The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-10-29
TALKS no STUDENTS.
President Cleveland Makes an Ad.
dress at Princeton.
His Theme IL the Part Universities Should
Play In National Life-I Intel
lgent Patriotism IL
Needed.


Needed.
Princeton, N. j., Oct. 23.-President
Cleveland delivered an address in Alex
ander hall, Princeton,, university, on
Thursday. His theme was the influence
Of universities and colleges on intellt
gent patriotism. A synopsis of his i'd
dress follows:
"Mr. President and Ladies' and Gentle
men: To-day. while all Of US warmly share
the general enthusiasm and felicitation
which pervades this assemblage. am sure
its various suggestions and meanings
assume a prominence In our respective fields
Of mental vision dependent upon their re-
lation to our experience and condition
Those charged with the management and
direction Of the educational advantages Of
this noble institution most plainly see,
with well-earned satisfaction. proofs Of its
growth and usefulness and its enhanced
opportunities for doing good The graduate
Of Princeton sees first the evidence OF
greater glory and prestige that have come
to his alma mater and the added honor
thence reflected upon him. while those still
within her student halls see most promin.
emily the promise Of an increased dignity
which awaits their graduation from
Princeton university.
but there are others here. not OF the
family Of Princeton. who see. with an In
terest 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 glorious career in the elevation
and betterment Of great people. among
these I take q humble place; ana as l
yield to the influences Of this occasion L
cannot resist the train Of thought which
especially reminds me Of the promise OF
national safety and the guaranty OF the
permanence of our free institutions which
may and ought to radiate from the univer-
sites and colleges scattered throughout
our land.
"Obviously a government resting upon
the will and universal suffrage of the peo-
pie has no anchorage except in the peoples
intelligence. While the advantages OF a
collegiate education are by no means
necessary to good citizenship. yet the col
smother his opportunities to teach his fell
low-countrymen and influence them for
good nor hide his talents in napkin. with
out recreancy to a trust. In nation like
ours, charged with the care of numerous
and widely varied interests. q spirit OF con-
servatism and liberation Is absolutely es-
sential. A collegiate training. the study OF
principles unvexed by distracting and mis-
leading influences and correct appre-
hension of the theories upon which our re-
public Is established. ought to constitute
for the college graduate constant moni-
excess.
1.-THE character Of our institutions and
our national self-interest require that
feeling Of sincere brotherhood and dispo-
sition to unite In mutual endeavor should
pervade our people. Our scheme OF gov
eminent in its beginning was based upon
this sentiment and its interruption has
never failed and can never fail to grieVous-
ly menace our national health. Who can
better caution against passion and bitter
I>NykH oHV erht nd
study their baneful consequences and who
are themselves within the noble brother
hood Of higher education? There are nat
ural laws and economic truths which COM
mand implicit obedience and which should
unalterably fix the bounds OF wholesome
popular discussion and the limits OF polit-
ical strife.
Government Not Gift Maker.
1.-THE activity Of our people and their
restless desire to gather to themselves
special 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 op-
portunity to study the mission OF our
institutions and who in the light OF history
their neglect Of the patriotic care they owe
the national life intrusted to their keeping.
should be well fitted to constantly ad-
monish their fellow-citizens that the USE
fulness and beneficence of their plan of
government can only be preserved through
their unselfish and loving support and their
contented willingness to accept in full re-
turn the peace. protection 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 community than
do these same rules determine the chor-
acter and standing Of a nation in the world
of civilization. Neither the glitter Of its
power, nor the tinsel Of its commercial
prosperity. nor the gaudy show Of its peo-
pies wealth can conceal the cankering rust
Of national dishonesty and cover tho
meanness Of national bad faith. A con-
slant stream Of thoughtful. educated men
should come from our universities and col
leges preaching national honor and integ-
rity and teaching that a belief In the neces-
sty Of national obedience to the laws Of
God is not born OF superstition.
Il do not forget the practical necessity OF
political parties nor do ] deny their de-
STABILITY. recognize wholesome differ
ernmental policies. and would by no means
control or limit the utmost freedom in their
discussion. I have only attempted to sug-
gest the important patriotic service which
our institutions OF higher education and their
graduates are fitted to render to our people in
and fundamental principles which are re-
lated to our national condition, but should
never be dragged into the field Of political
strife nor impressed into the service Of
partisan contention. When the excite
ment Of party warfare presses dangerous
ly near our national safeguards I would
have the intelligent conservatism Of our
universities and colleges warn the con-
testants in impressive tones against the
perils Of breach impossible to repair.
Asked to Sound Alarm.
when popular discomfort and pa ssion
are stimulated by the arts Of designing
partisans to a pitch perilously near to class
hatred or sectional anger I would have
our universities and colleges sound the
alarm in the name Of American brother
hood and fraternal dependence. When the
attempt Is made to delude the people into
the belief that their sufrrages can change
the operation Of natural laws, l would
have our universities and colleges pro-
Claim that those laws are memorable and
far removed from political control. When
selfish interest seeks undue private bene-
1T through governmental aid and public
places are claimed as reward of party
service, l would have our universities and
colleges persuade the people to a re-
linquishment of the demand for party
spoi]s and exnort them to q dlsinterested
and patriotic love of their government for