New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-24
SENATOR MILLER AT UNION
HIS ADVICE TO COLLEGE STUDENTS
NEED OF EDUCATED MEN IN POLITICs-DEGREEs
GRANTED ASD PRIZES AWARDED.

weather this morning die not dampen the aror OF tho
friends OF Union College, and when Judge Sanders
president I'D interim assembled the pulpit Of tho
First Reformed Church, at 10 a. IT.. and
asked tho audience to rise aud sine
the CXyfIm Psalm, fully 1000 people joined in singing
to the tune OF "Oid Hundred" Tho exercises OF tho
eighty ninth commencement were then opened with q
prayer by the Rev. DIR. Alexander. OF Ne~York. Tho
Bialchford medal awarded to tho best orator from
among the eight highest seniors in the classical dyi.
sion. was contested as follows: "Ango.saxon So.
premacy." Edwin Charles Angle. schenectady; "Epochs
Of Progress" Howard j. Cole. Albany "Whither-
ward" Edwin &. c. Harris schuyervlils; 1.-THE Pres.
ent state Of the Nation, Alien II. Jackson scheneo.
taiy; "Mase Haste Slowly" william Pierce
Lsndon, Schenectady; Heroes and Heroi.m,"
John +. Ostrander sngerfands; 1.-THE National Out
Ioox." Frederick d. Randall. stafford; Christianity
versus Science" Frederick W skinner, Brownvillc;
valedictory. Elmer Ellsworth yecder. Schenectady
senator Warner Miller. tho Honorary Chancellor
for the year. delivered address the graduating
class on Inc Position aud Duties Of Educated Men
a Republic" OF which the following port Is synop.
No free government was ever established and long
maintained OF which the corner stone not the intel
gence OF people and which the eiucated classes
dId large extent. direct and control affairs and
whenever In the past free people have put ASIDE the
leadership OF their scholars aud philosophers and
lied upon the military for the preservation OF their IN.
liberties and the establishment OF despotisms.
You may complain tina. your your. lot an, y cas-, east
there seem to DO no great achievements before you
sran break over s dsrscie ami divided country The
dangers which threaten Tho pernA0ency OF oar nsttu
tons are not armed foes within or foes from
without but rather be found In tho failure OF
many OF our eope To perform their ui ddsies as citi-
practise that accidental and self control that
alone render people ut for self-government or Lra-
ousy TO guard the fundamental principle OF our sy,ien
the highest possible liberty 10 the individual
consonant with the greatest good to the entire O0y OF
The danger OF ilterscy among a self-governng people
cannot be overestinstcd Another danger more subtle
SnicnIf Of remrdy IL the lack anon naay "r our n
teeent citizens OF that nigh standard OF Integrity, IN
botn private ami pubic affairs. wAich renders corru-
ton office impossible finding IL there woIi drive
1t out OF the tempe OF liberty with the scourse OF an oi-
RACED pubic opinion
These are few OF the evils which threaten IA In
battling agans them You may ma career as honora.
bic anu DEMANDING bIgh and patriotism
Every urone looks To lis educated men Tor counsel aui
leadership How will you moot the great resppnslbl-
ties OF your pOsOnf Even now the lsnt Is hei with
the noise OF unwlse and unnecessary contest be-
tween Capital and LABOR. Drought vnlrd, 10y tue
ignorance OF both parnes OF the fundamental principles
which should control tneir mutual relation, and dlsre-
OF duties aud Obligations to each other Ihs
contest II not ly ended ~ wise cOunSe-, Will 10
disastrous all people than auy similar di.a-
grsemeut hayeeyer KNOWN II Is ouy this century
aud under our form OF government that the full frerdo
aud enuancnisement OF is0or mas Oecn esttonsAei
by admitting all to participation III Tue iunc.
labor has guaranteed To 1t every social and political
nght wnlcn IS enjoyed by the more favored Ot our
ciuzeus. IL should not ior.et that 1t has netner tao
moral OF legal riynt 70 coeIce IN acOn OF one OF h
order by force 10 aDrge any OF the rights OF
human iabOrers cannot safely DC treated unthD @ng
iD.cninrs. that the of labor should NOT pe
regulated Dy the cOusi iuratOn al ratio of supply
- tns lima m . Trs, oovrrnnrut vi, r. h. mat
his share OF the pnDc Durdeu- should receive such
rate OF COMPENSATION as Will enable hn 10 MAINTAIN
himself and family comfort aud atOri opportunity for
Improvement and education. IL should be The highest
aim ol saesmasp to govern a. TO produce this re-
-ut aud SIN maintain the largest degree OF personal
liberty.
