The morning news., 1894-06-13
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
Chauncey NJ. Depew Speaks Before
the Literary Societies.

the Literary societies.
Richmond. June IA Charlottesville
special to the Dispatch SAYS: THE com
mencement exercises at the University Of
Virginia were continued to-day at the
Joint celebration of the jefferson
and Washington literary societies.
I Hon. Chauncey NJ Depew, the
orator OF the occasion. and his
party. consisting of his son, Miss Pauld-
ing and Miss Hegeman, arrived in their
private car early this morning. One Of
the largest and most fashionable au-
diences that ever assem- bled at the institu-
tiOn was present, aud crowded the spaci-
Gus hall to its utmost capacity. Hampton
Gary president of the joint societies, in
troduced Mr.. Depew, who spoke, in part,
as follows:
Certainly in Virginia with its record Of IN
mixed descent. as long and clear as that OF any
American commonwealth, the influence of
heredity will not be doubted The blood and
traditions OF colonial and revolutionary times
are stll the potential power in the public
spirit and private lives Of the people Of this
state. In no department of human training
and activity are the history and teaching OF
the past so important as in an institution of
learning. Oxford and Cam bridge are Univer-
stiles composed OF many colleges. The grad
uate carries through life the diploma of the
university; but his mind and character are
mol1ed by his college Each Of these yea
eraDleschools indelIbly stamps its alumni with
the Impress Of its foundation ana develop
ment.
1t is a singular fact that Yale and Harvard
and the University OF Virginia were each
born. from the brain OF a single founder.
Elhu Yale and John Harvard builded their
colleges that the Puritan pulpit might lie sup
pied with learned teachers. Thomas Jeffer-
son projected this university, that the state
might be served by broad and liberalminded
men. In $50 years these two great New Eng
land seats OF learning have evoluted beyond
the dreams. and possibly the wishes of their
creators. The orthodox divine, If called from
his ancient surroundings and placed on the
campus at Cambridge, amidst its babel
OF creeds. and option of faiths, would
first be bewildered at the marvellous growth
OF his idea. and then doubt whether its growth
and varied and splendid advantages were not
the devices of the devil to draw students
from the higher duties Of a spiritual life I he
Rev. Ehhu Yale, if reincorporated under the
Cathedral elms of New Haven and taken by
student Of to-day through the departments
and schools which so superbly equip as
university the college he planted
and through the gymnasium, the ball field
sututed muscular training for scholastic re-
tlrement, would find something Of the teach
lngs he believes most important. but a
freedom of thought and action and a selection
OF churches by the student, which might make
him doubt, from his Puritan standpoint,
whether saving grace had not been sacrificed
to intellectual development. The trend of
the mind and the tendency of advancing
years is to enlarge the field of mental activity
by breaking down the barriers reared by the
fathers who dlstrusted Liberty. The Puritan
restrictions bred rebellion, and they have
been swept away. but Puritan pluck and
energy. Puritan ambition and indomitaole
purpose to explore and to conquer, are sull
the spirit and hope of Yale and of Harvard.
When Jefferson founded his university upon
theory directly the opposite of the famous
Puritan ministers and scholars, a spasm Of
rear was followed by predictions OF disaster.
We were in the first quarter of the nineteenth
century. but the seventeenth and the piuh-
teenth century stIll held religious opinions
by the throa& The results within these halls
have been a signal triumph for liberty. The
freedom which was to sap the foundations of
belief, and send forth lntdel youth to under
mine the church and ultimately destroy so
clety, has proved the bulwark of church ana
state. With eager and unhampered will it
has sought for truth and found il. Free and
enlightened conscience. and trained and fear
less judgment working together. have
wrought our opinions and practices in har-
mony with American faith and development.
There is nothing more poetic and pathetic
in the story of statesmen than the creation Of
the University of Virginia. The evening and
the morning kissed each other, and the mel
low splendor of the setting sun prepared the
world for the brilliant light of the rising ORB
OF day. The Sage Of Monticello had passed
his three score years and ten. and by age
and eminent service to his country was en-
TITLED to peace ana rest The author of the
declaration OF independence and the father
OF the bill for establishing religious freedom
ident Of the United states for two mem
orable terms found himself when past
seventy, hopelessly involved in financial
difficulties. The burden would have crushed
many younger man. But Jefferson, rising
like the Phoenix, from the ashes of his prl-
vate fortune, projected college. "on plan
broad liberal and modern" This noble
foundation may not trace its lineage back to
the dark ages, and its three-quarters of a
century may seem but a span to Oxford and
Heidelberg. The light of its birth is better
than centuries ofa cropping toward the dawn.
II has no rags to burn, or preJudices to slough
OFF. The formulator in maxim of the rights
OF man is its father, and his life and career
are its inheritance and inspiration
At the close of Mr.. Depew's oration,
which was heartily received and loudly
applauded, the shouts for Vice President
Stevenson were deafening The Vice
Presideat responded briefly but happily,
paying a high tribute to MIR. Depew and
TO the University of Virginia. and calling
upon the collegemen to go west, especially
to his state, where, they were assured,
rich harvests awaited them, and
especially if they strive to maintain the
principles of Mr. jefferson and their
alma mater. He did not touch upon pub
lie questions at all.