Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-05-28
COMMUNICATED.
Che EJhAGVeF@af

ton led the wAy for that long line OF
our University bred men wi:o, as "a
body, have done so much for three
quarters Of a century to illustrate aud
;tdolu the character of North Carolina
at home and abroad.
1t is not too much to say that four
fifths of our best public men during
the long period have received their
education at Chapel Hill. In every
department OF work that calls for
braius and culture-ln law, medicine,
science, III the army, and III the min
ist1v-as teachers, farmers, or as leg
islaIOrs, Chapel Hill students have
been foremost, and at this day the
men to whom the entire community
turns with most confidence and re-
spect and affection, are those who
were trained under Caldwell and
Swain and their coad tutors. What
ever fortune has Yet III store for the
University, ''the past at least is Sc
cure" With pardonable pride and
exuitation North Carolinians may turn
over the pages of the catalogues of the
Di and PHI Societies, and see the long
array of honored names. With par
dOnable tenderness we may stand be
fore the portraits that adorn their
Halls and express our gratitude to the
men who founded the Institution and
the men who have made 1t illus 5rious.
There is William Richardson DAVE
WHO, perhaps, did more than any man
Of his day to secure it's establishment.
Ii is noble face firm, rehued, acute,
generous, tiorough-bred gentleman
Of the old scnool-oue is good com
pany, standing ! front OF that pCr-
trait. And there are Mangum, and
Manly and Hawks, and Polk, and
| King, and Dohhin. and Murphy, and
Ruiiin anl Badger. These are men to
| point our boys to and say, "Remem-
| Der, resemble, persevere.
Eighty years ago tn new university
was moving off, but slowly and feebiy
to what proved in the eud to be an
honored and iliustrious career.
The country itself had not yet got
well under weigh The heavy ground
swell left by the Revolution was felt
in every class OF society, and every
department of labor or enterprise
There was very little money III tn
newly United States whose magniti-
cent resources so far from being as yet
under any process OF development,
were hardly even suspected. Yet
what men had to give to this enter
prise in that day they gave and gave
freely. The names OF three OF the
most generous glyers are preserved il
the names Of three Of the buildings OF
the University: Girard. and Person
aid Smith Halls. OF all the property
possessed 10y those gentlemen eighty
years ago, what now remains to then
connected with their names or pre-
serving their memories, but these
gifts to the University? what Mc5
g0tc here, they hare get, and d.
Chapel Hill they still {irC
For seventy-thre> years the Uniyers
ity prospered. and was an ovcrfo ine
aud increasing fountain OF good, nut
all clement Of power III the State
During the war it was point o
honor with Governor Swain to keep i
open. Its exercises were not inter
1uittcd for a single day, and even il
1860 when there was but one soIitlr,
graduate, all tt e forms and motions
We're kept up and gone through.
The war being ended darkness "
gan to close on Chapel Hill. Encmie
sprang mp and friends grew cold
Then she might have taken up Tia
words Of the patriarch, and said
''TheF whose fathers [ would have us
dained to set with the dogs Of N,
flock, have me ii deri~ion-tnong til
bushes they hrayed, and spared not :,
spit n my face.
: For nearly seven years the old col
lego has lain in tie hands OF opel
enemies, false friends or ignorant pre-
tenders.
We vii! not recur to those darI
l hours, except for the Sons uut
: warnings they give, Now at last tn
morning has come again, and soon tn
resting SUI beams val once more I'll
With god hilltop oi.d roof, and on
= s0no will again he summoned 10 TIA
= "hauUf Of ancient place" There vii
be those that weep for Joy as wcIi "A
those who shout, when the roll i
again called in those halls.
5 But there is much to be done, f.
this beloved and hol0rcd Tnstitut or
, Now, as we'll a. eighty years ago, on
people are Impoverished by a Rtvl liz
tor, laden with taxes and with debt
p The question is asked will tie me2
J and women OF TO-DAY exhibit the sam
zeal IN thu cause Of education. TIL
same regard for poetcrity IN provid
ing for its wants, the same liberality
the same foresight a. to the perpetuitr
{ Of their own good baines as the worit
/ saw eighty years ago. The college
needs instant help. Strong men
, arms are about her low to raise lie
head from the dust aud teuderly SUD
, port her trembling bowed form Ba'
she needs the aid Of ali her SONS Sh
calls them to her now by hundred
netting and inspiring memories; h
all that she taught in the past, anl
7 by ali that she pointed to III the future
| she calls for aid to rekirdle TIN
= sacred fires upon her shrines, tina
from these hills light mc< again
stream far and wide to bless our PEG
pile. Whatever steps may be taken
: by the hOnOrad citizens Who have Il.
{ Institution now IL charge, to relai
and rctit and re- inaugurate, in canno
be that the Alumni will allow tn,
burden to oe assumed By 4 few. /
cannot be that tie State at large vii
look GA uumoved.
Eighty years ago the ladies were
confidently and successfully applied {,
for their sympathy and aid.
[ The women Of this generation
, besides that we know them to hav
, inherited the tenderness and generosi
ty OF their mothers, must certainl'
feel il debt to the University tn
directly they have shared in all tn
, good 1t has djffused. Not IA woman il
the State to-day but is better off 70
the annual crop Of educated young
men sent out from Chapel Hill 70
, seventy-five years. Not q mother
] not wife, not asister but is intereste.
IN It's reendownment and reorganIza
ton.
Whatever appeals may be made t,
the public for aid, it is to be hope,
the agents i'll the work will andeavo
to enlist the ladies on their side. I
Mey will thing, it is done. If tn
fair women of North Carolina will tina
, their husbands, broth, rs, sons, los er
| and friends shall endow and supper
? the University, there is no doubt tina
t 1t will be amply endowed and support
+ ed. And just because it is SO I'M
pGrtant to them, their happiness an,
welfare that the men of the State sha!
be we'll and nobiv refined and culti