New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-14
ENDING THE COLLEGE YEAR
THE B.CCALAUREArE AT CORNELL.
PRESIDENT ADAMS MAKks AN ADDRkss-fhofA'oo"
porrrSc's CASE.

THE p.CCALAUREATE AT CORNELL.
PRESIDENT ADAMS MAxEs AN ADDREss-PRofhSSon
RoELINGs CASE.
Iru,CA. n. Y, June 10 (Spoc'dn.-No COM
management season has yet passed at Cornell University
,hont some instance OF old college traditions ana con-
xen,ionales being ignored or ransgressed ny the ch'
Versity authorities. The exercises AZ sage O"'po' w
dav indicated that the present commencement was "
he no RECEPTION. The baccalaureate was deNeicu wv
fore the graduating class this noon by fresiuen'
Kendall Adams 1t is the first time that any one oo"
,ec,es with the University any official capacity mas
delivered the baccalaurcate at Cornell III was NV
ecrmon The president Is not even ciers! MAJ" :,
an historical scholar. and no carried INFO '"o pr
esge Chapel to-day the methods anu 'ho u'''S
Of the historian. There was no 'eA' VI ,sor,r
theme was the privileges and tho c2"se'' "a ~
The sneaker prese a solemn warning OF the dangers
that threaten ambitious and encrsot'c !ou"N 'V"
dsv because OF the broad liberty that oo'a"e III '"'
land He also sought to inspire them Win 'ho ihon"
tiop TO use that liberty for the nobest purposes lie
eaid In part .....
MS now about 100 years since the modern doetrlnes
O; nSeity came to DO somewhat generally adopted;
Cnris,iam,y had given individual man an inheritance
md dignity that he bad never before PossesV", ho
Reformation had brought these d0ctfnes Vu' tnp pr o
clear ut OF individual responsibility ana ID az ro
estant nations the veal and the woe OF every man SUI
ss IN tLsory at least Transferred from TIE keeping VI
the church the keeping OF the indvidua e1nssenre
Bat not until George II had unasTAGn 70
hs hot Lad been fired that was heard around the
world not until the French Kovo.a.'4n naa abI the
many ANTIQUE abuses In continental Europe. hat
modern doctrines OF liberty wers recos,'leu anu 10
IN France IT was Inc declaration Of the
rights Of man. the voice or the Amer
s az Terms tho doctrne on which the civiliza-
ton the nineteenth century was mainly to i TH
M. dncfr involves number or pOstu!atcs Inc
rrs Is that majority has no more rights over one man
than one has majority Inc urteIlninH.i,on
o! right and wrong never he made by the counting
Of votes The OF supposng that mater Is rigns
simply because majority OF people thlnK II SO mas req
10 1e of the greatest that have been committed
An the history human society," the Geath OF Soolses
anu the cruciixi0n Of Christ second c0hsuet a'Dn
Thai should be noted as consideration OF liberty IS tnc
fact that its qualities are purely heta'o III ~ ~, 49,,
ure Ibis hhrrty do nothing Tor us except 10 s"cop
obsec O. out OF our paw; sva. ns chance This Is OF
conrse The essential dineren'e' y FUNNY '
dom. ,, 49,. o,r ,,o, uhe,tv gives
s,st onporsunitics for advancement and development.
Tut aso that gives equal oppor for
nre o, the age OF Pecles is regarded MS the most con-
sumnaie flower Of civilization that the worid mas ever
seen Bat what worthy OF note is tho TACT tha tae
growth OF tins culture was exactly with
tho growth 0, liberty. And 50 !: was ,sori IN
* the "a devcopnons Of individuals says to
every Make the most o. Yourself .s Wos' tos
evil we'll great possibilities Tor gooI me Ways
OF temptation are more open ana the Ia" m'orpO'oS"
less nunUer of restraints . ... ,.
Tbjs prlnclpe enters into the ordinary university life
Where tuents are gwen liberty OF choice there 10 al
ways powerto choose the evil students should nave
d large measure OF liberty, not because some WIN no,
is only freedom that there c,n be complete exercise
Will and is only in the exercise OF Tue VIII that
the end OF your academic lie THESE prinyl
pies have their significance and thor Importance We
call The end your undergraduate career commence
ment, because 1t is the beginning OF more completely
Iespoasibe relations with your fellow man. Many
surprise, possibly many disappointment awaits you
You will iind that YOU cannot trust III your eoucdtion
You viii have to trust yourself simply with the help
OF your education. But do not forget you go away
that the liberties that You enjoy carry Win them
responsibilities that you never can throw OIL ana my
last you that remarkable exhoriation OF MIN
who called the wses OF men " kJoice youag man an
tiny youth. and walk in the ways of thine heart aud In
the sisht OF thine eyes, Dut KNOW thOu thaL LOT al
theso things God Will bring thee into judgment.
The case of f. L. o. Roeng the Professor OF sansSrit
and Living Asiac Languages at Cornell University. is
arousiDg u singular amount OF interest among the
alumni OF the institution The professor possesses ex-
traordinary linguistic accomplishments 1t Is SAID
that there is no modern language of Europe
that he does not speak. lie is also familiar
with Persian and many other Of the languages Of ASIA
as well the dialects OF North American Indians In
short, he has been regarded as linguistic pheuOmenon
and students and alumni Of Cornell lave bad pride
In his reputation this respect But he result OF the
unitarian tendencies of the university has been to lead
students believe that Asatic languages were not
practical ana gradually to diminish the size OF tile Pro-
fssors casses Recently university authorities de-
cided that advisable to continue that depart
ent gave the Professor notice that his services
would not be required after the present cosge ar.
THIS action has evoked not niue cltclSn' IL eI 'he
professor seventy years OF age ailer seNe
Teen years OF work Tor the university, without any
means support and too advanced in years TO secure
new This treatment was the more marked
beca.e other aged professors who retired at tho
same time either granted pension or cOntinu-
auce of their salary for limited umo. The students
Were Indignant over the matter, and nearly the whole
UNDERGRADUATE body has Joined IN petition TO the
Board Of for liberal treatment toward
the popular professor The subject has also been act
lively discussed among the alumni Many Of the prom
nent onos In New York Cly and elsewhere have d,s-
cussed the question Of presenting their views on the
subject the Board of Trustees. But owing to the
difficulty OF securing united action from the widely
separated graduates. IL considered oe9t TO bring
the matter up oI action In the meeting Of the alumni