New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
EZRA CORNELL'S LIFE WORK
CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEWS GLOWING TRIEUrE
STRETCHING TILE CAREER OF THE FOUNDER or
TIE GREAT COLLEGE OF ITHACA-A WISE
FORETHOUGHT THAT LED TO ULTIMATE
SUCCESS PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.

FORETUOCGHT THAT LED TO ULTIMATE
sUCCEsS-PRoGEEs OF EDUCATION
Ithaca, n. Y, Oct. AT the Cornell Uni
versty celebration here to-day Mr.. Depew
spoke follows:
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen-This is
American anniversary 1t celebrates life which
is representative of American conditions and OPP
portunties and university founded to meet the
practical necessities of American youth Cornell
the first of the great colleges to cultivate field
outside the lessons and traditions Of the medieval
schoolmen The exquisite pleasures is con
tact with the perennial youth Of our alma mat r.
Parties dissolve. friends grow cold, loved ones de-
part. and age becomes a solitude, but day with
the college revives the enthusiasms and ambitions
of the and puts us in touch with the hopes and
aspirations of the present. Patriotic or commemo-
rative celebrations ephemeral. The centuries
and their divisions which mark the recurring natal
days of these great and growing centres Of
learning eternal We admire or reverence past
events do statues or monuments. only when
in their presence. The fresh and stimula-
ting influences of college life ever with us Ideas
companions; facts are milestones Head and
heart are united In the sentiments and emotions of
USEFUL CAREER.
The life of Ezra Cornell is a lesson and an inspira-
ton. The study of his struggles and is a
liberal education. Our meeting would lose much of
its significance if ii failed to enforce the lesson
the career and commemorate the character of the
founder Sixty-fve years ago young Cornell, who
had just attained his majority and started out to
seek his fortune after walk Of forty miles, rested
upon one Of the hills overlooking this beautiful lake
This retcent Quaker was passonately fond of
ture and he was entranced by the superb pan
Drama spread out before him. Few places earth
possess so many scenic attractions. The only one
] know which compares with it is the view from
the Acropolis Athens with the plain of Mara thon
In front the Pentelic Mountains behind. and the
blue Aegean in the distance.
The young mechanic had neither friends nor
ouantances in the village which nestled at his feet
and his worldly possessions were all in little
bundle OH the end of the stick which served for STAFF
and baggage wagon. He had money and only
spare suit of clothes but with health. good habits,
ambition industry and perfect knowledge of what
ne intended 10 do, and an equal determination TO
do it, he entered Ithaca conqueror. No delega-
ton of citizens met him at the gates. no triumphal
procession bore him in chariot. no arches spanned
the streets but the who was to make this then
secluded hamlet known throughout the world had
done for Ithaca the greatest service could receive
by deciding to become its citizen. Though poor ne
was far removed poverty. His situation illus
,rates one of the hopeful features Of American con-
ditions Neither doubt despair was in his mind
He had found his place and knew he could improve
IT, He saw his ladder and began to climb. IL is the
genius people to get on and 1t is the pleasure
of the community 10 help and applaud Occasional
failures test the metal of the asprant and nara
knocks develop grit gelatin. There are unhap-
PLY suffering and hopeessness and helplessness
incident to the practical workings of the doctrine
Of the survival of the httest but Nlsor anu man
hood win their rewards
Faith and works were the principles Of Ezra
Cornell and the carpenters bench a platform
and preparation for larger enorts' Auaptd-
bility and concentration Of effort nave oe-
welcomed the resources Of the country Ihey
have opened mines in the mountains ana
transformed the prairies from wild wastes to heds
rich with golden grain and dotted with happy
homes They have suggested the inventions TO meet
the necessities Of the hour. They are American
characteristics They belong only to people who
are not trained in grooves and are not taught TO
plant their feet only in the deeply worn mouds
made in the pathway of time by the steps OF their
ancestors. With Mr.. Cornell these qualities were
superlative gifts AS a carpenter he improved the
methods of his village master; as mechanic he de-
vised machines which overcame unexpected dill
culties; as an unprejudced practical man he be
came familiar with the Of electricity while the
professor still lecturing upon it's dangers.
Morse had discovered the telegraph. and if he
had lived in earlier he would have been
either inoarcerated or ncinerated Bigots looked
with suspicion upon this possibly sacrilegious ts1ins
OF the invention and congressman regarded it with
bistrust. The inventor needed an undaunted and
tasts it's possibilities the public its beneh
and he found him in Ezra Cornell. who saw
mutations Of his I lie and the almost superhuman
the OF Of dns nd to-
because he had not the means to pay for mn meal a.
trusted for barrel Of -four But neither want nor
debt nor the sheriff could wrest from him his tele-
graph stock ] know OF more dramatic scene
in the lives of any Of our many successful men
t tram through the Highways and byways Of
penury suffering and Sickness. upheld by ms ms
recognition Suddenly the darkness was dispelled
and the day People WOKE up To e 6
commerce. and Cornelrs faith had coined for him
fortune.
RESPONSIBILITY OF WEALTH
In a country like ours. where so many accumulate
great wealth, its proper use and distribution are
becoming questions of national well as individual
interest. half century ago the subject UNI
known: a quarter of a century ago the public
thought little and cared less about It, but to-day 1t
threatens TO become the incentive to the solvent
OF socialism. The concentration OF riches and the
cultivation OF agrariansm have advanced with
equal pace. The recent political movements which
in States defeated both the national parties
were the expression at the polls OF the silent
forces whose growth and strength had been
noticed Though the principles of the new faith
are vague. incoherent and apparently absurd, the
underlying power which YIELDS and Yields them is
hatred and distrust Of property.
The objective point is at present the corpora
ton. But as the operation and necessity Of this
device for transacting business in which all as
stockholders participate is better understood.
the millionaire becomes the target. IT is at once
tho anomaly and the danger of the crusade that
II enists those who are themselves property hold
ers farmers house-owners tradesmen.
against those who have Selfish and osten-
tatious wealth is the most potent agency for pro-
noting the methods for its own dminutlon and
destruction by legislation. while the wise and gener
of money builds barriers for its protec-
ton.
The most arrogant and offensive manager of
money is often the who has endured and
suffered adversely. and finally becomes success.
He proudly boasts, 81 nothing to the world
and mo one did anything for me" lie is
neither sympathetic with the struggling nor sensi-
tive 10 duty. As a money-making machine he
incurs the enmty Of his fellows. and cares nothing
for their good will. With an increasing contempt
for those who fail TO get in business comes
a growing disparagement OF the value OF the