The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-02
T,11r 1INIvERsITY.

.on,",,es ~ the University was helrt here on
swss.sasdav nivbt. June Both. After the
,,s,,a, ,re,imlnaries Mr.. J. #. 3. Beckwith,
,,ras,aent. introduced PrLfesser f. H..
Smith Of the Magazine Medal Committee,
who read the committees report, which
awarded the medal to Mr.. w. Z. Bruce, OF
v;rginia. for the article entitled John
Randolph.n In the October No. Several OF
the articles, such as Gladstone" "Jonn
Rrigh,.n "Hamlet,v &C., and the wnoie
tenor OF the Mdg0zine were comphnentea.
The Committee avowed its Willingness 10
let the Mdqdsiae be taken anywhere as tne
index OF the intellectual standing OF our
IIniyersity students. Mr.. Bruce responded
briefly and appropriately.
FIX. Governor Hubbard, OF Texas, whose
speecb In the National Democratic CohVen-
ton aroused such enthusiasm, spoke next
announcing as bis subject "PolitIcai Apa'
thy the Menace OF the Repubic-The Duty
~ the American Citizen In the Premises"
He said be proposed to discuss great NV.
inc question. The habits OF lifetime bad
made questions OF State oftener pondered
by him than questions Of history or science.
MANY things occur In n century, and IN TINS
period our own country had made rapid
nrooress i'm the prosperity and welfare OF
fhe citizen. Few now hold that our people
are INADEQUATE 10 govern themselves. No
noliiIcal scientist claims that our system VIII
lead TO our destruction II we are but true
10 ourselves. The American Government
Il the frmest aud best OH the face OF the
globe-this even in the face OF the growing
apathy in political matters. This apathy
peryades all classes. There are many causes
which produce 1t. There seems to have
been begot in our counlrymen an apathy
which preludes our national death, sTong
Us our Government is. The cry OF impe-
ralism which lately sounded throughout
our country, as 0minous as 1t was, falled 10
awake large number OF our American cit
liens to our national danger. They were
willing TO let the country and Govern
ment take care OF themselves. Grants
failure to receive the endorsement OF
his party for the third term was
not owing to the aversion, decidedly
expressed, OF our people to the violation OF
the early practices and traditions OF our
Government as to the antagonism OF partI-
san factions. The Governor did not be-
eve there was fear that the danger OF
centralized government YVES imminent,
although statesmen sounded the alarm.
The apathy was too strong. Here he gave
statistics TO show that in the most peiilous
periods OF our national life there were mil
lions of qualified voters who took no inter-
est in public affairs-at least they gave no
tangible evidence OF it since they refralned
from voting. The great radical changes
made by our civil war helped to produce
this apathy. This arises often from the
citizens belief that the Government can't
he shaken; that its foundation is so secure
that it can never be demolished. But he
contended that this apathy in great
measure antedated the war. III all In
stead Of one in a hundred. as statis-
ties show, bad prior to our late war read
the Constitution, the sundering Of the
States would never have been undertaken.
How much worse are matters now, since
the reimbursement OF the ignorant class
has made it 50 that only one in 500 reads that
sacred instrument Now, this apathy itself
was in very great measure the child OF
ignorance. What is mans duty as a cit-
zen? What man is q valuable member OF
society? No man is good citizen who
does pot try TO learn what are the duties
which he Is expected TO perfQrm. Instead
OF doing this, many say 81 do not care to
meddie with politics "-as il they were
speaking Of a deadly serpent coiling
around the pillars OF State. But these are
the flrst to complain, II politics 20 wrong,
"We told you sol" tho Romon citizens
were carefully instructed as to the nature
OF laws to be enacted, and the result was
the laws outlived the people. Ii is plainly
the duty OF every citizen Of our country to
know his duty. Ignorance is criminal. 1t
is vulgar error which nenaces our ma
tional safety to say that the Government
will preserve the country. Our Govern
ment differs radically from others IN
that it is founded in reason and the
equality OF men; but 1t is wrong
and pernicious TO believe that there are no
rocks in the sea in which our ship Of State
with sails set is sailing. Indeed, there are
enemies to free government even here who
will scale the walls II we sleep at our post.
He briefly indicated the duties Of the
American citizen in the premises. Multi
tudes OF men annually take the oath to sup
port the Constitution who know not a
word the document contains. Public veal
and prosperity should be the first duty OF the
true citizen. He must be guarded against
Innovations whenever they are proposed,
as they are 80 frequently. He ought to be
learned in State craft in order to teach the
people the danger often lurking in innova-
lions. He need not be statesman or a
politician. If such practice is not pursued
the masses will always be in the powei of
dangerous demagogues. Every attempt to
depart from the early practices OF the re-
public should be met and combatted. The
majority OF those who have property to
protect are the very men who are re-
miss in their duty as citizens, and
yet the howl Of complaint they raise is
the Ioudest-they declare it to be an outrage
that the great work OF the country is in the
hands of incompetents. IL politics are filthy
cesspools il is the fault OF these. The Gov
eminent won't do the right thing OF itself.
1t may be a rebellion against the citizens as
well as the citizen against the Government
II education and active patriotism does not
dispel corruption and imperialstic ten
dency, we must perish as a Government
from the face OF the earth. True pa
tri0tlsm Is not confined to any party
or organization, but TO the whole
country. These duties are binding on all,
but particularly on men Of the South. The
first duty Of a patriot is State love. Love
the Union, uphold its Constitution, and fol-
low its flag, but kneeI first at your own
gods. He related finely the Incl.
dent, which occurred in Virginia, where
Texan private prevented Lee from going to
the front and sacrificing his life. Lee to
the Rear" is the title OF little poem which
relates the incident.
The speaker paid tribute to the earlier
OF the University Faculty-Harri.
,on, McGufGey, Courtney, and others-and
the former students OF the University,
whom, he said. he had seen die on the bat
tie. field, proclaiming the news of better
life from the sacred desks. in Senales, and
on forums, the friend of the Oppressed and
the champion Of widows and orphans with
out fee.
The speech was generally considered a
fine one, and very large audience gave re-
nj TO