Two oppo.n>systems OF political philosophy confront
eacn otncr III The OF our politics. Tue one w)dd
nave the state do everything for ths cH- The Otner
would have II 10 80 tte as possDle Our governments
org nz,d 10 increase tue liberty OF tue niifdHA,
diminish by Increasing the power OF tne state
strange 1t may appear tAe chief advocates OF sy
TEN that sha 10 every thhs iot tue hul'uu' are Hoso
persons OF foreign birth wnO have come among rs 10
escape the tyranny OF excessive power IN government
As We chersI the Institutions committed to Us by mo
fathers, let avoid DOtn Socialism and Com AS IL
Ibe other system that OF nOnnererence rests Oh mat
coIb CODED pglncpe OF modern science caii-i eyo-
luton" OF the survival OF The nttest IL holds That
one social cas, owes nothing to any other class ani h.s
DO ofs worn out is own destiny ~ best is
VIII not pause to picture government based
such principles. CAnnbss would DO preieraole-It
leeds on lis enemies. not Oh us Kin.
sIne best system OF government is found midway be-
tween these. such a Government IN my judgment we
nave which throdgn tue meiiu.n OF the state
and Federal ORGANIZATIONS the greatest possible liberty
all aud whicd does not hesitate to assume aud exer-
else functsoDs and powers wh-nevsr II snail sD-
pear that ~ doing tho best interests OF the wAoe
ene now to he discussion of your proper position
and duties the political life OF oar people BurAe AS
SAID: Party divisions. whether on the whole operating
Tor good OF evil are things insepaaoe from free govern
ment." No government IN whIch Toe people held mo
through the instramenIalty Of parties. You arc
take your position IN Que or the other
div ded. The decision as TO which 1t shall be Is OF
great Importance to you. 1t viii largely influence II is
made your choice moved tnercso by associations or
early training Before making the choice irrsvocabe.
should carefully stu the political history
country. II you do you viii nni that parties are not
tho ephemer. ana uncertain orgtniz Sions they arc
sometimes represented be- but THAI the underlying
prIucip ami policies OF tbs parties Of to-day ar hot
materially different the principles and policies OK
snip OF Thomas Jefferson aud Alexander Hamilton
Parties change their names; they seldom change
their principles do not propose to into dlscus-
sion OF existing parties. their theories OF acts. but to
cal your attention To the necessity OF your active par.
nclpauon in our politics Principles OF administration
aa "t5ss 81 PS S o. rs P A yoa
are to exert your proper and legtlmite influence
uDc affairs, you can best do through yodr coInec-
ton political party. You should ne party men IA
the best and fullest sense OF the term Your Conscience
aud Intellect first approving the principles and policies
OF your party, you should WORK zeaoasy aud honesty
for It's triumph.
able methods and with corrupt men IN It's III maze
ment. do not abandon and seek to defeat Oy goins
over 10 opposition. You cannot do without being
untrue 10 the principles which you have espoHseL
But rather exert all enerss 20 tn methods
and to drive iuto oDscurIty the corrupt leaders
You Will be told Dy the modern political philosopher
who Is too independent and good To belong 10 either
parry but who forsg-s Doth. that the way puff,
party is to desert aud defeat IT, such might he correct
prIncpe OF political action IL there radical
differences between parties and II the only question:
Of Importance one OF correct administration. BIta
careful OF the history of the parties Of our con'
try WILL snow that even repeated defeat, have never
produced radical chang-s IN ices OF parties nOr
done much TO chan ge their methods or leaders
True reform must come from within the party, NOT
from without rnc Intelligence ami virtue o. party
must iaclf demand aud leader
snip II the intelligence ana virtue OF country do nos
govern II, tho Ignorance am venAty will.
know there Is much modern teaching tue tendency OF
wbcn Is 10 keep educated men and scholars from aAhS
part IN public affairs Too many American colleges arc
turning out class OF young men who are M liking no
adequate return to the State for tber education Ihey
hold themselves aloof from pocs though feared
II their education has not been OF that
sterling guilty which produces hearts aud inelres
capable of resisting tue temptation OF natery, wealth
aud power thoy have been educated IN vain AMI Should
dream In tneir closlers protected from tao
evils OF wicked world.
We have to many educated men who are IN American
IN their sympablcs and un-de mocratlc their lives
they believe IN the rrInanency OF republican lnsu1u
they fail to give expression to that BELIEF or 10 40
ytbng 10 advance the permanent Interests oil tho
wealth IL we sLosld JUDI nom their adoption
OF foreign manners. their of pOltcil