stale food, upon which
the mind sickens, grows weak, and incapable OF
vigorous effort, continuous and persistent en-.
deaTOr. The oVerWeenIng sense Of ones ability
his over-conhdent trust in past displays Of power
generating egotism, on the one hand, and des-
stroying doellIty on the other proves the bane Of
the soul, the eclipse Of fame.
From this day you are to tarry not. OOmmenc
ing, you go forward. Conscious Of your fmperfec
tiOns Of mental development and discipline, the
comparative tnsignihcance Of your intellectual
stores, the vast treasures Of science and Mtera
ture TO be gained; but more conscious, deeply
conscious that duty calls you to make some con
trtbutiOn, bearing your own individuality, to the
worlds Intellectual wealth, you will allow II you
are wise, no feeling Of coneeit to hinder or pre-
vent your progress.
Guarding you against intellectual conceIt,
would not fail to remind you that intellectua
progress anC accomplishment are hindered BY
nothing more than intellectual fear. There i
nothing that fear so much as fear" SAYS Mon
IaiRne. Such fear comes ordinarily from want o
confidence in ones knowledge, his ability and hi
skill in its use. One should knou his knowledge
take due measurement Of his understanding RnC
reason, try and test his skill and weld his intel
leetuAl weapons with diFectness and power. H
who fears and trembles in the presence Of thl
Ghrmations Of his own soul, who breads the voici
Of his own being, or is terror-stricken at the pic
can never achieve Freatness. He who Is great
he who achieves greatness is obedient TO the voic
Of God within himself But were you TO full,
and powers to achieve the highest possible intel
lCctual greatness this would not suffice. Nothing
less than the conjOint and harmonious education
Of Intellectual and moral faculty and power dis
played In
MENTAL ACTIVITY AND GENERAL LIFE
will prove you competent to the discharge Of tn
responsibility and duty Of the scholar, or even tn
citizen. Here may be pardoned for using tn
words Of Mr.. Z. p. WhiPple, an author who's
inspire and encourage the hearts Of the youthfu
scholars ofour country He says: "a spirit earnest
hopeful energetic, inqusitiYe, making its mistake
minister 10 wisdom, and converting the obstacle
It Vanquishes into power; spirit inspired by
love Of the excellency and beauty Of knowledge
which will not let # slsep-such q spiEit sool
form Of duty, and that the intellect become
brighter, keener, clearer, more buOyant and NOR
emetent as II feels the refreshing Vigor infused b.
her mentions and menaces, and the celestial caIu
impaired by her soul-satisfying smile. In all tn
professions and occupations over which intellec
holds dominion the studept will ind that there 1
no grace OF character without Its corresponding
grace Of mind. He will ind that virtue fs an ali
TO insight; that good and sweet affections vii
bear harvest OF pure and high thoughts; tina
patience will make the intellect persistent Il
plans which benevolence will make benehcent II
resuts that the augterities Of cons eence will die
tate precision TO statements and exsctnesG TO ar
moral power which requisite the conduct Of Ht
will illumine the path and stimulate the purpos
OF those daring spirits eager 70 add 70 the discov
cries Of truth and the creations ofar
And he will also ind that this purifying inter
action Of Spiritual and mental forces will give tn,
mind an abiding foundation Of Joy for its starts o
rapture and fights Of ecStaoy-sjoy In who's
preston and despair Will be charmed away; joy
In the words OF an old divine, "Which will put OF
more glorious garment above, and be joT super
invested In glory"
As dsmonStrsting the possibility Of such deVeI
opment Of Intellectual and moral activity and
strength, triumph and achievement, ~ / have bui
very tmperfeotly indicated, bring to your atten.
make no apology for mentioning such lofty exam
pie Of intellectual and moral greatness and fame
For what humanity can do In It's best representa-
ti1nE, IL may through IL is more humble in somI