The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-03
DANVILLE NORMAL COLLEGE,
The Closing DaySf the Commencement Exer.
c~ises-PaperS Read by the Graduates.
co-rresnondencs Of ths I~ndianapolis Journcl.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis JOurnri.
DANvILIE, Ind, Aug. 1.-The closing pro-
eramme of the commencement exercises was
furnished last night by the classical graduates.
There were six members of the class. all gentle
men. 1t was a small class in point of number.
but intellectually lowered far above any of its
predecessors. Each member is noted for his
depth of thought and originality of expression,
as we'll as a breadth of culture seldom found in a
like number of college boys.
Elder Ira j. Chase delivered the invocation,
and the class was then presented by Prof. W.. P.
Eddingfeld.
1.-The Virtue of a Doubt was discussed in O
forcible and eloquent way by Prof. Jonathan
Rigdon, of Rigdon, Ind. Doubt is the forerunner
both of regress and progress. No people or
nation ever made any advancement unless they
first began to doubt the propriety of their course,
and by means of the doubt laid a new founda-
ton. upon which they builde wiser
and better. Education is the 0 owth
of the idea of the superiority of KIN ledge
over ignorance. Doubling, though a good thing,
won't do to follow for a business. Man may
continuously fear the results that may follow
some enterprise until he forgets that Life is
real, life is earnest" and if ne would succeed he
must be q hero in the strife" Men may ad-
vance so far that an intellectual sun will appear
that will sweep away the clouds of doubt and
superstition and leave him on a high and i'm
portant plain.
j. r. Tanquary. of Allendale, ILL.,, answered
the question, "Are Great Actions Born of Noble
Purposes" In all the prominences of man there
has existed a tendency to doubt all his attempts.
He disbelieves his own purposes to be the best
calculated to his advancement, and discourages
all attempts of those with whom he associates.
1t is in conformity with nature and natural laws
for each species to bring forth it's own kind. Man
can be assured that if his purposes are of a right
nature, and his efforts earnest, the results must
evidently be good. Effects rs surely follow
causes as night follows day; therefore the ad-
vancement Of the world is the work of man. The
purpose for which actions are made determine
the character of the act, so if a man would pro-
duce good results he must have worthy motives,
and to make great actions he must bring TO bear
noble purposes.
The Ethics of Nature" were discussed by A.
NJ. Sturdevant, of Chestnut Hill, Ind. For
myriads of ages the air has been loaded with
cries of reform in the moral laws of the land
The tendency to immoral practices has steadily
grown uuuer the SnduOW OF the REFORM party.
Nothing seems easier for man than to have one
idea Of right and yet follow another. The
explanation of the phenomena around us has
done more to free the mind from superstition
and prejudice than any other source of knowl-
edge. Make a man acquainted with wonders of
nature and you bring him into a close relation
ship to the author of these things. A clear
exposition of facts and a thorough knowledge of
what we should do brings reform.
Prof. A. j. kinnanan seemed to have THE
iLSSpnPp Of Tr1q HpTOISm " From the paOpS of
history we see the portraits of the great char
acters who have formed the destiny OF all nations.
We see the troubles and terrible ordeals through
which many men, made heroic by military
adventures, passed. We hear their names
lauded and witness celebrations where both
civic and military pomp are called in to make
their names sacred. Yet the essence of true
bravery is found in the man who can stand up
for truth and right, even though the whole world
frown. We do not find them when the cloud of
war is lowering, but in the quietude of times of
peace.
"The Land Question" was disposed of by Prof.
G. Z. Pattison, of Kokomo, Ind. Land in its
wild state is of no value. 1t must be prepared
for cultivation before it has a specific value, and
then the value represents the labor expended
rather than the land itself. The system of
landlordlsm is the one that causes the poverty
and misery in the countries from which we hear
so many p~laintive cries. There should be some
way of restricting the buying and holding of
large bodies of land by powerful syndicates as
tending toward the Capitalization of power.
Every man should own his own home, and leg.
~islative restriction should enable him to do so.
w. l.. Sturdevant, of Chestnut Hill, gave an
eloquent and able grafton on Socialism" Mr..
Sturdevant is an orator Of considerable reputa-
ton. He is a good reasoner and logical and
forcible speaker. He handled that seemingly
dry subject in a manner so pleasing that he held
the audience for more than fifteen minutes in
perfect silence. The socialistic tendencies of the
nineteenth century seem to indicate a rupture
in the political affairs of the Nation. Though
capital and labor are go closely united
in theory, and seemingly so in practice, there
still seems to be a growing difference between
the laborer and capitalist Socialistic ~associa-
lions attempt to reform society. They would
place all men on an equality, divide the earnings
of all people and make us a common brother
hood. To do this they must show that man
will be happier under such circumstances. The
greatest objection to be offered against the pres
ent state of society is the Estate Of competition.
SOcialistic reform can never be accomplished
until it is seen that wealth is nothing and our
equality of social laws everything.
These exercises closed the most successful
year in the history of the school. One thousand
and ninety six different students have been en-
rolled; 4G8 of these were ladies, and 628 gentle
men. The prospects for the coming year are
very flattering. The indications are that strong
classes will be sustained. Many improvements
have been made about the college building, and
she has a larger faculty than ever before.