The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-24
HARVARD'S GREETING.
The President and Mrs Cleveland
in Boston.


The President and Mrs. Cleveland
in Boston.
The last day in the celebration Of the
25Oth birthday anniversary Of Harvard Col
lege was notable occasion. The President
and Mrs. Cleveland came on from Washing
ton by invitation of the college authorities to
take part in the exercises. It was intended to
confer the degree of IL. D. upon the Presi-
dent, but he declined the proffered honor.
The Presidential party included Mr.. and
Mrs. Cleveland, and Secretaries Bayard, En-.
dicott Lamar . and Whitney. Governor
Robinson received the President upon his ar
rival in Boston. Thousands OF spectators
cheered during the Presidents ride to Cam
bridge. Mrs. Cleveland was also cheered by
were followed by dinner in Memorial Hall,
at which 1,2C0 persons were present. a
warm reception was givento Mrs. Cleveland
who appeared in the gallery. After the feast
speeches were in order, the Presidents ad-
dress being as follows:
'MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: / find
myself to-day in a company to which am
the oldest college in the land surrounding, in
their right of sonship, the maternal board at
which am but all invited guest, the retec-
tion that for me there exists no alma mater
gives rise to feeling Of regret, which
is kindly tempered only by the cordiality OF
your welcome and your reassuring Kindness:
If the fact Is recalled that only twelve OF
my twenty-one predecessors in Office had
the advantage Of collegiate or univer.
sity education, proof is presented OF the
Democratic sense of our people, rather
than an argument against the supreme
value of the best and most liberal educa-
tion in high public positions There certainly
can he no sufficient reason for any space or
distance between the walks Of most CLASH
cal education and the way that leads to
political place. Any disinclination on the
part Of the most learned and cultured OF our
citizens to mingle in public affairs and con.
se1uent abandonment of political
activity to those who have but
little regard for the student
and scholar in politics, are not favorable
conditions under Government such as ours,
and if they have existed to damaging e1-
tent very recent events appear to Indicate
that the education and conservatism of tho
land are to be hereafter more plainly heard
the splendid destiny which awaits q
patriotic effort in behalf of our country will
be sooner reached il the best Of our thinkers
and educated men shall deem it solemn
duty Of citizenship actively and practically
to engage in political affairs, and II the fore
and power of their thought and learning
shall be willingly or unwillingly acknowl-
edged in party management.
"If am 20 speak Of the President OF the
United States desire to mention as the most
pleasant and characteristic feature OF our
systemic Of government the nearness of the
people to their President and other
high officials A close view afforded our
citizens of the acts and conduct Of those to
whom they have intrusted their interests
serves as q regulator and check upon
temptation and pressure in office, and is
constant reminder that diligence and
faithfulness are the measure OF
public duty, and such a relation between
President and people ought to leave but
little room in popular Judgment and con-
science for unjust and false accusations and
for malicious slanders invented for the pur-
pose of undermining the peoples trust aud
confidence in the Administration OF their
Government No public officer should desire
to check the utmost freedom Of criticism sto
all official acts, but every right thinking man
must concede that the President of the United
States should not be put beyond the protec.
ton which American love Of fair play and
decency accord to every American citizen
This trait of our national character would not
encourage, II their extent and tendency were
fully appreciated, the silly, mean and cow
ardiy lies that are every day found in the
columns of certain newspapers, which Vlo'
late every instinct Of American manllness
and in ghoulish glee desecrate every sacred
relation of private life. There is nothing in
the highest office that the American
people can confer which necessarily
makes their President altogether self
ish, scheming and untrustworthy.
On the contrary the solemn duties which
confront him tend to O sober sense OF re-
sponsibility; the trust OF the American peo
pie and an appreciation of their MISSION
among the nations Of the earth should make
him a patriotic man, and the tales OF distress
which reach him from the humble and loWly
and needy and afflicted in every corner OF
the land cannot fail to quicken wit lin him
every kind impulse and tender sensibility.
After all it come to this: The people OF the
Unitei States have one and all sacred mis-
sion to perform, and your President not more
surely than every other citizen who loves his
country must assume part OF the reSponSl,
bility Of the demonstration to the world
of the success of popular government NC
man can hide his talent in napkin ana es'
cape the condemnation which his slothful
ness deserves nor evade the stern sentence
which his faithlessness invites
"Be assured, my friends, that the privileges
Of this day, so full of Improvement and the
enjoyment, Of his hour, so full OF pleasure
and cheerful encouragements, will never he
forgotten; and in parting with you no"
let me express my earnest hope that Har-
wards alumni may always honor the vener,,
able institution which has honored them, and
that no man who forgets and neglectS his
duty to American citizenship will find hls
alma-mater here"
The speech wa, warmly cheered through.
out, and at the close there was wild OUT
burst of enthusiasm. After spee:hes 6y SIC
retarics Bayard. Lamar, Whitney and Endl-
cott. the Presidential party withdrew to at
tend the public celebration in Faneuil Hall.
At Faneuil Hall the President was intro.
duced by Mayor O'Brien to the members OF
the city government, and afterward for an
hour received tho general public. After din
ner at the Hotel Vendome thu President held
another reception. under the auspices OF the
City of Boston, at which most Of the proml-
nent BostGnianS were present Then he took
a special tai for Washington.