Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
ESPECIAL rn1resAm TO THE prsrArcu.l

heretofore been the Cornell Alumni Associa-
ton of this city. turned itself permanently
into the Cornell University Club at its
tenth annual dinner in the Hotel Bruins
wick tonight. About 15O alumni were
present and the invited guests included
President Charles Kendall Adams, of Cor
nell University; President E. Benjamin An
drews, of Brown University; Grover CIeve-
land, General Alfred @. Barnes and AlonZo
B. Cornell.
Mr.. Cleveland seemed happier than on
any recent public occasion, as he sat at the
left of President John Dewitt Warner, Of
the club, at the center OF the table of honor,
and right in front of the big mantel in the
banquet room, against which he leaned
back, putting cigar between laughs at the
hubbub OF college merriment before him.
He responded to the toastof ''The Nation,
the State, and the University" and began
by saying that the subject was one that
might have appalled, him. had he not
learned by actual experience how easily the
nation and the State could be got rid Of
IMMENSELY TICKLED.
That little pleasantly tickled the college
men immensely, and it was long time be-
fore Mr.. Cleveland could go on. When he
did he said:
l am confident that, no matter how carefully
man may compute his social assets, an item
here and there is certain to be left out, and he
is likely at any time to wake up and find
himself famous on account of some
thing Of which he never knew before.
If am not the inventor OF
this idea, claim at least. to be striking
- ffo fr.,fl, kha ffaa
come to ask me to be present here, may as
well confess that while l listened TO their
arguments upon the magnitude OF the
occasion with that patient fortitude
that a man acquires by long-continued
experience in hearing men express their anx-
iety to prove their patriotism BY filling Federal
offices. ILaughterl. My thoughts were actu-
ally engaged in framing the most courteons ,s
one of them called my attention TO the fact
that had been the only Governor Of New
York who had ever attended meeting Of the
Board of Trustees of Cornell in his capacity as
an ex-of6cio member.
IMPRESSED WITH HIS IMPORTANCE.
When thus found that had done some
thing that none Of my predecessors had ever
done, 1 was so impressed with my own import
ance that had to consent to come here. So
came here tonight to insist upon the fullest
recognitio Of the relation / bear to th uni
versity, and to exploit my new-found honor.
TLaughter.1 But, after all. seeing this body of
men and remembering what Cornell has done
for the advancement of the best interests Of
the state and the nation, 1 am entirely cured
OF any vanity as to my own share in 1t, and am
willing to rest my presence here solely upon the
fame of the university and the merits of the oc-
casion.
AS TO THE NATION.
Speaking of the nation, 1 find that in the
grant of Federal aid. which so largely assisted
in the foundation Of the institution it was pro-
vided that especial pains arc to be devoted 70
this promotlon-of agriculture and the mechanic
arts. In the charter granted by the State, 1 find
a precisely similar provision, and the further
requirement that admission should be free,
upon the smallest reasonable payment to all
alike .withOuE regard to previous condition.
These facts mean that the education Of the
people in agricultural and mechanical arts is
proper subject for Government aid. There
is also a recognition OF the fact that the good
of the nation and the State is subserved by
the education of all the people, without
regard to rank or class. They recognize the
fact that the people are the rulers Of the land
and that their education is the surest safeguard
But this assistance rendered by the State
exacts a compensation in the way of good /.
citizenship. Those who accept these benefits
incuT an obligation to the nation and the State \
that can neither be avoided nor compromised.
1t is an obligation to realize the duty Of citizen
ship, to inform themselves on public questions,
and to perform political duties with a purpose
to secure the welfare Of the entire country.
OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE.
Your diploma is evidence not alone of the
fact of your graduation, but also Of the fact
that you have owe a service to the nation. OF
this the alumni of Cornell should at all times
be proud, for everywhere, if true to duty,
they are among the foremost ranks in the noble
labor of achieving the grand and ultimate des-
tiny of the freest and best nation the world
has ever seen. If they still owe allegiance TO
the State of New York their PRIDE should be
increased. for they will be working for
the good of the grandest Common wealth
in all that the nation can number. SO, in the
State and in the nation you wear a badge of
good citizenship that was put upon you in the
halls of Cornell.
Concerning the affection due from you to the
University, it is unnecessary for me to
say how much to your alma mater you
owe Of reverence and love, but let me leave with
you one thought That is. that you cannot
honor your alma mater more than by keeping
live, active and sober apprehension at all
times of the duty you owe to the nation to the
State and to the university.
TALKED ABOUT GROVER.
President Adams answered for ''the Uni
Fersity," and Stewart L. Woodford, in re-
sponse to Ezra Cornell" made speech
about Grover Cleveland, with some casual
references to Mr.. Cornell, and wound
up with the hope that the
alumni would "neVer be ashamed of
being citizens, never be ashamed of being
partisans, and never forget that the success
full party of the future will be the one that
works for the advancement of the true inter-
Cd e Al