The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-12
The University.

| TIE OCCASION, TIE LATE ALUMNI DISNER.
Toa>t: " "AhHa Mdtcr'-She has realized
| the hopes Of her father and justified the
pride Of her sons.
Responded TO by w. c. RiveS, E>q., of
Boston.
Mr.. President and Gcntl,men,-I wish
most sincerely wish-that from among The
children Of our lluStrious mother here pre-
sent YOU bad dcputrd some one more accll>-
toned than myself 20 public speech. and
more adequate 10 the perform lnce Of the
duty of responding TO the sentiment you
have just uttered.
cannot, | think, in the few moments
shall claim your attention, better illustrate to
what extent our University has fulfilled the
hopes Of her founders and has justified the
pride Of her children than by adyerting to Il
few facts developed in Il laboriouS investigl-
ton undertaken 10y one of our proft SSOrs,
cmiucnt alike for varied learning and accom-
plShmcnt and for indomiable industry and
z.u III our behalf. | refer to the Semi-cen-
tcnniaI catalogue which has lust been pre-.
pared by Professor Schrle, and which trust,
| Mr. President and gentlemen. we shall take
care soon 10 give to the public in form
worthy of the pains taking industry which
has produced it.
| Time would fail me to call your attention
| TO The evidence which this instructive COM
piIaton allJrds of the extent to which or
| University has contributed TO the prolCs.
>ions Of teaching, and of medicine, to au-
thorship, to the press, the pulpit. the bar,
| the bench, and TO the various executive de-
partmcnts Of our numerous governments.
| Interesting as these details are, p,SS them
| over and seize the fleeing moment before
me TO bring TO your notice the Efforts OF the
sons OF the University in a cause which in.
cited almost Illimitable demands on their en-
cr.y and patriotism.
| God forbid that on an occasion like this
should allude to Our unhappy civil war-the
source Of unnumbcred and innumerable
woes save for the purpose Of showing you
that in a great emergency the heart and cu'-
| turc Of our University have nobly responded
| 10 the demands of Il sense Of duty.
| From the walls of this University, accord:
ing to tue statistics have referred 10, more
than |. 800 of her sons rushed with patriotic
ardor into the army. Of that number 1892
! were ctlcers-l92 rising TO the rank Of leu
tenant colonel and colonel, and more than SO
| TO the rank Of general.
| OF the whole number, three hundred and
thirty.sX fell on the field of battle.
| If, gentlemen, In the greatest emergency
which cun arise in the history of Il uation
aud Of humanity, this institution has sent
| forth to the imminent deadly breach in de-
fence of cause honestly believed to be
| right the best fruits of its discipline aud its
| culture, may We not from this illustration
| alone claim, without arrogance, that the
hopes of its founders have been, in measure
at least, fulfilled, and the pride Of all her
children in some degree justified:
May we not further hope that now Then
the deepest of all causes of dissension has
! been forever removed as a stumbling block
| in the path Of the progress OF our country,
| and when at last, after years OF weary wai.-
! Inc, we have striking proofs IN the recent pa
triotic celebrations throughout the country
that the spirit of sectional Iancor is eXbaing
like Il roxious rapor before the rising (it not
risepl sun of Il brotherly national lore-may
we not. | say, lcgitimately hope that our
alma Mater will begin new halfccntury
of usefulness, honor, and renowu in COM
parisou with which her recorded achieve
mens Of the last fifty ycarS-lmportant ana
llu,trous as those achievements have been
Will fade into utter inSignitcance.