The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29
cleveland makes A SPEECH
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS AT
THE PRINCETON COLLEGE
CELEBRATION.
The MISSION OF OUR UNIVERSITIES
And Colleges-He Would Have Them
Send Out Graduates to Warn the
People Against National Dis
honor and Vain Decisions.

Princeton, n. j.. Oct. 22.-Fair
weather favored Princeton today and
made the exercises of the sesqui-centen-
NAL anniversary doubly enjoyable. The
presence of the president of the United
States had the effect of increasing the
attendance, large crowds being present,
and the hall in which the ceremonies of
the day were held was packed almost to
suffocation when the Rev. DIR. Theo
Cuyler of Brooklyn began the exercises
with a simple and heartfelt prayer for
the continuation to Princeton of the
prosperity it had enjoyed under the title
of the College of New Jersey.
| Previous to the beginning of the ccle-
bration the Philadelphia troops assembled
at the home of President Patton, where
President Cleveland had been guest
over night, and escorted the guest on
foot to Alexander hall. Mrs. Cleveland
was driven in an open carriage, under
the escort of Mrs. Patton, to the hall.
|
tons of learning all over the world, and
the faculty assembled at Marquand
chapel, and, clad in their academic
gowns, made their impressive march to
Alexander hall, preceding President
Cleveland.
After Dr. Cuyler's prayer. President
Patton made the formal announcement
that what was the College of New Jcr-
sey would henceforth and forever be
known as Princeton University. A
scene of wonderful enthusiasm greeted
DIR. PattOn's remarks.
He then announced the endowment
tund, amounting to nearly million and
Il half dollars, not including the amounts
contributed for Blair hail by John o.
Blair of Blairstown, \. j., and the new
library.
The ceremony of comforting the de-
grees on the siXty-five men elected for
that honor was next on the program. 1t
was learned that President Patton de-
sired to confer the degree of doctor of
laws upon MIR. Cleveland, but the presi-
dent mOdestly declined the honor.
The degree of doctor of laws was con-
| ferred upon large number of European
college professors and scholars.
Among the Americans similarly hon
ored are: james b. Angel, University
of Michigan; William Gardner Hale, Uni
versty of Chicago; William n. Harris.
United States commissioner of education;
Joseph Leconte, University of Califor-
mia, and Seth Low, Columbia Univer-
sty, New York.
Upon the following, among others. the
degree of letters was conferred: Richard
Watson Glider, Augustus st. Gaudens,
Horace f.. Scurdcr and Charles Dudley
Warner.
Next came the principal event of the
day, the address by the president of the
United States.
Mr.. Cleveland spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Ladies and Gen
tlemen-As those in different occupations
and with different training each see
most plainly i'll the same landscape view
those features which are the most nearly
related to their several habitual en-
vironments. so in our contemplation of
an event or occasion each individual es-
pecially observes and appreciates, in the
light his mode of thought supplies, such
of its features and incidents as are most
in harmony with his mental situations.
To-day, while all of us warmly share
the general enthusiasm and felcitation
which peryades this asscmblagc, | am
sure its various suggestions and mean
ings assume prominence in our respec-
tive fields of mental vision. dependent |
upon their relations to our experience |
and condition. Those charged with the |
management and direction of the educa- |
tional advantages of this noble institu- !
ton most plainly see with well earned |
satisfaction proofs of its growth and use
fulnGSS and its enhanced opportunities
for doing good. The graduate of Prince |
ton sees first the evidence of Il glory and |
prestige that have come to his alma |
mater and the added honor thence re-
f1ected upon himself, while those still |
within her student halls see most promi- |
nently the promise of an increased dig
nifty which awaits their graduation from |
Princeton university. But there are
Others here not Of the family of Prince
ton who see with an interest not to be
outdone the signs of her triumphs on the |
fields of higher education and the parts
she has taken during her long and pros
porous career in the elevation and better
ment of her people
Among these | take an humble place
and rs | yield to the influences of this
occasion / can not resist the train of
thought which especially reminds me of
the promise of national safety and the
of the permanence of our free
which may and ought to ra-
1ldle lIolll lIe universities ana colleges |
throughout our land.
obviously government resting on
the will and universal suffrage of the
people has no anchorage except in the
peoples intelligence. While the advan-
fages of collegiate education are by
no means necessary to good citizenship,
vet the college graduate. found every
where can not smother his opportunities
10 teach his fellow ,countrymen and in
1uence them for good nor hide his tai
,nts il a napkin without recreancy of a
rust.
I'm Il nation like ours. charged with |
he care of numerous and widely varied |
interests, spirit of conservatism and
is absolutely essential. A col
egiate training, the study of principles
invoked by distracting and misleading
Influences and a correct apprehension of
he theories upon which our republic is
ought to constitute the col
ege graduate constant monitor, warn
ne against popular rashness and excess.
1.-THE character of our institutions and
,ur national self-interest. require that a
ceiling of sincere brotherhood and a dis