The daily gazette., 1875-08-27
Trom our yesterdays editionJ
SENT CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

AT the dinner Of the Alumni, on July /,
1875. Senator BAYARp was called upon to
respond to the following toast;
"Tirtue and Knorledge. The trim Stars Of
Staiesmanship."
Safe comes the ship TO haven,
Through biilows and through gales,
II once the great Twin Brethren
Sit shining IN the sails"
Senator BAYARp had most enthusias.
tic reception. the company rising to their
feet and cheering to the echo amid the
waving of hats and handkerchefs. When
quiet was restored he said
GENT EAEN or THK ALUMNI The easy
sense of satisfaction colored, 70 my mind,
with something Of fortitude and philoso-
ply with which | have regarded the
throes of my peighbors at this hospitable
board, as one by one they have fallen un-
der the fatal powers of your toast-list,
has suddenly faded away. and am filled
with emotions Of very different and less
heroic order. Tine fun of the thing" is
less visible, and my appreciation of it,
like the courage of Squire Acres seems
certainly to be going-oozing out. as it
were at the palms of my hands.
Now indeed do realize in its full force
the infelia .feliciias of answering after
dinner toasts, all the more difficult in
that | am called upon to take care of
''tscins" whilst other gentlemen have been
held to answer for but single little re-
sponsibility." If, therefore, I cry, 80
Gemini," ] trust those De- ca ntdehina
will come to my aid as efficiently as they
did to the aid of Rome in her great bat
tie with the thirty cities in commemo-
ration OF which the verse which accom-
panies your toast was written
KNOWLEDGE AND VIRTUE. may they
never be separated Of all spectacles,
a fine human mind well endowed and
stored with knowledge, and without vir-
tue is surely the sadde3t and to the rest
of the world. most dangerous, as being
apt to achieve mischieyous success, in
science, and restraints which virtue i'm
poses upon her followers.
IF virtue shall 60 ever hand in hand
with knowledge-then will pride of know
ledge be abated-and what pride is more
false? For what is human knowledge in
general, but what passes current and is
so received with but little of original dis
covery. Those little particles which
man himself discovers are the exceptions
which may perhaps justify pride as a sort
of proprietorship. And be it noted the few
men who are original discoverers seem
more devoid of pride-but rather touched
with humility, and marked by simpli-
city almost childlike--as though awe
stricken by Q sense of the greatness of
nature-of whose realities dim and has
ty glimpse had been permitted.
For our knowledge, upon any subject
on n nulv ha io1 md xlo%a or1
therefore for our safety, to preserve us
from the perils and misery of unbelief,
must be accompanied and sustained by
virtue, so that though q glimpse only be
allowed there will be pobleness even in
the concealment of what is withheld
from our view, and the veil that hides
the whole truth will be felt to be kind
ly veil-for without virtue to guard and
restrain us, we should perish in our ap-
proaehes to forbidden lights as moths
shrivel and die in our evening lamps.
In restraint lies true freedom-What
are wise laws but just restraints, and to
a natfon such restraints are not its
chains. but its chaih -armer-its defen-
sive strength-althongh goTnetines felt
as an ipcumbrance. %"
In self-eIacted obedience lies true no.
bility
n reIFdnt hnu LUIS clause
Makes drudgery divine,
Who sweeps room AS FOR THY IAKs.
Makes that and the action fine"
II this be true of our States and peo.
pies how especially true of the United
States, where self-government is the ba.
sis ef cur system; where restraint is self
imposed; Fhefs ths fetters of law upon
the ruler and ruled ate plaeeqq, hy the 20
Montesqieu, in his spirit of Laws"
tells us.
"It does not require much probity for
a monarchical or despotical government
to maintain or support itself. The force
of laws in the one, the arm of the prince
always uplifted in the other. regulate or
keep in its place everything. But in q
popular State some additional power is
required, which is VIRTUE"
And here in Virginia, ,hi5 place OF birth
and place of burial, shall we fail reyer-
entity to listen to the voice from the
tomb Of Mount Vernon and heed the
prophetic words Oh Washington ia his
last legacy of counsel to his fellow-coun-
trymenp
"Tis substantially true that virtue or
morality is necessary spring of popular
government. The rule extends with
more or less force TO every species OF free
government. Who, that IS o sincere
friend to it, can look with Indifference
upon attempts to shake the Foundation of
TIE fabric -
What sin is to-day more fragrant in our
government than want Of knowledge in
those who assume high functions ?-who
take the name OF statesman too often as
others take
-"the grand old name OF gentleman,
Defamod by every charlatan
And solled with all lgnoble use."
Ruskin somewhere says:
"knavery is not the less knavery be-
cause it involves large interests nor
theft the less theft because 1t is counte.
nanced by usage or accompanied by fail
ure in undertaken duty. 1t is an incom-
parably less guilty form OF robbery to
cut purse ont Of mans pocket than
to take ii out Of his hand in the under
standing that you are to stear his ship
up the channel rhen you do not kao,D the
souadiags."
What justification is there in soaking
power unless with the only lawful aspi.
ration-to do good to oshers9