National Republican., 1880-06-17
The Nntionnl Inv school Commencement.

OF tue National university was held in the
Congregational church Tuesday evening, and
! never was n finer audience assembled in the
church. The floral display was probably more
elaborate than any ever witnessed at a com.
| mencement in the District Most of the
flowers were woven in costly designs inclui.
ing several ladders four to five feet 10 height
repre- rtscniiug the ladder of fame--crossos
anchors, beautifully proportioued ship under
full sail aud innumcruble baskets. At the back
| of the platform were displayed tho figures
| 1880 over u large floral circular shield in
scribcd in white flowers with the class motto,
'Lcr Super A1na."
On the platform, in addition 10 tho members
Of the faculty and graduates were seated
! President Hayes aud other distinguished gen
tlemcn. The exercises, which were pcasingIy
! varied, with music, were opened by prayer by
| Rev. J. Il. Paxton
JUDGE NAcARTHUR's ADDRESS.
The opening address was made by Judge
! Macarthur, president of the board of regents,
as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN have been
| requested by the board OF regents to give
some explanations to the public in regard to
| the objects and present work of the National
| university. Let mo premise by saying that
| this is its first commencement for couferrng
| degrees uuder its new organization. The
considerations which originally suggested its
establishment in the city of Washingt
were the obvious aud increasing necessity for
the institution, and the superb advantages
aud fitness of this city for the successful exc
Cution of the project. The United States are
annually producing numbers of excellent
scholars, and in the intellectual direction the
| Americans are evidently tending to cope with
! the highest problems which can occupy the
human mind. The opportunity for thc broad.
est culture has become national necessity.
| Whether this end can be accomplished is n
| - p.l tlta fttt oil Igt
mine
Indeed, the success of the National uni
verSty may be attained by a very simple
system Of inexpensive legislation. 1t might
be organized by act Of congress upon a plan
requiring the officers of the Smithsonian iusti-
tuition aud the National museum to give a
, course Of Instruction in lcc' ures or other
mode Of exposition on natural history, geology,
| ethuolcgy and the latest discoveries in science.
The engineer corps and coast survey with their
uncqualcd means Of mathematical knowledge
could ius rate that scicCce in all its branches.
The medical staff aud the officers of the mcdi-
cal museum could contIibutc 4 course of very
attractive instruction on anatomy, physiology
and surgery, which with the vast resources ut
their command would he remarkable for its
variety and value. The Astronomical observa-
tory with its magnificent apparatus might be
made an organic part of the institution, while
the principal examiners in the patent office
|
sciences growing out Of heat, electricity and
magnetism. The agricultural bureau contains
all the elements for profound study into the
nature of soils of vegetable chemistry aud the
growth of natural productions, as we'll as OF
everything that has been discovered by recent
investigations in the department Of knowl-
edge. lis learned professors would without
much inconvenience hc included in our pro.
grlmme of lectures, and the same may be said
| Of numbers Of persons in the service of the
government, and distinguished for their at.
tainmeuts in the science Of physical geography
aud in the arts of drawing and architecture
Our public buildings are allowed TO be the
finest of their kind aud the ability and re-
search displayed in the reports of our gov
eminent surveys have elected the
favorable expression of European opinion
Military and naval science could be
taught by assignments from the army
and navy. Other means Of Organization car
bo employed, with little or no expense to tho
. government, connecting it directly with thC
higher education and the best interests o
humanity. These advantages can be supple
mented by atlording access 10 the extensive
, collections of the National aud Medical mu
! seums TO those of the patent and land Office,
and to tho libraries, soon to lie tho iucst in tht
world. Can we doubt that with these re
sources the university would become one o
the greatest in the world. and the grant
centre for tue genius, the science, tho arts, tn,
philosophy ard the literature of the republic
:. But coming to tic present condition of til,
= universily--the faculty of law was the only
| department which had been successfully es
Il tabshcd until the present year, when w
e have added a polytechnic school for imstruc
tion in various branches of science under th
~ supervision Of Professor Benton. lie WAS TO
several years teacher in applied mathematics
and his knowledge in natural philosophy al,
chemistry is extensive, and his iabors un
wcgried in the classroom. His ability Il
manu- lacture apparatus and tests Of ever,
kind, as well AS his ingenuity aud success IL
chemical lectures and experiments, are all tina
! could be expected from our limited scientf
resources. The report of Professor BentOl
R shows that the first session began January &
1850, and closed at the beginning of the pres
ent month Twelve students attended th
r CLASSES and received instructions in chemistry
mechanical drawing, mathematics, surveyin!
- aud civil engineering. The latter had praC
tioal outdoor instruction, aud the student
can now make accurate surveys and culculi
tion.
1T is proposed to increase the usefulness
nd the polytechnic by rgmiZing classes in gt
0lugy, mechanics, mining and biulOgCl
sciences aud We hope by SIX illlul imprOY,
, mCut Of the advantages afforded by the cit
= Of Washington that it will in lcw years 4
elevated in the highest estimation Of tho sciol
tidc public.
'SllIl lurlhCf 10 promote me general 0lJcCi
Of the university. plans have been discussed f
the establishment Of faculty Of fine arts,
faculty of music and faculty Of medicine
Several gentlemen engaged practically in thcs
7 pursuits have been consulted, and the sug
gcs,iOn has been received with marke
approval No statement Of details
2, possible al the present moment, but tn
. benefits which may be Anticipated to resuI
from university instruction in tho liberal art
and professions cannot DO oyer.estimated i
the circumstances Of this city. 1t is not oul
the capital Of great and refined nation, bu
there are thousands of those in the service q
the government TO which such educutoua
opportunities would be of the highest practi
cal use in life.
"Iu regard to the school Of law, the work o
teaching was divided among several professor
for the FIST time a. the commencement of tn
~ present torn, and the classes upon whom th
" degrees arc this evening to he conferred m
tho first who have received instruction unde
the new arrangement. This department.
designed for persons who wish to study law
u either with view Of following IL as a pro
o' lc.s.on or Us finish 10 . liberal education
In the European universities the law forms
prominent study, and this in common witt
lie other excellent schools Of tho same kin,
IN our city Affords also tho means Of studyinJ
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