National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-07-02
THE PRESIDENT Ar YALE.
His Thanks to the Faculty, Alumni
and Students.
Indebtedness of His and othcr Administrn-
tions TO the lpstitution-His Policy Based
on The Advice of President WooIscy
-Distinguished liepresenta-
tiyos OF Yale in Once ut
Homo and Abroad.
A snncch by President Mnyes.

NEW HAvEN, CoNN., July 1.-At the moet'
ing of Yulo alumni to-day President Hayes
thanked tho faculty, alumni and students Of
Yale, aud the citi3sns Of Now lIayon for tho
gratifying reception given him hero, not lor
anything personal in him, but rs the represent.
ative of the nation we all love so much.
[Appausel Every administration had bcon
greatly indebted to Yale, and every govern.
mont aiming to be good one would hereafter
feel the same obligation. Perhaps, however,
the present administration owed more than
any preceding ono to Yale. You will perhaps
recall, he continued, tho exciting events of
four years ago, during the embarrassing period
which interviewed between tho election aud
the decision no TO who should bo the incu M
bent of the presidential chair. l was much
embarrassed, for it was plainly to DO seen that
if the trust and responsibility Of tho station
was to dovolve upon mo 1t would not bo "
voyage over a smooth sea or undor halCyon
skies. Therefore, when thought the rcspon-
sibilty might devolvo upon my shoulders say
he first thought was, What is the paramount
duty l shall have 10 perform, and how
can IL best be donor 1t seemed to
me that tho pacfcation of the coun-
try was tho first duty. [Applauscl
j know there were good and true people who
failed to see 1t as did but ! SAW the neces.
fdenCe Of the whole people and bring to the
country the rest and roposc it so sadly needed.
Seeing this as my first duty, | asked What
can / do to assure all that this would be my
first duty2 This had been done in party
platforms and in letters Of acceptance framed
in hieh.souuding words and sentences. What
was required by the people, however, was
some distinct, unmstakabe and palpable act.
IAppause.l l thought l might find In the
south some man of the highest character who
had been against me in tho long and bittor
struggle, and who, therefore, had the onLire
confidence of the southern people. l found
no great political leader suggesting that this
course might possibly lead to q solution
of the difficulties. While l was pondering
what 20 do and what course to pursue,
thore came TO me liko fash from
q clear sky the thought OF Yale and the ven
cradle president whom VIC almost worship.
tApplsuse.l Without drifting into n speech,
will say that wrote to him, and then fol.
lowed implicitly President Woolsey's advice
tRenewed applause and cheers. All may not
have resulted ms l, or anyone else, hoped, but
in following his advice, i think, found q true
key to the situation. Long.continucd APP
plausC. l will not undertake at this time TO
give TO you catalogue or compilation OF the
names OF those who have been connected with
Yale or the institutions which are directly
commented with it, who have so nobly aided
in the chief council of the government as its
head Yale has Secretary Evarts. [Appauso. I
In Germany your institution is represented by
President White of Cornell university. In
Belgium you are represented by tho gifted
Punam-but there Is no necessity for prolong-
ing the list, brilliant as il is.
In further remarks the president referred
10 the valuable public service Of Clarence
King director of tho geological survey, aud
General Walker, superintendent of tho census
both of the Sheffield scientific school at Yale,
In thanking Yale hc as a graduate In part.
was in manner thanking himself Laugh,
ter.
There was a suying that horse could be
led to water but not made 10 drink. Know
ing the desire Of tho people to DO represented
abroad by men of the highest moral as well as
mental character, he had looked about long to
find u man who could suitably represcntthenl
ut the court Of our great sister nation, England.
Again in his emergency he turned to Yale and
found just the man. Bo reversed tho adage in
this case and brought the water to the horse,
but President Porter would not drink [long-
continued applausel and he was altogether
right in refusing 10 accept tho position.
Any administration and amy country is
moro Indebted to the man engaged in
educating tho people than ts its executive
and administrative officers. The executive
officer is but the fgurchead. Tho head OF
such an institution as this, whore moral and
intellectual culture are combined, is tho man
who forms the men who control not only tho
fgurehead but the nation. l wish here pub
licy to return thanks to the man who had
tho judgment TO give such an example to the
nation. LApplansc.l
Governor Andrews, Postmaster. General Key,
Secretary Evarts Kascno HatogamO who has
just boen appointed professor of law in the
University of Japan, and others, also spoke.