Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-18

u1 Banquet took place.
corning athletics and their influence upon
manhood and muscle. He said We must
not now look To- home and plantation
lfc 20 build mp the muscle ana shc"
and manly vigOr necessary 10 preserve the
greatness ANA integrity Of the men OF the
South but We must look 10 the gym
nasium and backgrounds and tracks OF
our universities and colleges. lie argued
against the degeneration OF athletics into
professionalism. insisted upon the cN r
else Of an the conserving influences IN
these matters. He asked all 10 throw
their influence I'm the direction Of up
building honorable athletics and the en-
couragement of that sense OF high. up
right. intelligent mauilness which has al
ways characterized the University Of Nir-
ginia. CApplause) Professor Thornton
spoke Of the great colleges all around US,
whose ambitions Were the obtaining OF
Victories, and urged that only honorable
and fair contention for honest supremacy
should be the aim OF the students and
almuni Of the University Of Virginia.
HON. WILLIAM l.. WILSON.
Professor Thornton's speech was fol-
lowed by tremendous applause and the
playing Of cell Bananas March" by the
orchestra. President Meredith then arOs 2,
and in ornate and appropriate remarks
introduced Postmaster-G neral William l..
Wilson. whose character. Mr. Meredith
said. had been marked by love of pr1nci-
pie rather than love Of gain. The men
ton Of the name Of Mr. Wilson brought
the vast asscmblage 10 its feet. and
evoked a great outpurst OF enthusiastic
applause.
MIR. Wilson's toast was 1.-THE Scholar
In Politics" He thanked the gathering
most heartily for the manner of his re-
ception. and modestly deni a that he was
worthy Of the eulogsm accorded him. lie
had no difficulty in establishing here his
claims of being a Nirgnian. lie was
reared I'm her schools, and fed unon her
inspiring traditions. He bore nom Of her
honors and unfortunately bore none of
her diplomas. Npplause) Before he
could have achieved such he was called
away 20 enter into the struggles Of th'
late war. II was his privilege Few
nights ago 10 gather with the alumni
Of tn university in the city Of Wash
incton. Then he thought that if Mr..
jefferson could have looked In upon that
ass mbage he would have felt that his
university had either turned out a great
many statesmen. or It's students had been
unusually fortunate in the matter Of Sc
curing public offices. There We're present
on that occasion as the representatives
OF the University OF Virginia one fourth
Of the Presidents Cabinet. and many
others filling official positions Of less i'm
portanc' This occasion c0mmemorued
i'm "a manner the life OF jefferson. il COM
memorated him as the highest type Of the
scholar i'm politics. High political educa-
ton was the foundation of Democratic
institutions. and high self-gOyernment.
jefferson taught that enlightenment of
his people which alone could make them
the guardians OF their own liberty lie
was the example OF the scholar who be-
heved that politics WAS the high 50 duty
Of his life and the most responsible and
serious of his undertakings Appause)
The speaker said If there was ever a
time when 10 was necessary for every man
in this land 10 do his duty as citz n.
as a patriot as q politician. 1t was this
time The politics of this land had un-
dergone change since the days of
Thomas jefferson Mr.. Wilson dealt with
the VeX.ng questions Of the day briefly,
and spoke of tn- need FOR the enlighten-
ment of public opinion or the passing
through OF much bitter. hard disa ppOint-
menL The function OF the scholar in
politics was the enlightenment of the |
people. and nowhere could better pre- |
paration b. made for this mission than |
"a such great school of learning as thai |
whose anniversary the celebration OF |
which he had just referred to commemo- |
rated. lGredt appldusee
NEED CIVIC HEROIsM.
Mr. Wilson spoke OF the need Of self |
sacrifice and the necessity Of civic hero
ism. The present Of this country was |
not a military present, nor was its fu- |
ture military future. But as We 20 for
ward 10 solve these great economic pro-
llcms We need the civic heroism. not
what works for the advantage Of the
lay. but what Is for the good Of the
utGre Il was this spirit that could
withstand popular credit, popular az
popular delusOn. and |
popular influences, aud for which our
and now cried 1t was just at this time
hat the queck politician, with his quack
emedics, was heard throughout the |
and 10 was at this time that II the
University Of Virginia would seek to
uide and not follow. and 10 teach hon
ST. upright principles that II would
ave served the purposes for which IL
vas founded Great entnusiasm) There
vas no reason to-day that the South
hould not assume her old-time. position
D the politics Of the United States, and !
mere was no reason why any alumnus
Z this university should not attain as
igh and hOnored a position In this coun-
~ as any other man frOm any other
elton Of this Union. There was no rea'
1n to-day why any Nlrginian or any
IAN in the South should not strive 10
ehlcve the highest ana most munihcent
ositlcn within the gift Of the people
pom the issues Of the past. Crremendous
oplause. followed by the university yen ,
nd pixie" by the orchestral
Judge Minor proposed three cheers 70 !
rover Cleveland for having appointed
on. william L. Wilson as Postmaster ,
eneral Of the United States. The roof ,
the Commonwealth club was there !
re promptly shaken with the resound- [,
K cheers which ensmed. ,
THE UNIVERSITY. !
The third toast was THE University 7
virginia." 70 which Professor William $
Abbott made brilliant and eloquent .