Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-06-25
COMMENCEMENT.
Graduating Exercises OF
The University.
THE SENIOR CLASS OF 'se.
Address of tine President-Plans
for the Future of the
Institution.

friends and students Of the College.
The graduating class consisted of W.
B. Slaughter, on whom was conferred
the degree of b. s.; Miss Alice M. Todd,
who received the degree OF b. M;
Misses Bertha Llndley, diploma for
piano and harmony; May Hobson, for
piano voice and harmony; Cora Snod-
grass, piano and harmony.
The exercises began with piano duet
by Misses Cora Snodgrass, Alice M.
Todd, Bertha Lindley and May Hobson,
in which the young ladies played well
together with much spirit and correct
ness. Rev. Professor Thompson then
offered the invocation, which was fol-
lowed by violin solo, Concert " Waitzes'
Kallinala. rendered by j. Bond Fran
cisco in his usually fine style.
This was follow ed by the one oration
of the day, delivered by Mr.. w. b.
Slaughter. of Omaha, Nebraska. The
Young gentleman has an exceptionally
good Voice. with which he has made great
progress Ia the art Of using to advau.
tage. MIR. Slaughter shonld by all
means choose a profession where bis
voice will be of some use to him. A
mere resume is all that can be given OF
an oration which was replete with solid
thought and well expressed, with much
rhetorical finish.
SON THE ALTAR OF TRUTH"
The worlds greatest bsnefactors have
been scourged; its mightiest reformers
have been cursed; worlds Redeemer
has been spat upon and caused to suffer
death through the inconsistency of preju-
dice, and by its power minorities have
at times been rulers of the world.
Superstitious prejudice has always
been stumbling block to truth. Il has
always thrown the standard of revolt
against good order, 1t has made indie
cent images its stronghold, and those
have fallen upon the fresh, young heart
OF virtue with a blighting aud withering
power. Men whose love and truth
might have lifted the human race above
the dark clouds of superstition and igno-
rance have been beaten by the foul
hand of prejudice.
A Gallileo discovered the rotation OF
the earth and sacrificed his life for the
mainter ance OF the true laws he had dis
covered. A Socrates drank the deadly
hemloek because be believed ia the ex-
istence Of one true God. Christ suffered
crucifxion from the diseased hand Of
prejudice because the people at that
time were not willing to revere the
great truth of redemption. The dreaded
persecution of that noble army OF mar.
tyrs, from stephen to John Huss. and
on down to the last sufferer; the jus
tice OF Aristides made tool to effect
s.n Il oh.
more, has stained the pages of history,
while prejudice and skepticism have
boasted OF their victories.
Unprotected innocence was "tried in
the furnace and proved pure" Ii was
made fast to "the chariot wheels of
rulers" but gave up not one principle of
right 1t was lashed to the cursed stake
of Papacy, but breathed words of for
giveness TO the existing prejudices. JUS
tice was called an infatuated monster,
but now sterling is the demonstration
given by all mankind. The golden
thread of reason that might have worked
its way through the whole fabric OF hu.
man life was stopped by the great power
of popular prejudice and unwillingness
to believe. Human wants were sub
served to it. The irresistible voice of
freedom swelled the air with petitions,
supplicatipg for the rights of men. But
those that made these cries we're left to
seek protection in the quiet Of some cave
or cast behind the prison bars, from
thence TO see the development of prin.
ciples. Has this picture ever been
called forth--a painter in a quiet cell.
tracing out the line OF that figure of
liberty; and has this one failed to mois
ten the eye with tears of pity for the
noble sufferers for truth and virtue
But true principle never rests until
1t has gained the victory, and the germ
that was planted grew, the psrpetuation
OF which has made us what we are to-
day. The hidden cells OF conscience
were broken, and there sprang forth
deep anxieties which seized upon truth
and Justice. Then sprang to life inquiry
and Independent thought. A new fire
was kindled in the human heart, which
put in motion that fibre OF love for
which the present age is so distinguished.
Words were spoken and truths were
brought to light, and the whole world
trembled at their power. They showed
the tremulous energy of the age. Their
voice changed the condition of the
world and marked the regeneration of
the human race. Resistance, caused by
suffering, stimulated an energy which
gave birth to this age of action.
This was not an age Of independence;
II was an age OF interdependence. The
interdependence Of the grand, the noble
and the true. The inter1ependeuce OF
the gradual unfolding and expanding Of
forces, principles and ideas. In this
science reached its high standard. Phil
osophy became the true science of
honest investigation, and not the in.
strument of popular influence, whereby
political intrigues we're made the gov
ernors of a subjected people. The
chains OF monopoly, which held in con-
troll the transmission Of intelligence,
were broken. The monopolizing of the
soul and body OF the plebeian portion
OF humanity became thing of the past,
and there could be seen to rise out Of
this turmoil the overwhelming frater-
nity, the brotherhood OF man. The old
environments were thrown of, and soul
linked itself with soul in the grand
work Of liberating truth and justice.
History has shown the predominating
priuciple that has ever advanced, en-
countering all events, ruled by the con-
tinuous variation OF human prejudice.
This principle is truth. This one ele-
ment has given rise and elimination to
forces, principles and ideas. These
ideas emerged from the dark cellar OF
skepticism and extended their influence
far into the future. Truth, both intel
lectual and moral, has at last come to
the ideal autocrat of perfect govern.
ment. | care not in what direction the
adyance may have been taken, truth has
ever borne some standard 10 the mount
OF victory. This latent capacity for ac-
tion or performance has been the one
promoter OF our higher existence. I'm
pregnable, it has stood aloof from the
petty reachings Of the weak, invincible
and grand in aspirations.
Infdelity has not enlisted ia its service.
1t has not scattered to the four winds OF
heaven blasting influence, injuring
and destroying dear lives; but il has
raised them out of the denser air OF
prejudice and skeptieism to the pureI
atmosphere of liberty. Philosophical
enunciations have been born only to die;
organizations have risen only to be dis.
organized; all these have reached q
kind OF elimination, but their overthrow
was effected by the establishment OF a
criterion Of truth.
Rome had no sympathy for humane
sufferings. Men were "things," and
not individuals. Her way to "politieal
greatness" was over the dead body oi
UNPROTECTED innocence. But Rome's
political greatness was not always to ex.
ist Time brought the decline and fall
Of that powerful empire, and new gov.
srnments were established.
Into pool the Divine master dropped
a .eed. Then came the discordant strife
Of a fierce conflict Elements were at
war with elements. The earth quaked
under the disturbing conflict OF medieval
oppression. At last, grown weary Of
endless warfare the elements resumed q
quiet; the warmth of the sun OF truth