Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-28
HAYEs Ar HARVARD.


President Hayes is an alumnus
of Harvard College, and was re-
ceiyed at that ancient and time
honored institution yesterday upon
the commencement with all the
marks Of respect and Difference due
his high position and personal
worth. At the close of the regular
exercises the President and family
proceeded to the residence of Prot.
Elliott to attend a dinner, to be
given to the alumni.
The gathering included the Presi-
dent and cabinet officers, Governor
Rice and staff, and othar distin-
guished gentlemen. The table was
spread Tor 1900 persons. At the
center table was seated General
Devens. president of the association.
On his right sat President Hayes,
Postmaster General Key, James
Russell Lowell and members Of the
association. On his left sat Secre-
tary Schurz, Senator Bayard ex-
Chief Justice Bigelow, George Ban
croft the historian, and other.
The repast was preceded by p-ay er.
The aiter-dinner speeches, which
were necessarily brief, were began
by the president of the association,
General Devens. President Elliot
read a paper, which he said was
prepared by other hands, but
which was peculiarly applicable
to the present case. 1t was an
address to the first President
of the United States, and bestowed
by him upon the university. At the
close Of the paper Mr.. Elliott said
it was written to George Washing
ton by Joseph Willard, president
Of the university at that time, and
said there was little to be changed
in its sentiment and tone, and hat
the President would now do well to
accept its sentiment as directed
directly to him. He deemed Presi-
dent Hayes as a scholar, who having
left the Harvard Law School in his
youth, now returned laden with
sheaves of honor to greet its alumni
table and add permanent luster
to its tablet Of scholarly renown.
Thief president elect, in fitting
language, then introduced Presi-
dent Hayes. Mr.. Hayes arose, with
apparent d~ifidence, standing for
some moments before commencing
to speak. The association favored
him with nine vigorous "'rahs,"
waved their handkerchief, and in
many other ways expressed their
enthusiasm and respect for him.
He was evidently laboring under
intense emotion. When he had
obtained sufficient control over his
feelings to enable him to proceed,
he said, slowly and with evident
difficulty Graduates of Harvard
Uuiyersity-This is your day; l
may not, / ought not to take up
any particle Of your valuable time;
you will therefore excuse me, | am
sure, if | take my seat, saying in the
briefest way what | feel in my
heart; and | assure you that | have
= very grateful appreciation of this
hearty greeting, | know how little
it is deserved. God grant that dur.
ing the remainder of my term |
may be able to do something to de-
serve it." Deafening and long con-
tinued applause.
Mr.. Hayes, while not a great
man, is evidently a man Of heart
and conscience, and while he was
placed in Office by fraudulent means
upon a suppoaition that he wOulC
administer the government for TIN
benefit of his party as unscrupu
lousy as his predecessor he ha
taken a new and surprising de
parture. That he disappointed
the radicals of the Republican
party is evident in the &C
ton of the Iowa convention ant
the expression of ultra papers ey
erywhere. A resolution endorsin.
Hayes Southern policy, so-called
was tabled by a three-fourths vote
MI. Hayes has not met the expecta
tons of his radical supporter
They are deserving him, aud pre-
pairing to nominate a candidate 70
President next time upon a stric
sectional and party basis. How ia
the Democratic party should sym
pathize with this movement lis til
practical common sense test Of tn
hour.