Iron County register., 1892-03-03
ANN ARBOR'S GUEST.
Grover Cleveland Warmly Re-
ceived at the University.
A Glowing Tribute to the First President
of the United States-A Strong Appeal
for the Cultivation of the Pa
triotic Sentiment.

of the United States-A Strong Appeal
for the Cultivation of the Pa
triotic Sentiment.
Ex-President Grover Cleveland was
accorded an enthusiastic reception by
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 dig.
nitaries of the state. Mr.. Cleveland
delivered the following eloquent ora
ton:
Among the few holidays which the rush and
hurry of American life concede to US. surely no
one of secular character is so suggestive and
impressive as the day we celebrate on this occa-
sion. We not only commemorate the birth OF
the greatest American who ever lived, but we
recall as inseparably connected with his career
ell the events and incidents which led up to the
establishment of free institutions in this land
OF ours, and eliminated in the erection Of our
wondrous nation.
The University of Michigan, therefore, most
appropriately honors herself and does fitting
public service by especially providing for such
an observance of the day as is calculated to
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 to
express the qualification it affords me, as a
member of the legal profession, to know that
the conduct OF these exercises has been COM
mitted to the classes of the law department OF
the university. There seems to me to be a
propriety in this, for 1 have always thought
the influences surrounding the practice and
study of the law should especially induce a
patrio ic feeling. The business of the profess
sion is related to the enforcement and operation
of the laws which govern people; and it's
members, more often than those engaged in
other occupations, are called to participation
in making these laws. Besides, they are con-
stantly brought to the study Of the fundamental
law of the land, and familiarity with it's his
tory. Such study and familiarity should be
sufficient of themselves to increase man S love
of country; and they certainly cannot fail to
arouse his veneration for the men who laid the
foundations of our nation sure and Steadfast in
q written constitution, which has been declared
by the greatest living English statesman to be
1.-The most wonderful work ever struck off at q
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, ana
he best knew that without this consolidation a
wasting war, the long and severe privations and
sufferings his countrymen 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 nation is traceable to his efforts. The cir
cular letter he sent to the governors of the
states early as the close of the war of the
revolution, contained the germ of the constitu-
ton, and all this was recognized by his unani-
nous choice to preside over the convention that
framed L,
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, it is entirely clear that the university her
self furnishes to all her students most useful
lesson, when, by decreeing the observance Of
this day, she recognizes the fact that the
knowledge of books she imparts is not COM
pete fuillment of her duty and comedies
that the education with which she so well
equips her graduates for individual success in
life and for business and professional usefulness
may profitaby be supplemented by the stimu-
laticl of their patriotism and by the direction
of their thoughts to subjects relating to their
country's welfare. 1 do not know how gen.
orally such observance of Washington's
birthday as has been here established prevails
ir other universities and colleges, but am
convinced that any institution OF learning in
our land which neglects to provide for the in
structive and improving observance OF this day
within its walls falls short Of it's attainable
measure of usefulness and omitS just and
valuable contribution to the general good.
There is great need of educated men in our
public life, but it is the need of educated men
with patriotism. The college graduate may be,
and frequently is more unpatriotic and less use
full in public affairs than the man who, with
limited education, has spent the years when
opinions are formed in improving contact with
the world instead of being within college walls
and confined to the study of books If it be true,
as is often claimed, that the scholar in politics
is generally failure, it may well be due to the
fact that during his formative period, when last
ing impressions easily received, his intellect
alone has been cultivated at the expense Of
wholesome and well regulated sentiment
speak to-day in advocacy of this sentiment.
1t 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 and memory of man. It has to do with the
NORA sense. 1t reverences traditions, 1t leaves
IDEAS it cherishes the means and the deeds OF
heroes and it worships at the shrine of patriot
ism. I plead for it because there is senti-
ment which in some features is distinctively
American, that we should never allow to Ian
guish
When we are told that we are practical and
common sense people, we are apt to receive the
statement with approval and applause. Weare
proud of it's truth and naturally proud because
it's truth is attributable to the hard work we
have had to do ever since our birth as nation,
way before we reach our determined destiny.
There is cause to suspect. however, that an
other and less creditable reason for our gratifi
cation arises from the feeling that there is
something heroically American in treating with
Indifference dersion all those things which
in our view do not directly and palpably pertain
to what call with much satisfaction practi-
cal affairs, but which, If we entirely frank,
we should confess might be called money-get-
ting and the betterment of individual condition.
Growing out of this feeling, an increasing diSpo-
siton is discernible among people, which
begrudges to sentiment any time attention
that might be given to business and which is
apt to crowd out of mind any thought not di-
rectly related to selfish plans and purposes
little reflection ought to convince US that
this may be carried much too far. IT is mis-
take to regard sentiment merely something,
which, if indulged has tendency to tempt to
idle and useless contemplation or retrospection
thus weakening in a people the sturdiness OF
necessary endeavor and diluting the capacity for
national achievement
1t is because George Washington completely
represented all the elements of American senti-
ment that every incident Of his life, from his
childhood to his death, is worth recalling
whether it impresses the young with beauty
and value of moral traits, or whether it exhibits
to the wiscst and oldest an example Of sublime
accomplishment and the highest possible public
service. Even the anecdotes told of his boyhood
have their value. 1 have no sympathy with
those who in these latter days attempt to shake
our faith in the authenticity of these stories, be-
cause they are not satisfied with the evidence
in their support, or because they do not seem to
accord with the conduct of boys in this genera
ton It may well be, that the stories should
stand and the boys of the present day be pitied.
At any rate these anecdotes have answered an
important purpose; and in the present state OF
the proofs, they should, in my opinion. be be-
lieved. The cherry tree and hatchet incident
and its cOmDanion declaration that the Father