New-York tribune., 1877-06-28
PATRIOTIC DAY AT HARVARD.
SPEAKING, AND BANQUET.

Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSEl
Rorrox lime CIT is no new thing for the
President of the United States to honor Cambridge
and Harvard College with his presence at Colh-
mencement season. President Washington set llrc
fashion almost 90 years ago, and his example mas
been followed by many of his successors lo-udS
President Hayes the latest OF our ChleI Magis"oS'
revisited his professional Alma Mater ana receive"
at her hands his doctors degree. In many respects
the circumstances surrounding the visits OF Presl-
dents Washington and Hayes TO Cambridge
are strikiugly similar. If the address of welcome
IN the former which President Joseph Willard
read in 17S9 is fair indication of the popular ieei
ing of those times our foreiGtLers were stll IJoc
inc in the return Of peace and the cetSbShmeht Oh
more perfect union under wise and hoeral au-
ministration of the Government. Extracts Hoin
this speech read by President Eliot at the alumni
dinner to-day without announcing the name OF l's
antbor. sounded as though they might have been
written for the present occasion, aud until the act
nal date and occasion was disclosed very few OF
those who listened suspected their antiquity
Boston has already put off her holiday garb ana
settled down to the business of everyday NE.
Traffic is no longer suspended on the principal
streets in anticipation of the passing Of the Presi-
dent and the 1hrOngs no more crowd the side"aihs
In catch a glimpse of him as he goes by People
decorations and at the policemen who stand guard
at the entrance and when any of the Presidential
Marty appear they gather about the steps and sur
round the carriages as they enter them. thousand
or two stood for an hour this morning IN the vlclmty
of the State House to secothe procession start Ior
Cambridge and the curbstOnes were lined as lar out
as the bridge Elsewhere business flowed III ITS ac-
custOmed channels.
The Presidential party was escorted TO Harvard
College by tho Corps Of Lancers, and left Boston
between and 10 o'clock. Commencement at cam
bridge is no longer the holiday that 1t used 10 De.
1oston takes almost no note of the event. and even
in Haryard-squar business is scarcely interrupted.
To-day an exception was made in honor OF tho
President and East Cambridge and Old Cambridge
turned out to greet him. The people were less dem
illustrative than Yesterday They stretched their
necks 70 catch glimpse of the distinguished party
and pressed upon their carriages when the process
sion halted, but there very little applause
OF even clappng of hands as the President
passed. few flags wero hung out and
here and there motto of welcome might be seen,
but il was apparent that the citizens had made no
general preparation for President Hayess reception
Tho President, with those who accompanied INN
and the escort, reached Harvard-squarc between 10
and ii o'clock. After passing around the Washing
ton elm they left the carriages and, amid the
"Rah 'rah rah Of the students, took their places
III the procession in front Of Massachusetts Hall
President Hayes had the place of honor with Prcsi-
dent Eliot and they were followed by ex-Chief-Jus
tice Bigelow, Gov. Rice, Charles Francis Adams,
Postmaster-GoneIal Key. the Hon. Francis Park
man. Attorney General Devens. Secretary Schurz,
Senator Bavard and others. Secretary Evarts had
zone 10 New-Haven this morning TO attend the
Commencement at Yale.
The galleries ii Sanders's Theater, in the new
wing of Memorial Hail. in which the Commence
ment exercises took place. were filed before the ar
rival of the procession by those who held tickets
Mrs HAYES and the ladies who accompany her had
front seats facing the platform. President Hayes
sat on the front of tie stage the right of Presi-
dent Eliot. The Governor, his staff the members Of
the university corporation and other distinguished
gentlemen sat al President Hayes's right, and be-
hind him the seats the right Of President Eliot
were occupied by the Faculty OF The university.
When the President entered the audience was 80
quiet that the dropping of pin might almost have
been heard. There was no applause
At the close OF the regular Commencement exer-
cises and when the diplomas had been delivered TO
the members Of the graduating classes. President
Eliot took Li- seat in the old oak chair and an
nounced the honorary degrees. The names Of.
AttOmey-Genc Deyens and Senator Bayard, upon
whom the degree IL. D. was conferred, were loudly
applauded as We're also those Of Thomas Gould
Appleton aud Hgrado Howard Furuess, who were
made Masters of AIT, and the Rev. Phillips Brooks,
who received the degree of ID. -. When President
Eliot called the name Of Rutherford Birchard Hayes,
the applause was universal After clappng their
hands for a few seconds the whole audience rose 70
their feet, while President Eliot repeated the GUS
tomary Latin formula comforting The degree OF
Doctor of Laws. Thcn President Hayes stepped
forward and bowed 10 President Eliot. and after
acknowledging the compliment paid him by the
audience in the same way, he took ms seat
amid renewed clappug of hands. This closed
the exercises, and d. Peabody pronounced the
beuodiction.
The annual Commencement dinner began about
o'clock. At It's close the President of the Aumn
Attomcy-GencTal peyebs, called the assembage to
order, and the veuerabla librarian Of The University
hr. Sbey led ia singing the Seyenty-cighth Palm,
a. he has done fol than quarter o. century
Gen. Deyeus, in his opening speech, welcomed tie
alumni and their ds,iu9 9uished guests, and spoke OF
the hOnoied dead OF the past year. He named
especially Quincy. Motley, and GeD Barteit. and
referred in very touching language TO the strong
desire # the last named for speedy reconciliation
between the sections of tho country and the com
pete restoration of the Union. lie then referred
TO the exciting political events of last Win
Ter, citing the peaccsbie solution Of the deli
cate questions then raised as new evidence
Of the ability Of the American people 90 govern
Themselves, and nc closed 10y saying that now that
al the States restored TO thor natural c0ndl-
bon under the Constitution they must settle their
Internal disputes in their own way. lie hoped HAT
Justice would prevail, and that the equal rights Of
al citizens would be recognized and respected but
II not then he said the people must reap their re-