The record-union., 1894-03-07
EX-PRESIDENT HARRISON.
FIRST OF HIS LAW LECTURES AT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
The Constitution of the United States
and the History of It's Develop
ment and Adoption.
Special to the REooRD-UN1ox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
| SAN Francisco, March 6.-Ex-Presi-
dent Harrison to-day delivered the first
of his course of law lectures at the Stan
ford University The lecture to-day was
devoted to the history and development
of the Constitution. of the United States
and the causes leading up to its adoption.
The ex-President was listened to with
great attention by the students. The
| lecture was long, making in print about
seven newspaper columns. To-day it
was listened to exclusively by students,
but it will be repeated tomorrow, when
people from outside the university will
! be admitted.
| General Harrison referred briefly to
! his friend the late Senator Stanford, and
said he would reserve further tribute to
the virtues of his friend until March 9Th,
| the anniversary of Stanford's birth.
| Commencing his lecture, he said: 81
am glad to have even so slight and casual
| a part as that of nonresident lecturer in
the work of this young but already great
university. If my presence is only occa-
slonal and my contact with these eager
minds and generous hearts less near and
constant than L could wish, 1 must the
more be careful that whatever direction /
may give to your thoughts, and what
| ever impulse may kindle in your mind,
| shall be true and elevating. though they
| be small. The lectures which l contem-
plate will be rather popular than techni-
| cal, especially while we have under con-
| sideration the Constitution OF the United
States and the history of its development
and adoption.
''If the National Constitution were in
fact what Mr.. Gladstone described it to
be-a most wonderful work struck off at
a given time by the brain and purpose
| of man--tne work of the commentator
would be abbreviated, if not simplitied.
| He would not need to go back. 1t was,
however, not work struck of at given
| time, but in a strong sense the develop
| ment OF the ripe, harmonious fruit of eX
perience, and not discovery or revela-
tion. The adjustment of National and
State Governments was more nearly than
anything else the original and con-
structive. AS whole, it is perhaps more
nearly, but not altogether, what Mr..
Gladstone described the British Constitu-
ton TO bean organism which has pro-
ceeded from progressive history. This
| being true. we cannot rightly estimate
the merits of its trainers nor rightly
understand its articles, without some
knowledge of the historical progression
which eliminated in this admirable and
enduring civil organism.
81 cannot in these preliminary lectures,
however, do more than give you hasty
and not very closely connected outline of
those events and civil contentious which,
beginning in old England, resulted first
in the establishment of popular govern
! ments in the colonies and States, and
finally spread over these necessary and
inestimable local systems OF national
popular government, supreme in all
things, affecting the common interests of
all people. My aim is not SO much to
make lawyers as to promote broad and
Intelligent American citizenship. Our
civil institutions are safe only while in
the keeping of a generation that loves
them. and love of institutions, however it
| be with another sort, must be educated.
We guard and keep our treasures. That
which is not valued we suffer others to
| take without resistance. 1t will be my
| purpose to show you the beauty, strength
| and adaDtation of the Constitution of the
love of our institution deeper and more
intelligent.
~ will not ask you to love everything
! that is American, but l will ask you to
shun the example of those who love
everything for no better reason than that
il is not American. American history
and biography have had a great revival
in these centennial years. and every
| voung American should eagerly avail
himself of his improved opportunities to
become acquainted, not only with the
/ rrraat events in ousrhistory and with our
great men, but with the connecting
Chains of small events, and with the
characteristics and virtues OF the incon-
spicuous but sturdy people. IL is not my
,lprnose to describe what an illustrative
friend of mine calls the prenatal pro-
phesy and preparation of our country.
! s st1dy of English history and the Eng
lish Constitution will greatly aid you in
the understanding OF our colonial history
and of the developments of our National
and State Constitutions, but L cannot go
very far into that field"