Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-23
DR.. GEO. G. LORIMER.
HIS ADDRESS AT RICHMOND COLLEGE
LAST NIGHT.
Plain Talk on a Subject for the People
Governor Fitz. Lee as Presiding
Officer. &C.

Despite the heavy rain (which, in ad-
dition to other discomforts, put many oil
the boys in for hacks instead of the more
enjoyable promenade), there was q line
audience at the College chapel last
night.
The marching in Of Governor Lee
and the orator of the evening, Rev. DIR.
George G. Lorimer, Of Chicago, escorted
by the marshals and committeeman,
was greeted with applause, which was
loudly repeated when Governor Lee
came forward and called the assembly
to order.
The following was the interesting
PROGRAMME.
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Hume. Of North caro-
lima. Music. Introductory: Governor fltz-
hugh Lee. President; Address, Rev. 0eone
c. Lorimer. ID. d., Illinois. Music. Delivery
OF Medals: Rev. George Cooper ID. d., VIZ
ginia. Nedalists -Mu Sigma Rho Society
W. G. Tyree, Best Debater; j. A. Bunnica'
Improvement. Philoloeian Society: e. H.
Hatcher, Pest Debater: j. \. smith, I'M
proven ent. Joint Writer'S Medal: j. y.
Alderman. Music. Closing remarks by the
President. Music.
After the applause with which he was
greeted had subsided Governor Lee
made q few Introductory remarks, in
which he mingled pleasant hunor with
sound advice. Governor Lee alluded
to the story Of old Davenport, Of Con-
necticut, who. on the "dsrk day,
moved that candles be brought in
"that the House might proceed with
its duty" and to the advice Of sol
der to his son, Duty is the sublimest
word in the English language" and
urged the young men in briet but
earnest phrase to catch the spirit OF
these words and to carry with them TO
the battle Of life these noble senti-
ments. lie paid high tribute to Rich
mond College, and expressed his deep
interest in all Of our institutions of
learning. lie congratulated the socis-
ties in their fortunate selection Of an
orator, and gracefully introduced Rev.
DR.. Lorimer, OF Chicago.
THE ORATOR.
DR.. Lor;mer was received with loud
applause. which was frequently re-
peated during the delivery Of his
splendid address, which he spoke with
out MS. or note in his earnest, grace
full, and eloquent style.
DR.. Lorimer begun his address as
follows: Westminster, which for CEN
turies has been the theatre of as many
notable events as any other spot on
earth, has within the past three months
presented to the world two scenes re-
markable for light and shade and for
deep significance. The historical stu
dent can easily recall the many famous
regal displays, State trials, and Parlia-
mentary debates which occurred in the
old balls, and doubtless will be inclined
to linger on the condemnation OF
Charles the First; the proStrs-
ton Of Chatham, ending soon af-
ter in his death, when pleading for re-
Cancellation with America; and the
speech Of Burke, in which he argued
that the establishment Of the British
colonies on principles Of liberty would
yield England greater glory than all the
conquests of her wsrlike ancestors, a.
meaning more to humanity than the
pomp and splendOr ofprlncely pageants
and the brave attire and lordly magniii-
cence OF peers and bsrons. But neither
in the old halls nor the new have there
ever been witnessed more impressive
contrasts, or any more suggestive, both
morally and socially, than have been
exhibited in far-famed Westminster this
year. Let US observe them.
The Queen opens Parliament in per-
son. Her retirement has been long.
and once more she proceeds from the
palace between files of glltterlng dra-
goons, and attended by powdered foot
men in gay apparel and accompanied by
mobiles and ecclesiastics Of every degree.
She enters the legislative building, and
from her throne reads speech full of
fine phrases and glittering generslities
about her people, her colonies, her pol
icy, and disappears again like any other
Toy al phantom and play-actor. What
is The design Of this spectacular per-
formsDce What purpose is this piece
of snowy and pompous mediGvalism to
serve: Evidently it is planned and ex-
ecuted to revive the dropping loyalty OF
the masses-to appeal to their imagina-
tion and TO blind them by its glare to
the iniquitous and tyrannous measures
by which the Throne has misgoyerned
Ireland. The fact that such an appeal
has to be made and an effort put forth
to cover with tinsel finery the wrongs
and cruelties Of successive sovereign
is indicative of the tremendous strides
democracy has made Of late.
Victoria and her advisers By this
parade acknowledge that they must
placate the nation ; that they must have
IT'S moral support aud this is at once
10 confess that they are no longer su-
preme. The other scene TO which We
have referred is even more striking
and while It is the very opposite in all
essential features to this, yet it sup
plements and completes the lesson con-
yeyed by the regal show. William
Ewart Gladstone leaves his residence
for the House Of Commons. No SOL
diers sspport and guard his carriage
no bedizened lackeys burden his horses
with their lazy weight; but multitudes
throng on every hand, with waving cspS
and noisy cheers, and as be passes 10
the tribune render to him the tribuis
Of their confidence and love. There he
stands on the Sth OF April, An old msn
with giant mind and eagle eye, tn,
scowling brows of the Tories bent upoa
him, the fealty OF his own sdherents
wavering. the Queen frowDing on him.
and disaster and defeat grimly confront
ing him there be stands-as once stoo!
Buss before the Council OF Constsnc.
or as Luther stood before the Diet OF
Worms, strong in the consciousness OF
his integrity-to plead for jostice-for
justice to Ireland; not for titles, gifts,
and honors, but for justice, simple JUS
tice, first, last, and altogether. As ve
read his magnificent utterances, as "
fancy that we hear them, and as We iind
ourselves agreeing that at the heart OF
the remedy ne proposes "the soclsI
happiness, the power, and the perma