The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-06-13
CENTENNIAL COMMENCEMENT Of THE
STATE UNIVERSITY.

The State University is 100 tears
old. The centennial commencement
last week was a notable event in the
history of the State. 1t was the first
Southern university aud one of the
first in the United States. Every
State has since followed our example.
This great seat Of learning has
played an important part in the his
tory of the State and is one of its
most valued institutions.
One of the most notable features
of this commencement was the call
of the roll of classes on centennial
day. The first response was from
the graduating class of lS2i-Dr.
De Roseett, Of Wilmington. lie is
the oldest living alumnus. All who
graduated before have been called to
their final account.
From 1924 down to 1885 the
classes filed up, one after another, on
the rostrum. In some cases only one
was left to tell the story Of those who
had gone before. 4 number of
nearly every class who are living
wrote that they were too poor to go.
As class after class tramped mp
with their decimated ranks, and the
history of each member living aud
dead was told by member of the
class, the scene was at once trag &c
and pathetic, noble and inspiring
Thus large part of the history of
the State for over half century,
passed in review, while every breast
in the large audience was moved
with varied and mingled emotions.
The orators for centennial day
were Col. Waddell, of Wilmington,
and Mr.. A. IL. Eller. of Winston.
The former spoke for the old Uni
versity before the war; the latter for
the new University.
The speech of Col. Waddell was a
masterpiece of beautiful diction and
graceful delivery. The speech of
Mr.. Eller "a young man Of the class
of 1880, while no less beautiful in
diction, was master piece of broad,
progressive and stirring thought.
The class of 1885 and the whole
University should be proud of Mr..
Eller. Considering the time, the
circumstances and the occasion, his
speech was one of the most striking
and impressive ever delivered in the
State.
Mr.. London and DR.. Weeks both
read papers of rare historical value
Their productions should be pub.
lished and preserved.
The alumni banquet was another
notable feature of the exercises. The
State needed another building
for its University, but on account
of the condition of the treasury the
last legislature was unable to APP
propriate the money. The Alumni
of all ages, from 80 years dow1
to 1G, met and raised over $4,000
for this building to be known a
Alumni Hall. 1t will cost $4,000
and when completed the Alumni
will present It to the State as an ev
idence of their love and debt of graft
tude to the great Institution SO wise
y founded by our patriotic .Revolu
tionary ancestors. There is no Uni
versity IN America that has warme
hold on its sons than the Universit
of North Carolina:
The speeches of the College boy
were also noted for their originate
of thought and broad progressiv
spirit. The young man who got tn
Represent atiye Medal spoke on"Cor
porate Power" In a bold, strikln
and impressive speech he showed u
the growing and alarming evil in
tluence of private corporations owe
legislation and commerce. Their
are but few colleges in Americ
where student who spoke on sue
subject could have gotten Il media
even if he had the brain of Danit
Webster and the eloquence of d.
mosthenes. This young man wi
be heard from again.
Too many colleges are to create
or less extent either mere carns
denssfor old fogyism or hot, beds fe
teaching the poisonous doctrine {
trusts and the vested rights of M
nopolies. The former is the resu
of stagnation and dry rot arisin
from the domination of an effete a
. istocratic class; the latter the resu
of gold domination, arising fro
large endowments or gifts to tt
college from the millionaire heat
r of trusts and monopolies. The latt
evil is now the most prevelant al
, by far the most dangerous to Anne
/ lean liberty. The monopolies a
4 controlling many of our colleges al
e churches and this is anot
err case of the wolf j
e sleeps clothing. Not SO at Of
t own University. 1t is not only t
States University, but is the pc
pies University.
The speeches of the graduatil
d class were equally as striking. T.
speech that was graded seco1
= was by Mr.. Bristol On "Independen
: in Politics" He showed that o
% Of the greatest stumbling-blocks
i progress and good government was
e blind adherence to party name aft
e the party had deserted its princlp
!. and was lead by men who had |
d trayed the people. He said that t
lie good men who thus blindly follow
m such a party were the men who ma
}; , it possible for corruption to rule
It high places, who made it possible
n hard times to prevail in the midst
an abundance Of the products
n labor. If the author of this spec
I