The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1892-03-05
ANN ARBOR'S GUEST,
Grover Cleveland Warmly Re-
ceived at the University.
A Glowing Tribute to the First PresIdent
of the United StRtes-A Strong Appeal /.
for the Cultivation Of the Pa
triOtlc Sentiment,

6enNAnanNN
Ex-President Grover Cleveland was
accorded an enthusiastic reception bv
the law students and people of Ann
Arbor on February ~, upon his arrival
to participate III the celebration of
Washington's birthday, and at the
meeting in the law university. at which
were present many of the leading dir.
nitaries of the state. Mr.. Cleveland
delivered the following eloquent ora.
tion:
Among the few holidsys which the rush and
hurry Of American life concede to us, surely An
one of seculer character is so suesestiye and
impressive as the day we celebrate on this occa-
sion. We not only commemorate the birth NJ
the greatest American who ever lived, but wa
recall as inseparably connected with his career
ali the events and incidents which led up 10 the
establishment OF free institutions Ia this land
OF ours, and eliminated In the erection of our
wonlrous nation.
The University Of Michigan, therefore, most
appropriately honors herself and does q fttinR
public service by especially providing for sucS
an observance Of the day as Is calculated IN
turn to the contemplation Of patriotic duty the
thoughts Of the young men whom she is soon To
send out to take places IN the ranks Of American
citizenship.
hope it may not be out of place for me Ia
express the qualification It affords me, A A
member OF the legal professfun, to know that
the conduct Of these exercises has been com.
United to the classes Of the law department os
the university, There seems to me to be a
proprfety IN this, for 1 have always tAeuHht
the influences surrounding the practice and
study OF the law should especially induce a
patriotic feeling. The business of the nrofes.
sion is related to the enforcement and operation
OF the laws which govern our people, and ia
members, more often than those engaged in
otner occupations, are called TO participation
In making these laws, Besides, they are com
stantlJ brought to the study Of the fundamental
law oil the land, and a familiarity with its his.
tory. Such study and familiarity should Ia
Suthctont OF themselves to increase mans love
OF country; and they certainly cannot fail to
arouse his veneration Tor the men who laid the
foundations OF our nation sure and steadfast in
written constitution, which has been declared
Dy the Greatest living English statesman to be
the most wonderful work ever struck of at
given time by the brain and purpose Of man"
washington had more to do with the forma.
tion OF the constitution than our enthusiasm for
other phases Of the great work he did for his
country usually makes prominent He fought
the battles which cleared the way for it. He
best knew the need of consolidating under one
government the colonies he had made free, and
ne best knew that without this consolidation a
Wasting war, the long and severe privations and
suiIer1ngs his countrylNen had undergone and his
own devoted labor in the cause of freedom were
practically in vain. The beginning Of anything
like public sentiment looking to the formation
OF our nation is traceable to his efforts. The cir
cular letter he sent to the governors Of the
states as early as the close of the war Of the
revolution, contained the germ of the constitu.
uon, and all this was recognized by his unani-
nous choice to preside over the convention that
in "a
But whatever may be SAID of the argument
presented in support Of the propriety of giving
the law classes the management Of this celebra-
ton, 1t is entirely clear that the university her.
self furnishes to all her students a most useful
lesson, when, by decreeing the observance Of
TINS day, she recognizes the fact that the
knowledge Of books she imparts is not com
plete fulf1llment of her duty, and comedies
that the education with which she SO well
equips her graduates for individual success in
lie and for business and professional usefulness
may prohtably be supplemented by the stimu-
lation OF their patriotism and by the direction
OF their thoughts to subjects relating to their
country's welfare. I do not know how gem
orally such an observance Of Washington's
birthday as has been here established prevails
IN other universities and colleges, but 1 am
convinced that any institution of learning in
our land which neglects TO provide for the in.
structlFe and improving observance Of this day
measure OF usefulness and omits a Just and
valuable contribution to the general good.
There is great need OF educated men in our
public life, but 1t is the need of educated men
with patriotism The college graduate may be-
ana frequently is, more unpatriotic and less use
tul IN public affairs than the man who, with
limited education, has spent the years when
opinions ore formed in improving contact with
the world instead of being within college walls
and confined to the study of books II 1t be true,
rs is often claimed, that the scholar in politics
is generally failure, it may well be due to the
iact that during his formative period, when last
ing Impressions are easily received his intellect
alone has been cultivated at the expense Of
"ho1esome and well-regulated sentiment,
speak to-day in advocacy of this sentiment,
II is not found in extreme and exclusive mental
culture neither is it found in the busy marts of
trade nor in the confusion Of bargaining, nor in
the mad rush after wealth. Its home is in the
soul ana memory of man. 1t has to do with the
moral sense. 1t reVerenceS traditions it leaves
ideas, it cherishes the means and the deeds OF
heroes and It Yorships at the shrine Of patriot
ism. plead for it because there is a senti.
ment which in some features is distinctiyelv
guish
When we are told that we are practical and
common sense people, we are apt to receive the
statement with approval and applause Weave
proud OF its truth and naturally proud because
lts truth is attributable to the hard work we
nave had to do ever since our birth as a nation
ana because of the stern labor we still see in our
way pe1ore we reach our determined destiny
Inore is cause to suspect, however that an
other and less crediiable reason for our gratifl-
cation arises from the feeling that there is
something heroically American in treating with
indifference or derision all those things which
IN our view do not directly and palpabiy pertain
70, 70 wnat we call with much satisfaction practi-
n knuk 81.
we should confess might be called monev-pet-
ting and the betterment Of individual condition
GROWING out OF this feeling, an increasing dispo-
sltlon is d1scernible among our peonle which
oegrudges to sentiment any time OF attention
that might be given to business and which Is
spy 70 crowd out OF mind any thought not di-
Eeetly related TO selfish plans and purposeAl
little reflection c.sht to convince ms that
This may be carried much too far. II e. a rnie.
take 70 regard sentiment as merely somethino
winch II indulged has a tendency to te1npt To
ldie ana useless contemplation or retfosDeetion
thus weakening in people the stiirdiness Of
neesssary enaeayor and diluting the capacity for
national achievement y ~
II Is because George Washington eovnnlatelv
represented ali the elements Of Anerican sa,sti
ment that every incident Of his life. from his
chlldhood to bis death, is worth yecalIiroN
Whether 1t impreSses the young with baa,,tv
ond value OF moral traits or whether IL eTbihits
" tnS Mlssst and Oldest an example of suhlima
accomplishment and the highest possible publie
service Even the anecdotes told Of M hoyhs1d
nave their value have no sympathy WITH
Inose VINO II these latter days attempt to sba4re
our faith in the authenticity Of these sto;s ~
cause they are not satisfied with the evidenca
~ TIER support, or because they do not seem Il,
accord with the conduct Of boys in mis- gsners,
sion i may we'll be, that me stories she,,d
STAND and the boys of the present day Be pitled
sAa a. any Iate these anecdotes have answered an
the proofs, they should in my opinion ~ ~.
hcved. The cherry tree and hatchet incident
end lis Communion dn.inr.a 80. .,-. ilolNeht