The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-28

T,resensasfon Of n Medic I..s-ss owe rrsr
Mef1ssriclks's Address.
rReported for the Dispatch.I


rrepurted for the Dispatchl
UNIVERSITY or viRaIN1k. June 20. 1878.
The public hall was packed tonight WIFI
most brilliant. audience !, III.
Mr.. Wyndham II. Meredith, OK Rich
mord,- chairman OF the committee OF the
societies, introduced the exercises very ap-
propriately. Rev. A. Is. Woodfn, chap
lain OF the University, made the prayer
Professor s. 0. Sotthall, in behalf OF the
committee of the Faculty, made Il very
graceful and appropriate! speech In present
Ing the medal for best essay IN the magazine
to Mr.. D. G.. Wooten, OF Austin, Texas,
who made an earnest speech in response. 4
Governor Hendricks was received Win
vocffefous cheers, and made an exceed
ingly jadicioks speech.
He said that he had had unusual difficulty
in selecting d theme, but thought that In a
State which had been so glandly conspicu-
Gus in the Revolution OF rs, and at uni
yersity founded by Jefferson, he should at
least have an appropriate theme in announc-
inc. 49,
= bfoa'.s REVOLUTION ?" -, -
as his subject. He defined revolution to be
a protest against the past and blow struck
at established authority. 1t is sometimes
an impulse, sometimes d growth. and
sometimes a remedy for great evils. he
would not 20 into any elaborate discussion
Of the right OF revolution since our Gov
erpfnent is founded on the successful vim
dication OF that right. He made tie point
that this right is not founded on organic
defects alone, but on nlaladnin istration rs
well, since our fathers did not object to the
Constitution of Great Britain so much rs to
oppression In its administration. He argued
that the political right OF revolution Is in
the people. to be exercised when necessary
to the preservation OF their liberties or
permanent welfare, and that on sue
cesyiul revolution free governments may
rest. The Suficiency OF the causes which
Justify revolution must be submitted to the
Judgment OF the world; but final judgment
cannot be pronounced until the result OF
the contest Is decided. Success stamps the
movement as Just and right in the eyes OF
the world, and the institutions which grow
out OF it as. legitimate and authoritative.
Washington apd his associates were at one
time spoken Of as traitors, but seven years
afterwards they were ranked among the
worlds immortal heroes. He cited historic
examples OF unsuccessful revolutions grow
ing out OF noble purposes, which, because
OF their failure, history had dismissed their
heroes at the grave. Among these he spoke
of the movements led by RienZi and Robert
Emmett. He made the point that reVolu-
tions are inevitable and dellberate-the
former being incomparably the grander.
The interests of individuals, and not tue
welfare Of communities, are the origin Oh
deliberate revolutions, which are mainly
brought about by cons2iracics, and lead to
no public good. BY such Il conspiracy
I,;,, Jl,,t ba triI1
came more than Caesar ever was, ana Rome
was free no more; -
The rivalry. OF the great houses OF YORK
and Lancaster made England red with fra
ternal blood, but no political progress re-
suited. Inevitable revolutions are such as
no foresight or force can avert. lie Illus
trated this proposition by the Reformation
OF the sixteenth century, the French revo-.
luton. at the close OF tue eighteenth GEN.
tury. and the American revolution OF '7G.
The reformation was inevitable. The
great revival OF learning had set the human
mind free. Under the influence OF q healthy
skepticisn it WAS made capable OF lnveStl-
eating both secular and religious subjects.
The folly and dogma which had borne rule
alike in Church, philosophy. and law, had
to Weld to the influences OF 4 clearer anu
freer thought.
1t could not he con errGiive. Int must be
furious and terrible. Humariiy, :cfievnd
OF the restraints Of feudalsm #nl. mcA-
archy, under the impulse Of frecium and
power, could not reason arI wonsd lot he
reasoned with. He gave vivid d"s"r' y
ton of the grandeur and tyranny O. ire
reign OF Louis XIV. in order &c Low the
restraints from which the people became
free. -...s
Tn the fury OF the revolution there were
no restraints, and no institutions were Sa-
cred. The problem Of that revolution is
not yet solved. Republicanism, imperial
ism, and monarchy yet contend for the
mastery. lie expressed the hope and belief
that it will end we'll for that glorious people
who sent us Lafayette and his comrades TO
HELM Washington and his little army. In
striking contrast were the great revolutions
OF England, which has been conservative
even III lie. revelations. He illustrated this
by the resolutions of 1915 and 1858.
Tho greatest and grandc>t OF all revolrl-
tons was our own OF 1916. 1t was pure
and grand in its purpose and calm and dig
nitied ia its conduct. and its results arc
seen in the excellence OF our institutions,
al d in the extent, grandeur, and power OF
our country. He argued to show that the
rights or to resist aggression, but 10 ell
feet permanent separation from Great Bri.
tain, and to establish a free republic.
The colonies had ceased TO be colonies
and had becomes States, capable OF and en-
titled to self government. Had King and
Parliament shown them most sincere pa
rental regard they could not long have re-
manned colonies. The interests OF nopula-
ton, of wealth, and OF commerce, drr,and-
ed government in immediate contact with
them, and able to understand and provide
for the general welfare. Separation had be-
come inevitable. ...
He maintained that whenever from any
cause the mother country becomes incapa-
BILE OF maintaining good government over
the colonies her authority should cease. No
other people ever followed leaders ST. dis
tinguished and so eminent for al! The virtues
which adorn human character as in our
Revolution. In the highest sense they were
patriots, heroes, statesmen. Fr m the pc.
ROO Of war they passed into that OF peace,
and became the artiticerS OF political insti-
buttons, founders of government. In the
spirit OF English conservatism. they adopted
all Of the political maxim" nd institutions
OF the past which experience had approved
as suited to free rep"hrc.
He alluded to and iil,,aI"nted the great
struggle between the MAJ; and the
those who govern and those who must
obey-and insisted that while we must
stand for law and organized society, yet we
must see to it that equal and exact justice is
done to all, and then, ..!.d not until then,
outbreaks will cease, and universal peace
b1ooc