The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-28
A TRIBUTE TO HARVARD.
Governor Butler, in Response to Toast,
Compliments the College.

BosToN, June 27,-At the alumni dinner
of Harvard graduates, the toast of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts" was an
nounced by the presiding officer, who said:
Il call upon his excellency, the Governor,
to respond, and l bespeak for him your care
full attention" [Applause and cheers.l As
the Governor arose the applause was contin-
ued and renewed.
The Governor said he regretted his great
misfortune that he could not address the
company as brethren of the alumni"
What little education he got was in a far
humber institution His earliest recollec-
tion of Harvard was in 1884, when he came
down to see the commencement. and turned
home saddened and almost friendless feeling
deeply his inability to crafty the wish that
he might be one of those just entering their
college course. He had sent his son there,
however But why does Massachusetts,, in
the halls of Harvard call for anybody to
speak for herr She speaks for herself as re-
CARDS her oldest and favorite child, always.
Applause Your president has shown that
be is not unmindful, as you are not of the
gifts in money and benefactions of the Com
m onwealth, but he will pardon me if l say
these are among the least benefits the Com
monwealth has given this univer sity. One
OF the best and first gifts has been her child
rem whom she sent here for the education
that have made you and the Commonwealth
famous throughout the country Applause
and cheers. More-she gave what is still
more valuable, recognition and compliment
never paid by any other State to any other
institution of learning-She made you place
in her laws under her constitution"
The Governor detailed the advantages and
protection secured to Harvard under the
State constitution, and traced from its foun-
dation the course of the college in meeting
the educational wants of advancing
years 1.-THE world" he said "is
ceasing to need so much of a
given kind of teaching as was needed when
your college was founded. 1t has become
practical worldly, If you please and you
must follow that out. See to it that the
chemist, engineer, mechanic can learn here
all that can fit him to carry on the world;
because it is by these hereafter that the
world will be carried on. How near and
dear to the heart of Massachusetts must
Harvard have been when, in 1920, it not only
relieved Harvard of taxes. but every
professor and student was similarly relieved
and if the college has swung away in any
degree from the affections of the people,
swing her back, popularize her, bring her
down to the people and the people up to her,
and make her what she was at the beginning
of the century" Applause.
After dwelling upon the benefits the State
received from the university, Governor But
Ter made the only reference of the day to the
refusal OF the overseers to confer the homo
rary IL d. upon him. He said: "Allusion
has been made to the fact that the men OF
Harvard were among the first that went to
the war of the rebellion. Yes, | know that;
nobody knows that better than | do; and
Harvard has done one thing to-day which if l
felt after the kind reception you
have given me- thought of un-
all away Tremendous applause and
cheers Forty years ago l entered the
military service of Massachusetts. Soon
after | became an officer of a regiment OF
Massachusetts militia. The officers of that
regiment, thought one of the best officers
possible in the regiment was a pious. kind
hearted, energetic, brave man for chaplain.
Such a chaplain was found in the Sixth
regiment of Massachusetts militia. That
regiment was one of the first to march
because it was ready, and then it met the
baptism of fire and blood at Baltimore. In
that regiment was Rev. Mr.. Babbidge, its
chaplain, on whom your college has this
day conferred the well-won and deserved
degree of doctor of divinity" Applause.
Three cheers for Babbidge were given, that
gentleman rising and bowing.
The Governor closed his address with a
warm tribute to the Harvard men who took
part in the work. They received in his army
the commentator given by the highest Eng
lish military authority to the famous light
brigade-"A little too we'll dressed but the
rascals will fight" [Applause1 These me-
mortal walls, built in commemoration of the
valor of the men of Harvard, if there was
nothing else, would give Massachusetts an
example of the patriotism, loyalty, courage,
bravery and character under all crcum-
stances of the sons of Harvard. TApplause
and cheers The applause was long con-
tinued, the Governor rising to bow and bow
again and again.
WHEAT AND CORN.