National Republican., 1885-07-13
coLMAN AND ROLLINS.

The Commissioner of Agriculture Pays
Eloquent Tributo to n Noble Son of
Missouri.
At the commencement exercises OF the
State University, at Columbia, on the 30
ultmo the alumni of the university and
other friends of Hon. Jas. s. Rollins pre-
sentcd to the board Of curators a splendid
bust of that distinguished gentleman, which
was received by the board, and by resolu
tiun ordered to be placed In the library of
that institution Hon. Norman j. Colman,
commissioner of agriculture, member of
the board, was selected to receive the bust,
which he did in the following address,
GENTLEMEN or THE BOARD OF CuRAToRs.
This beautiful work of art is a coinage of the
brain and result of the skill Of the hands of
one of Missouris own artists-W. w. Gardener,
OF 81. Louis--designed TO perpetuate the nom
ory, not indeed of the noble work which has
been accomplished for this institution by the
distinguished president of this board, but of
his face and features, now familiar to us all,
and yet, in the course of time destined unless
preserved in picture, marble, or plaster, TO
fade from view, ns the faces OF the worlds
beneinctors have faded.
II Is not only n memorial of tho genius Of the
artist tcstiiying tho rapid advance which
science md civilization and culture have
achieved in our day, but at tho same time q
faithful and beftting likeness OF him who for
many years has presided over our dellbera-
tions, and aided by his counsel the responsible
While it will be the province OF this bust to
transmit to the generations whoare to follow
faithful and vivid conception of the form and
face of him whomw this day delight TO honor,
no attempted personation, whether In bronze
or marble, picture or plaster Will suffice to
record or perpetuate tho long and honorable
service which this distinguished citizen has
rendered in private and public life to the uni
veisity OF Missouri and the cause of education.
His record must be read and will bc read, in
the proceedings of our several assemblies, in
the journals of this board, and in numberless
public papers which from time to time, for
nearly half n century, have fallen from his pen,
or, in the public speeches, which, with match
Very soon, sir, the seff.sacrlfcing labors OF
James $. Rollins for this institution, MS well as
as his eloquonce us an orator In Its behalf, ana
his stutesmanship and counsel In committee
room and legislative hall to promote It's best
interests, will pass into history or live alone in
memory
And how noble that past will bel And how
precious that memory TO his personal friends,
and to the friends of education throughout all
timel What a record of sclfsacriiice, of an uu-
shaken taith, ofpatient waiting iortho iruitlon
George Elliot 'once asked 'If the past
is not TO bind us, where can duty pe?' Ifthe
past of this university, and OF the trials and
labors and Disappointment and bright
achievements OF our university's noblest bene-
iactor are not to bind u.s. are not to bind us to
him, and are not to biud the future youth OF
our country to his memory as an inspiration to
noble deeds on their part, faithfully and well
to build on the foundations he has laid where
can duty be?
Ihnvc spoken of his unshakon faith. When
q young man and but recently from college,
and during his first term in the legislature of
the state in 1889, nearly halfa century ago, he
commenced the work of building In this great
commonwealth, then in Its infancy, and
sparsely settled, and long anterior to the in.
PRODUCTION of the telegraph, and years before
we had mile of railroad, or even many OF our
public men believed a university was among
the possibilities of the future for the state,
James S. Rollins took the nitiatory step to ss
cure for Missouri, and for the county of Boone,
an institution Of learning. which today rises
like a thing of beauty irom the seed then
l shall not follow him through the history OF
his continuous, ncvcr-ceasing, nevcr-dospuir-
ing, selfsacrihcing efforts, from that period to
the present. to achieve the success which we
this day behold rs q browning glory of his
useful life; u glory which is shared by us all,
and one which sheds Its bright radiance over
the state.
Sir, no man, in the worlds history, who ever
achieved success in the domain of noble bane-
faction; no man who ever cut new channel,
In which has flowed the thoughts of the
learned, and the cultured and the noble Of
the Garth, ever accomplished 1t without that
fifth which knows no falling which, abasled
by no disappointment or discouragoment,
drives steadily forward its poSscssor to the goal
OF its great aim
Such faith james s. Rollins had; and all
along the varied and eventful history of the
University of Missouri while many others
abandoned the contest in despair, or opposed
measures calculated to promote its interests
and place 1t in the front rank of universities
in this great valley, he was loyal to his con-
yictions OF duty, and, although Oft aud again
discouraged by the Indifference or antagonism
Ofothers, yet he held the fort, and encouraged
his coadjutors to lift aloft the tiag, and stand
to their colors, conscious of ultimate victory.
And that victory Is to-day u realization. 1t
no longer lives in prophecy or in the oft.de-
terred hopes and expectations of the people
1t is here, a living verify, memorial of the in.
spiration and statesmanship of Rollins aud of
the noble men in Boone county and in the
councils of the state who, through good and
evil report, stood by him In the noble effort to
lay broad and deep In this campus the founda-
tions Of the great university in which we are
assembled.
The compliment paid our friend this day,
the worthy president of this board, Is richly
deserved, because II has been fairly and hon
orably won by his great labor and noble deeds
in this holy cause. No better motto could be
selected TO be inscribed on the pedestal on
which this bronze likeness rests, SO well exc
cnted and SO perfect likeness of the man.
than that which a former board of Gurators
many years ago bestowed upon him., viz,
Father of the University ofthe State OF Mis-