Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-12
COMMENCEMENT WEEK
THE ADDRESS OF HON. s. B. RLKINS BEFORE
TIE SOCIETIES
OF The Sas Univsrsity-@Amsrican GrlinhOn'
its Promise and lis Psrils-lmp0rtant
Meeting Of the Board Of Rsgs,s-
New Chairs Filled.
s,,cior 7t,,oraz 10 ths Rsoiss.


tonight was the event Of commencement
week. The large hall was crowed to over
flowing with an audience that accorded
the eminent orator the most apprecistive
attention. Mr.. Elkins was introduced by
the society representative and spoke as fol-
lows:
After six thousand years Of recorded ef
fort, civilization, in its journey with the
sun, " has encircled the globe. Its metes
and bounds are fixed. The future holds
for it no more territorial conquests. 1t
cannot find relief, as in times PAST, from
the dangers that grow with its growth and
constantly threaten its existence, by the
discovery of new worlds. In America, civ
llization, to insure its own progress and
preservation, must meet these dangers and
confront the oncoming problems face to
face without chance of retreat.
Fifty centuries ago the restless ArJan
parted company with his Mongolian neigh.
Dor under the shadow Of the great Hims-
layas. Leading the course Of empire, this
heroic blood, conquefipg all before il, has
gradually moved westward, until it has
reached the last barrier. the Pacific Ocean.
Over this wide stretch of waters the
Occident salutes the Orient, the West
clasps hands with the East, the New
speaks 10 the Old.
American civilization is the heir of all
the ages. 1t draws its forces from the
whole mighty past. Appropriating and
sabsorbing the best elements Of Europe,
Possessing urrivaled physical and indus
trial advantages, it should be distinctive in
character, aggressive and vigorous, enabled
TO understand and solve the problems
which thus far have baffled society and
overcome the dangers that have wrecked
all former civilizations.
AMERICAS ADVANTAGES.
The physical position of the United
States on the globe is commanding and i'm
portant. Her territory measures the
width of q continent which is washed by
two oceans 1t contains q population OF
more than 81, 600, 900 of free people, in
creasing at the rate of nearly 1000 600 per
annum, the sun going down on s, 900 more
people each day. 1t has $50, GOO miles OF
railroad, 100000 miles of telegraph
lines, Is, 900 miles of ocean and lake
coast, 10000 miles of navigabls
rivers, over and along which is car
ried and transacted trade and commercs
which amounts to fifty thousand million
dollars per annum. In aid of industria
progress the people Of the United States
enjoy go, 900 inventions protected by pat
ents. The value of agricultural and manu-
factured products amounts annually 4
more than thirteen thousand million dol
lars. The annual gross receipts of one o
their railway systems amount to more thai
the income of the oldest empire of tn
world, with four hundred million populs
ton. Government bonds sell at pre-
: mum of 25 per cent. The national treas
: ury is overhowing, and Congress and th
Executive are embarrassed by the increas
: ing volume of revenues.
9 The seeds of life and death seem to
3 planted in every organism. Civilization
+ is no exception to this general rule;
holds within itself the germs of its owl
a destruction. Of the man serious problem
e before our nation, two may singled ont 70
a special emphasis:
: THE RACE PROBLEM.
: American civilization has forced upon
the race problem, always difficult and dit
turbing to the repose of nations. Aftt
much delay Chinese migration has bee
stopped, and pauper immigration checked
Such measures are healthful and in tn
interest of security, they should be er
, courssed, until only the moral and indus
}, dustrious Of other countries should b
q permitted to become the guests of tn
!. Republic" The Negro race in the Sout
numbers about seven million or NOR
= than twice our population when th
l. Constitution was adopted. 1t has multi
i piled eight times in century. If the sam
r increase is maintained for another century
If the same increase is maintained for al
y other century, it will about equal in nun
Der the present population OF the Unite
States. The general condition Of affairs
the South, since the war, has been naturi
= and logical. The war left the two races
!. their changed condition on the same sol
: under the same skiss, and in the sau
:, homes and places. Neither race could &
~ !, relief by retiring, In these new and tr.
= ing circumstances, for which neither WI
:, prepared, in open antagonism, they wei
'e forced to begin the work solving the ra,
:, problem. History furnishes no parable
:, to situation so difficult for both sides.
&c The true solution of this question wi
come when both races divide on econom
:. and industrial questions and distribu
= themselves between the two great partis
The black man will then have the symp
" thy and support of his white neighbor al
. get all his rights under the law.
d THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM.
III If the South has race problem fore
q, upon, the North is concerned with the cla
g. problem, which will press as severely
consideration. After the experience of q
, past few years, the blindest optimist q
I'll not fail to zee that the industrial questi
9, is fairly raised.
to Of the various aspects of the industri
Id problem one is pre- eminently importar
n. Carlyle said: "a man willing TO work al
Of unable to find work is perhaps the ssddt
sight that fortunes inequality eIhi, its q
be der the SUM-" There Us always emplo
'ic ment for the person that Knows how 10
useful things and do them sell.
re The State should not undertake to e,
ne employm for its citizens but il shou
u afford them an opportunity to win at les
manual training or an industrial educ
ton, SO that they msy be aided in findi
employment.
'st The people of the United States enjoy
great public system Of education. 1t
r. yielding good results. II should, ho
IN ever, be broadened, so as to embrace ms
ual training and industrial education, 50
'as as the States of Europe, particularly El
nd land, France, Germany, Austria and ltal
a are encouraging, to degree never befo
tly known. schools for teaching nearly
In the trades, among them weaving, desit
lie. ing, dyeing. and dairy farming are bel
bet established and endowned by the COVE
nd ment-
be In the United States, encourAgemi
"a should be given to establish industI
ks schools, foster technical education, enlist
lth best scientific ability in behalf OF indus
bis for something better than the mere dey
in opment Of trads-that the people may q
employment st remuneratiye wages Q
et- be contented. The age 10 industri