Evening star., 1886-11-09
THE PRESIDENTS BOSTON TRIP.
His Address at the Alumni Banquet
The Reception at Faneuil Hall.

His Address at the Alumni BANQUET
The Reception at Faneuil Hall.
Saunders theater, in which the exercises at
Harvard were held yesterday, began to I'LL with
people long before the hour set tor the beginning
of the proceedings. Just before 10 O'Clock Mrs.
Cleveland arrived from Boston and was escorted
to the front row OF seats in the upper gallery.
She was accompanied by President Elliot's wife.
The ladies vigorously applauded at the entrance
of this party. Soon after being seated Mrs
Cleveland was presented with a bouquet and
was again applauded. DIR. Oliver Wendell
Holmes had previously made his entrance un-
accompanied and received hearty welcome
Upon the stage to the right OF the orator sat
President Cleveland, while grouped in circles
were Secretaries Bayard, Endicott, Lamar and
Whitney, Senator Hoar Governor Robinson,
Lieutenant Governor Ames and many other
state officials, and Mayors C'Brien and Russell.
Among the delegates from other colleges were
Charles Taylor, master OF ST. Johns College,
University of Cambridge, England: Rev. Man
dell Creighton, oi the same university, and Sir
Lyon Playfair, OF the University of Edinburgh;
the presidents of Yale, Dartmouth, Williams,
Bowdoin, Middlebury, Amherst, Trinity, Tufts,
Bates, Columbia and New Jersey colleges, Uni
and Vermont, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Wes-
leyan, Colby and Brown, and the heads of nu-
merous other leading educational institutions
throughout the country. Charles Devens, presi-
dent of the Alumni Association, opened the
ceremonies. welcoming all those present in the
name OF the college. His allusion to the pres
ence of the President brought the audience to
its feet, the applause and cheers being con-
tinued for some moments, which the President
acknowledged by rising TO his feet and bowling.
HONORARY DEGREES CONFERRED.
At the close OF Mr.. Lowells address, extracts
from which were given in yesterdays STAR,
the chorus rendered Beethoven's "The Heavens
Proclaim Him. The poem of the day was
read by. DIR. Oliver Wendell Holmes. "A
chorus A number OF honorary degrees were
conferred by President Eliot ana the exer-
cises closed with benedictlon by Rev. MIR.
Peabody. Among those receiving the degree
of doctor OF laws were Secretary Lamar, Sena-
tor George +. Hoar, of Massachusetts; Spencer
+. Baird, OF Washington; Prof.. Asaph Hall, u.
;. ~, Nashlngton; Henry L. Abbott, United
States engineers; John W. Powell, United
States geological survey, Washington, and DIR.
John 3 Billings, L. >. A., Washington.
THE BANQUET.
After the exercises in Saunders theater and
while the procession was reforming to march
to the banquet hall President and Mrs. Cleve-
land visited President and Mrs. Eliot at their
home AT Memorial hall the Presidents table
was surrounded with the faces OF men whose
names are household words all America
and many OF them such throughout the civil
lied world. President Cleveland sat behind
large bank OF roses and chrysanthemums, with
Secretary Bayard his right and Governor
Robinson on his lett. Among those at the table
We're Dr. >. Weir Mitchell, George William Cur
Justice Cooley and the English guests. Twelve
i, nunarea persons were seated at the tables.
President DeVens introduced President CIeye-
lamp, VINO spoke as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: 1 find myself
To-day IN a company to which l am much
unused, and when see the alumni of the oldest
college in the land, surrounding, in their right
oi sonshlp, the maternal board at which
but an Invited guest the reflection that tor
there exists no alma mater gives rise to u feel
ing of regret, which is tempered only by the
cordiality Oi your welcome and your reassuriuy
kindness. If the TACT is recalled that only
twelve oi my twenty-One predecessors in office
had the advantage OF a collegiate or university
education PROOF is presented OF The democratic
sense oi our people, rather tnan an argument
against the supreme value OF the test and most
moefai educittion ia high public positions.
