The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-12
COMMENCEMENT DAYS.
SOCIETY CELEBRA TONS At TIE
UNIVERSITY yesterday.
Mr. Parks Address on the New Soutb-His
References to the Recent Reunion
ut Chicago.

fore the literary SOcleier. Inc WIZ"
OF a Sentiment was the theme upon
which the speaker discoursed. In MS
opening remarks, he said;
"It Is a happy privilege 10 stand with
{, the walls OF this tlme-h0nOred Univer-
sl,v :. Born and reared under other
skies. 7 feel a pleasure | carnOt fitly eA-
nress in greeting the students OF an IN
sfifufion. which. I'm its history and In its
aims f. 40 noble a 8 pc OF this great ana
venerable Commonwealth.
",The occasion invites 10 frankness of
speech. You are students OF southern
college. Most Of you are Of southern
birth. while my blood comes from men
who were born under the light of the
Northern Star. But you asked me 10 come
here. and in the asking gave me your
hands I'm brave. honest. chyslric welcome
l give you mine. with my heart In IL
This day I have your warrant to claim
klnship with Virginia The world is not
50 large as some would make IT, We might
b. nearer n we tried. And IL We were
nearer. perhaps we should find we ought
never to have been apart.
THY SENTIMENT or THE SOUTH.
81 do not like to speak OF sections. for,
in that which Is perfect. all the parts are
porfect. The eve cannot say TO the hand,
hand 10 the feet. have no need Of you.
Whatever may be our feelings or our
preludlces. one increasing purpose has
made us ration. No doubt we differ
somewhat I'm our ideas and I'm our cOncep-
ton Of what IL hest for a country and its
people. Parallels OF latitude cannot de-
termlne these things.
1T has been said that the South IS
governed by feeling; the North by inter-
est. The statement Is unjust-almOst in
sultlug-to both. The truth Is. that in all
things which have profoundly affected
them each has been guided by sentiment,
without seeing how closely IL was
connected with interest. Who can trace
the vague and shadowy line that separates
duty and honor from selGshness and
pride? So great is the mystery OF human
life. we can seldom truly know 10 what
specific acts Of injustice? Sentiment and
beautiful have their basis in selhshncss
Bvery one who reads history knows how
the love Of glory conceals hatred and
lust. But II is TO the credit Of human
nature that Il needs an Impulse from the
heart before II can reach IT'S greatest
height. When Leonidas defended Their
mopylle and made himself immortal he
was not thinking OF what history would
say.
40 Iul llNlrl kNdA HfiilINt'NA - AZ
ways right but nothing can deeply stir
mems hearts which is not based on senti-
mcnt.
"The most profound. the most comprc-
hensive political document ever given 10
the world was the Declaration of lnde-
pendence. which came not simply from
the pen. but from the heart and brain OF
Thomas Jefferson. You have read 70. and
viii, ! trust. continue Ia read it so long
as your eyes hayr vision. D.d You ever
think how nobly--f had almost said how
arifully-in that wonderful instrument
general truths are united with charges of
specific acts Of injustice Sentiment and
interest march side by Side DO an It's
stately lines In one sentence is that noble
assertion which is still going around the
world. An men are created equal: in am
other is a complaint that legislative bodies
have been called together in Unusual
and uncomfortable places II is a model
which will never be eqUallel. and II
shows how lofty sentiments may be- join
ed to the demands Of the practical
ANcTHFB ILLUSTRATION.
There "a another illustration OF the
relation which the sentimental bears 10
the practical. and which al times almost
makes them one. am illustration that APP
George Washington. OF Virginia, was se-
lecfed as Commander-iu-Chicf OF the
American army John Adams, OF Massa-
chusetts In "A memorable speech, declai-
ed that he had but one gentleman in mind
for that high Office. IL was what our
newspapers would now call a graceful
act But on that day II was sublime
act: an act which makes US. wish we
could ourselves rise TO such heights. Ana
thus 81 happened that by the hand OF
Thomas jefferson the Declaration was
written. and by the support OF John
Adams George Washington was dedicated
TO Immortality: and by the memory OF
them all you. and /, and every Amer
lean are made one
do you think when Washington took
command of the Continental Army under
the historic elm az Cambridge 81 natter
ed much to him that he was far from MS
own Potomac and the Virginia he loved
so we'll? At that moment his mission was
to command an army. Mount vernon cOuit
wait. a living sentiment inspired him. III
was not Virginia, IL was not the Col
onics separately but IL was the United
Colonies. which then had not taken to
themselves the prcuder name-the United
States.
George Washington was q practical
H..
market. His plantation was always pros
porous: he thrivcd by his own good sense
and by accurate business habits. But, in
a nature which seemed cold because IL
was dignihed. there ere fires which could
flame up on occasion with a great light
a light which now IS not continental
but universal.
81 have reminded you OF the influence
OF sentiment in human affairs; Of the
artistic. the aesthetic; In a word, Of the
beautiful Something l have said OF ien-
denotes which to-day are not altogether
pleasant But. yet. with so much in onr
past 10 encourage. why DO we still doubt
OF that which is in store2 Some signs are
In the sky that are sood omens. II We
have followed the practical over-mucn.
let ms consider that better view OF life
which Is Hlumlncd with the things OF the
spirit What means the revival Of civic
virtue In all parts Of our country
rHr Nfw SOUTH.
" We have heard much OF New South.
We have waited FOR II. as we walt for the
dawn We have dreamed Of the day
when there should be a now life In your
mountains and the sound OF enterprise
by your rivers; Of the day when "a th0us-
and wheels should be turning TO give the
world the wealth Of southern fields, and
OF southern industry. Your own orators
your Grady and your Watterson-have an
nounced It's coming. They have pointed
you TO a land OF promise. And Yet /. for
one. could never see the New South IN
the mills Of birmingham. nor In the iron
mines OF Alabama, nor in the coal mines
Of Tennessee. These all help. but the