The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-06-13
THE RCoMMENCEMENrOF THE AM
yERsITY.


over period Of three days, and embracing
so many incidents as would far exceed our
space To record
Wewill remark that the verylarge
attendance. especially the extraordinary
influx rom the surrounding country, Is
the happiest evidence that the Institution
has become rooted in the affectio ms and
In the confidence oftlle whole people.
Several fatal prejudices have fallen pros-
trate under the rrgenerating system of the
new regime. The barrier--a false mis-
apprehension--tha the Institution was for
the education ftlel rich and not of the
poor has been swept away. II Ii seen by
every eye that the poer young men is well
come and never turned away because of
his poverty, all tlint is required being
character, and ambition 10 use his adj
vanlages. Sectarian hostility has been
assiaged, because every denomination
finds itself on equal footing, and partici-
pating IN that perfect .catholicity Of faith
which makes.no exaction exceptbeliefin
The. God of the Bible; and the prejudice
against the system Of education which
was believed 10 lit Its snbjects for tile
learned professions only, fadesaway under
the demonstration that a rigid curriculum
has relaxed its stiffness 10 apply a high
education 10 the common and practical
affairs OF daily life.
The renovation OF public sentiment
growing out Of an understanding of these
changed conditions gave the late Com
mencement popular character, bringing
the interests ofthe University into lively
consideration az the common concern OF
all che people,. not the special care % the
privileged few, once the common aud
fatal obstacle to the concentration of
general public interest upon itswelfare
aud expansion Of Its usefulness.
As we have said, The interest Of the oc-
caslon extending over three days, but the
fist day was signalized only ly the
gathering OF the clans, the only Uni
vesity participation being The meeting Of
the societies, attended sy the pleasant
presence OF the old members Of a long past
geralion of the Phi and tile Di. organiza-
tions co-eval with the University.
Wednesday morning. bright, beautiful,
pleasant. all but the. d,'st, uslered In
scene of animation not witnessed during
the sad years Of obscuration and sonly
made possible under anew public senti-
ment. The streets were alive with gay
vehicles and spirited horses. The grove
sparkled with the brilliant costumes OF
fair women, the air was musical with the
hum Of pleasan. voices. or rung with the
melodies Of the distant bands. AZ ten
o'clock all steps we're ,lirect-, 20 Girard
Hall, aud that capacious building lost Its
claim To- elastic expansion by soon being
filled TO overflow. by sar the largest por-
tIon OF the male spectators were excluded
from tile building. and they hung Ia eager
expectancy on tie outside.
Wednesday was the day for the adj
dress Of Hon. ID. q. Fowle before the
Philanthropic and Dialectic Societies, and
after the preliminary services Of prayer
the distinguished gentleman was intro
duced 70 his audience.
His address was splendid prpdu ction;
splendid la language, brilliant in classical
adornment, lofty in sentiment, fervid In
eloquence, and faultless In delivery. His
theme, around which lie strowed with
lavish profusioR the richest gems OF
ancient literature or illustrated with the
profoundest;lcarning Of constitutional his
tory, aimed 10 bring out In striking effect
thevaIue % liberty founded In law and
secured by the bravest hluoai, tlic cIearest
Intellect aud the deepest learning ofsuc-
cessive generations, battling tleOld fight
ofhumanity against the natural tendency
of rulers orof government towards
tyranny. II was 70 impress upon the
youthful portion o.his audience, young
men armIng themselves In these Halls Of
learnlngfor tile conflict of life, the res
possibility that rested upon them not only
to defend the principles of liberty be-
queallIed 10 them by wise ana heroic
ancestry. but loadyanrc them still farther;
10 discard all doubtful interpretations; TO
resist oil encroachments, and 10 correct
all abuses In doing this the appr-
priaieness of the nominal title Of the nd.
dress, "North Carolina during and since
the war; became apparent; for no period
Of the history ofihe Stale so abounded
with examples of Abandonment ofold
land marks, ard no; only the liberation,
but practlce ~ maxims dear to tyranny.
II Judge Fowle did touch with trenchant
tongue upon the violent actsof law less
Governor, on the ready obedience Of q
brutal soldier, on the cowardly confession
Of exhausted judicial powers, Il was not TO
reyivs bitter political memories, not TO
crafty partizan hatred, moi rekindle party
strife; but TO remind his young hearers
how fearful departure had been made