1nere Certainly can be no sufficient reason Tor
any space or distance between the walks OF the
most classical education and ihe way hat leads
to political place. Any disinciinaLion on the
part of the most learned and cultured of our
Citizens TO mingie IN public affairs and their
consequent abandonment of political activity
10 those VINO nave but little regard Tor student
anu scholar Ill politics, not fav vOraple conui-
lions under Il government such ours, and il
theJ have existed TO IA damaging extent, very
recent events appear to Indicate that the euu-
cation and conservatism oI the land are to be
hereafter more plainly heard i'll the expression
OF popular will. Surely the splendid destiny
which awaits II patriotic effort lii benalf OF our
country Will soon DE reached, il the best Oh our
thinkers and educated men snall deem it "A
practically engage III political affairs and ii
The IOrce and power OF their thought and learn
ing shall be willingly or unwiiilngly acknowi-
eoged IN party management.
III am 10 speak Oi tue President of the United
States, desire to mention, as The most pleasant
and characteristic feature OF our SYSTEM OF gov
eminent, the nearness OF the people 10 their
President and other high officials. A close view
afforded our citizens OF the acts and conduct OF
those to whom they have entrusted their inter-
eSts serves as q regulator aud check upon
temptation and pressure ln office, and is u con-
slant reminder that diligence and faithfulness
are the measure vi public duty, and such a rela-
tion between President and people ought To
leave but little room in popular Judgment and
conscience lOr unjust ana Iaise accusations and
for malicious slanders invented ior the purpose
OF undermining the peoples trust and conf
dence ia the administration OF their govern
ment. No public officer should desire to check
the utmost freedom OF criticism all official
acts, but every rIght-thlnkIng man must con-
cede that the President OF The United States
should not be put beyond the protection which
American love OF iair play and decency ac-
cords to every American citizen. This trait of
our national character would not encourage if
their extent and tendency were fully appreci-
ated, the silly. mean ana cowardly lies that
every day are found in the columns OF certain
newspapers, which violate every instinct OF
American inanIIiess and in ghoulsh gee desc
crate every sacred relation OF private IiIe
There Is nothing ill the highest office that the
American people can confer which necessarily
makes their Presluent ltoge ther selfish, sche-
ing and untruStwortAy.
On The contrary, Inc solemn duties which
Slbillty; the trust Oh the American people and
an appreciation OF the mission among Tie ma
tions vi the earth should make him Il patriotic
lnan, and the tales OI distress winch reach him
from the humble and Iow.y and needy
and afflicted la every corner OF the land can
not fall To quicken within him every kind
Impulse and tender sensibiity. After all
1t comes 10 this: The people OF the United
States nave, one and ali, - sacred mission to
perform, ana your PRESIDENT not more surely
tnan every other citizen Who loves his country
must assume part O1 the responsibility OF the
demonstration To the world of the success of
popular government No man can hide his
talent under u napkin and escape the con.
evade the stern sentence which his faith
leSsneSS invites.
Be assured, my friends, that the privileges
OF this day, SO fuli OF Improvement, and The
enJoyments OF this hour, iuli OF pleasure and
cheerful encouragements, will never be forgot
ten; and III parting with you now let me ex.
press my earnest hope that Harvard's alumni
may always honor the venerable institution
which has honored them and that no man who
forgets and neglects his duty to American eiti-
ZenShip Will find his alma mater mere
Ine PRESIDENT finished his speech amid great
enthusiasm and the. strains OF ."The Star
spansied banner from the hand. President
DeVenS then introduced to the audience in
turn, Secretaries Bayard, Lamar, W hitnev and
EndlcOtt, VINO were eacn received with dealen-
ing cheers. The President and cabinet officers
then Withdrew 10 attend the public reception
at Faneuil hall. they were escorted by the
Lancers. and reached the hall about 5:45
THE SCENE AT FANEUIL HALL
The square around the hall was densely
packed at an early hour and when the doors
were opened the hall and galleries were quickly
filled TO overfiowing At $50 Mayor o Brien
and the President appeared on the platform.
Mr. Cleveland's appearance was the signal for
an Outburst Oh applause from the masculine