The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-10-23
ADVICE TO STUDENTS.
President Oleveland's Address at
Princeton University.
DUTY OF COLLEGE GRADUATES

warning Against Iopular hHshness anu .
Excess"-Dangers of the Clamor for
Party Spoils.
y PRINCETON, n. j., oct 23-The history
of Princeton during the past three days
will be a part OF the history of the United .
States. Primarily the event was the cele-
bration of the university's sesqui-centen.
nial. Historically, it was q congress OF /
nations-formed by the best brains of those .
nations. Pre-eminent among all stood the .
chief executive of this natiOn-President .
Cleveland. Necessarily the president was |
the main speaker Of the day, and nearly |
every man is saying here that he made the /
Oratorical effort of his life. He spoke in
Alexander hall to a multitude comprising |
representatives of nearly every great in |
stitution of learning in the world, and
men of mark in other walks of life. His
theme was the duties and responsibilities
that college men and educated men gen.
orally owe to the cause of good govern
ment.
Before introducing President Cleveland
DIR. Patton announced that the change in
the title of the institution from College of
New Jersey to Princeton university. Then
came the comforting of honorary degrees
on sixty-fve men distinguished the world
over as leaders of thought and apostles OF
higher education.
At the conclusion Of the comforting of
| the degrees DR.. Patton said: 1t was our
| hearty desire to confer still another degree
/ on this OCCASION but the distinguished
| gentleman on whom we proposed to be.
stow the honor has seen fit to use the SOW
ereign power Of the people which he repre-
seuts in the interests of his own modesty.
There is nothing left for us to do but to
regard his wishesas a command. 1t would
have pleased us to honor ourselves in hon
oring the chief magistrate of our country
and to have publicly expressed our appre-
citation of his public services and strong
patriotic position in this hour Of his ma
TONS trial
In his address President Cleveland said
in part:
"Obviously a government resting upon
the win and universal suffrage of the peo-
pie has no anchorage except in the peoples
intelligence In nation like ours charged
with the care of numerous and widely
varied interests, spirit of conservatism
and liberation is absolutely essential. A
collegiate training, the study of principles
unvexed by distracting and misleading
influences, and correct apprehension OF
the theories upon which our republic is
established, ought to constitute the col
lege graduate constant monitor, warm
ing against popular rashness and excess.
"The character of our institutions and
our national self interest require that n
feeling of sincere brotherhood and n dis
position to unite in mutual endeavOr
should pervade our people. Our scheme
of government in its beginning was based
upon this sentiment, and its interruption
has never failed and can never fail to
grievously menace our national health.
1.-The activity Of our people and their
restless desire to gather to themselves es-
pecial benefits and advantages lead to the
- growth of an unconfessed tendency to re-
gard their government as the giver Of pri-
vate gifts, and to look upon the agencies
for its administration as the distributors
Of official places and preferment Those
who in university or college have had an
opportunity TO study the mission of our
institutions should be we'll fitted to con-
stantly admonish their fellow citizens
that the usefulness and beneticence OF
their plan of government can only be pre-
served through their unselfish and loving
support and their contented willingness
to accept in full return the peace, protec-
ton and opportunity which it impartially
bestows.
mot more surely do the rules of hon.
esty and good faith fix the standard of in
dividual character in u community than
do these same rules determine the charac.
ter and standi ng of "A nation in the world
of civilization. Neither the glitter of its
power, nor the tinsel of it's commercial
prosperity, nor the gaudy show of its peo
pies wealth, can conceal the cankering
rust of national dishonesty, and cover the
meanness of national bad faith.
''I do not forget the practical necessity
of political parties, nor do deny their de
STABILITY. | recognize wholesome differ
ences of opinion touching legitimate gov
ernmental policies, and would by nC
means control or limit the utmost free
dom in their discussion, but when the ex
. citement of party warfare presses danger
ously near our national safeguards,
would have the intelligen conservatism
of our universities and colleges warn tbs
contesta nts in impressive tones agains
the perils of breach impossible to repair
"When popular disco ntent and passion
are stimulated by the arts of designing
partisans to pitch perilously near to clas
hatred or sectional anger, l would havt
our universities and colleges sound tn,
alarm in the name of American brother
hood and fraternal dependence.
when the attempt is made to delud
the people into the belief that their suf
frages can change the operation of natu
? raj laws, l would have our universitie
and colleges proclaim that those laws ar
inexorable and far removed from pOlitica
- control.
"When selfish interest seeks undue pri
vate benefit through governmental aid
and public places are claimed as reward
of party service, would have our univer
stiles and colleges persuade the people &
a relinquishment of the demand for part
, spoils and exhort them to a disintereste
and patriotic love of their government TO
its own sake.
when a design is apparent to lure tn
people from their honest thoughts and {
blind their eyes to the sad plight Of ma
tional dishonor and bad faith, woul
have Princeton university, panoplied i
\ her patriotic traditions and glorious men