The state chronicle., 1893-06-07

" ""S " ump, QOiOlng
the balance of power is to be felt in
the land, and the political policies
OF the future will depend more
upon the characters of the leaders
than now. Then will the dema-
gogue give way to the practical
| statesman.
| Mr.. L, h. Swink spoke of our
| debt to the Southern Journalist j"
They encouraged US during the
period of reconstruction, did away
with negro domination" and over
| threw "carpet-bag rule" They
have been leaders in the great de.
velopment of the South in material
prosperity, and when, during the
last politicsl campaign, one class
was arrayed against another, thew
poured Oil upon the troubled waters
and Gained the political sea. To
them we must look for the solution
OF the negro problem, the abolition
OF sectional strife, and the roofing
out Of all our social evils No
broader field Of usefulness presents
itself to our young men, or apnaals
more strongly to men oi talent and
| education.
| Mr.. L. II. Hickson's subject was
Natural Forces in Human Action"
Inc forces Of nature, like the social
anu political forces are the pro-
duct Of growth, a growth to fl
tue earth to be dwelling place
Tor man. The progress man makes
depends upon his ability to grapple
wlth the forces Of nature around
him. The Greeks environment
made the Greek the foremost man
O. the world. Americas physical
features will il tine make the
American the best product of hu-
! manity.
The following poem was read by
Mr' T. Payson Willard, of Wilming e.
| Son, class poet of the graduating
class OF the University, at the class
! day exercises.
The old poplar referred to is the
| tree under which Gen. Davie and
other Revolutionary heroes took
lunch when prospecting for site
tor the University. 1t was struck
by lightning the year the Univer
slty was suspended, and remained
apparently dead until the Univer-
s1ty was reopened in 1875. It is now
the most majestic tree in that won
dertnlly grand campus at Chapel
Hill.
OUR ALMA MATER-A BACKWARD GLANCE.
As one who dreams, and for the time
unheeding
Earth, It's sorrows, toll, snd woe, sol
Once felt. 1t seemed as thouoh the sonI
unfettered
From this earthly clay had gone to seek
its kindred nature in the Universe
That Umnipresence, by whose mighty
power
Nan first was, and all his sections
guided
Powerless l seemed to be. a-d horne
along
BY some deep-hidden force "a presence
Yet not psrceived) attained the highest
peak
Of Bolus' Mount-and there we stopt.
And now the presence spoke and
seemed to say:
"Iook Turn thy vision sorthwa~d
man!
and see what time has done for thee
the which
For mortal ne'er was done before.
looked,
The cloud which shields the actions of
the past,
Seemed lifted, and | saw the selfsame
village,
flacec, as 1t We're, one hundred years
aback:
| saw yon hosry poplar, whose mighty
trunk
Is deeply ribbed and Scared with age
and blast.
Fen then it was a noble tree, beneath
nose Kindly shade the simple country
folk
" ould rest, returning from their humble
trade.
The day seemed one of gladness aud
good cheer;
Around a table made of roupb-bewn
boards,
AND holding wasssil high with merry
A bsnd of chieftains sat-men whose
power
VI brain and Drawn was matched with
England's best
And came off victors in the fight.
Twas here the germ was planted, in
Enriched with truth and fostered with
Well worthy of the fruit it was to Weld;
Twas then this institution first saw
light,
And like tender plsnt, with timidness
1t entered. Methought I saw those mon
of might
Davie, and Moore,a Mebane and a Hill
STOPPING with kindly touch to guide
Alright
Their precious charge in future years
The noblest Plant that Nature ever
formed
But now tie scene is changed the
vision fades,
And l, like one who dreams within q
dream,
Was lost to self again, and waking.
found
4 sight to thrill the soul. 1t WAS as
though