Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-03
Alumni Address.

Alumni Address.
81 Mr.. H ENRY T. KENT OF ST. LOUIS, Mo.
The address to the Alumni of the Univer
'ity of Virginia was delivered last Wednes-
lay by Mr.. Henry T. Kent, of st. Louis,
Mo.
A correspondent of the Rich. Dispatch
says
the audience. Some of his points especial
ly those relating to the substitution Of ma
tional for sectional issues) called forth
great deal of applause.
Mr.. KENT's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Kent's theme was ga Plea for a
Homogeneous People and Stronger Ma
tional Spirit" Starting out with the as
sertion that this was an Anglo Saxon civil
lization he reviewed rapidly what the An
Clio Saxon people had done for the cause of
civil and religious liberty, and entered a
strong protest against making this country
the dumping ground for the earth's refuse.
He wanted the unclean taken away; those
who would destroy and not build up taken
back, and those who come with honest pur-
pose to become American in fibre and spirit.
In fortifying his position he referred to the
Anarchists outrages and trials in Chicago,
and said: Seven men received the DEATH
sentence; and be it said to the credit of our
country that but one of that number was
born upon the American soil. We have en-
acted laws which are wise, that the Mongo-
liam should no longer be admitted to our
shores. It is surely not sufficient that eau
casian blood alone should give the stranger
entrance. He must come prepared to live
up to the laws of our land, to yield willing
and cheerful obedience to them, to uphold
our institutions not by the formal obser-
vance of laws that cannot be evaded, but to
partake of the spirit of them as we'll.
Mr.. Kent then touched upon the public
school system, which he warmly commend.
ed, for through its teachings, be declared,
thousands that otherwise might be plague
spots upon US become the bone and sinew
of the country, and the best types of Amer
lean citizens; for the enlightenment of oul
people, after all, is the bulwark of oul
strength. We find striking illustration
of this, be added, in the policy of Germany
The Imperial Chancellor has issued his de.
crees, as new provinces have been brought
into the empire, that the German language
Against this many, learning different Ian.
guage at their mothers breast, have REBEL.
ed; but Bismarck was right. By the for.
tunes of war they had become part of the
German empire. The language of it's
schools should be that of its laws. None
knew better than he the necessity of this
step to produce homogeneous people, and
thereby build up the unity of the greatest
empire of Europe; from whose form of gov.
eminent we may dissent, but whose vigor
and intelligence we all admire. What he
(the speaker) pleaded for was more thar
| legally made citizens. "We want them fir.
ed with the true spirit of our country and
its institutions, homogeneous people, thor
oughly Americanized."
Closely allied to the desire for a homo
| generous people was the plea, commended
Mr.. Kent, for national spirit, though he
| did not wish this to be construed into de
mand for stronger centralized powers. He
paid high tribute to Virginia for calling
| the Anna polls convention, and towards the
close of his address said:
Gas educated men whose young manhood
was passed here amid scenes which moved
you to a love of country, see to it that oul
splendid civilization is not marred by I'M
sympathetic hands and that the Govern
ment shall not exist in form alone, but thai
q higher national life demands and exactt
stronger and more aggressive nationa
spirit. Gather up these Heterogeneous,
elements strand here and strand there
and knit them into tt bonds of strong
er unity. A homogeneous people marching
forward under the benign influences of ou
Government will present to the world ar
unconquerable host.
"Upon their shields let there he emblaz
oned the principles of our Anglo Saxor
growth aud development-Civil Liberty
that protects rather than abridges the right
of the Individual, that exalts individuality
declaring eternal war against privileged
classes under whatever guise they MAJ
arise; Religious Liberty, that guarantees t.
all men freedom of conscience and the RICH
to worship according to its dictates, bu
stands with drawn sword to avert any at
tempted union of Church and State. Thes,
are the royal lions that guard the NUM-
ment of cur national glory. Rooted ant
grounded in these principles, homogene
Gus, courageous, intelligent, and patriot,
people can appeal to the judgment of man
kind for approval, gazing into the fctur'
with firn assurance of civilization re
splendent with progress and development
for good that knows neither limits no
bounds -
This brief synopsis conveys but fain
impression of the beauty and force of Mr.
Kent's address.
At the close of this speech the audienc;
called for Lee, and amid the most tremen
deus enthusiasm Governor Fitz. Lee came
to the front OF the rostrum.
THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS.
Gov, Leo said that he eagerly embraced