National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-27

Union Alumni Association OF Howard Uni
yersity, comprising the graduates Of the
collcge-law, medical, theological, and nor
NAL departments-was held last evening at
Welcker's, and brought together full
company, many of whom have attained dis
tinction In various walks Of life. The Off
GERS OF the newly-formed association are
President, Prof. ]. NJ. Gregory; vice presi-
dente, A. Is. Lind, l.. w. Livingstone, d.
A. Wiseman, and $. Q. Collins; correspond
ing secretary, Prof. j. ii. Smith; recording
secretary, X. 7. Moss; treasurer DR.. r. j.
shadd. The following were present:
Honorary members-lIon. Frederick
Douglass, LII. D.; Dr. Robert Reyburn, A.
NJ; DIR. G. b. Purvis, A. NJ; DIR. A. T.
Augusta, A. NJ, and c. II. A. Buckley,
Gruduates-J. T. wormley, j. NJ. Greg.
%ss j j. :. o SaT d w. T. s MStSew g. =
Smith, VIM. Warning, II. NJ. Brown, f. j.
Shadd, r. T. Moss, G.. w. Cook, A. W.
Upshaw, I. s. ID. Berger, II. T.. Baker, &.
q. Hutchins, II. s. Smith, j. P. Turner, T.
NJ. Dent, J, @. Norwood, ID. Z. Wlseman,
A. Q. Asbury, j. B. Cooper, A. T.. Draper,
w: II. II. Hart, A. T. Hilyer, s. X. Hughes,
J. y. Hunt, G. G. johnson. A. B. Lind, and
l.. W. Livingstone.
Among those whose engagements pre-.
vented them FRONT attending the reunion
were Prof. w. j. Simmons, president
State University, Louisville, KY; Prof.-W.
q. Sears, Lincoln Institute, jefferson, Mo. (;
Prof. J. w. Morris, president Avery Insti-
tute, South Carolina; Prof. T. B. Snowden,
Centenary Biblical Institute, Baltimore.
A goodly menu was provided, aud after
the last delicacy on the long list was served,
Prof. Gregory, the presiding officer, arose
and addressed the company. Reunions
had occasionally been held by the graduates
OF the separate departments OF the univer-
sity, but he was glad to be present at the
first reunion Of the united alumni. The
united association was the natural out
growth Of a vel. established and growing
college. The graduates Of all the depart
ments are the sons of the college alike, and
II was well for them to come together in
this way. The social benefits OF the meet
ing were referred to. One of the advan-
tages Of the reunion was the opportunity
II gave graduates to make suggestions TO
trustees and officers In the management of
the institution, which arc SO often helpful
to them. He predicted the forming of
similar reunions Of the united alumni of
universities for freedmen throughout the
country, as in Yale. Harvard, and other
colleges.
Since the formation OF the Howard Uni
yersity twenty years ago graduates had
been sent out who have made some progress
In life and have some influence In the COM
munities They have had their trials and
difficulties, their ups and down, but have
generally been more or less successful.
Like graduates of other schools, without
the influence Of wealth or powerful friends,
they have had rather more downs than UPS,
and have had TO struggle against bitter
race p -ejudice, but they have gone steadily
forward, making name for themselves
and upholding the standard Of the college.
The alumni do not forget that the character
of the university is established by its grad
yates, and that It has not history until the
graduates by their achievements make its
history.
DIR. Purvis was then called upon to re.
spond to the toast: "The founder OF the
Howard University" No one deserved
the title OF "great mani more than did the
o. Howard. He is the possessor Of rare
combinations Of head and heart, such as are
seldom found combined In one man. He
was a soldier, scholar, philanthroplst,
statesman, and Christian.
at is historical fact,n he continued,
''that in all revolutionary conflicts, some
man, or set OF men, have been thrown to
the surface who were equal to the neces-
stiles of the hour, either to suppress the
revolutionary attempts or to make them a
success.
"The nlhillst of to-day, loving liberty,
fearing not death, frenzied by the iron yoke
of oppression, filings himself against the
car and the institutions Of all the Russians,
seeking their destruction. He has no plan
for the future, he simply sees the enemy
of Russian liberty, 1t absorbs him; to de-
stroy 1t is his one idea and hope. lie trusts
TO the future and to the justice Of his cause
to produce the man who, In the hour Of his
greatest need, will bring order out Of chaos;
who will lead him from the darkness OF OPP
preston into the sunlight Of freedom.
The socialist plants himself similarly against
the absolutism of united Prussia. The
communist fills the government OF the en-
press OF the sea with doubt and un-
certainty. They caused to be devel-
oped In France leaders who, In
turn, have given her the best government
she has had for hundred years. For fifty
and more years the abolitionists OF our
country Composed, as they were, OF the
and loftiest OF men, whose unselflsh devo-
tion to the cause Of human liberty stands
unchallenged and unequaled) confronted
the American God-slavery. They COM
bined and avowed to destroy 1t. They had
no plan for the future; they simply saw the
cussed institution, and against II they
hurled their javelins OF truth, their iron
logic, which carried conviction to the loyal
liberty-loving, God-fearing men and women
of the country. Such was the effect Of their
agitation that the lovers and defenders Of
the institution In sheer desperation rushed
Into rebellion TO save IL; the conflict be-
tween slavery on the one hand and freedom
on the other, brought from comparative
obscurity into prominence and greatness
many men; II gave the nation the Napoleon
OF the age, Grant; the Marshal Ney, Sher-
man, and, on the other side, Lee, who
possessed all the genius Of the Iron
Duke, Wellington; but, greater than
them all, 1t gave us the scholar,
soldier, philanthropist, statesman, and
Christian, Gen. Oliver o. Howard
The conflict saved the nation, destroyed
slavery, and made the victims OF the insti-
tuition freemen and citizens. But they were
not liked as other citizens were-the preju'
dice of the northern white man, as class,
was against him; the hatred OF the white
man Of the south was concentrated upon
him, and not without reason, for ne was no
longer his chattel and slave, but his political
equal. For his benefit the freedman's bu-
reau was established, and at its head was
placed Gen. Howard, whose coming was
hailed as the harblnger OF peace aud the
dawning OF bright era. With all the acute
ness OF the scholar, the Dobleness of the
philanthropist, and the tenderness OF a
Christian he undertook his work. He saw
at glance that the bureau, as an institu-
ton, could live but short time. AS a
student OF American history he knew we
lived for the present and the future and
forgot the past; he saw that something must
be done to destroy the prejudice and hate
that daily manifested itself against the
emancipated millions. lie realized that the
prejudice was the result OF condition, and
that the solution was In bestowlng an edu-
cation upon the new citizens. His cause was
clear he leaped into the arena, became the
Moses OF the people; he saw that unless such a
course was pursued the institutions Of the
country would not be safe, and that in time
there would be conflict between ignor-
ance and superstition against intelligence
which In its results would be far more APP
palling than any we had experienced To
obyiate such calamity, to do justice to a