Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-23
OLD NASSAU HALL.
sEsQUICENTENNIAL or WHAT IS
NOW "PRINCEToN UNIVERSITY"
CLEVELAND ON THE SITUATION
Appeal to the scholar to Take More
Interest in PoIitics-Awful Blind
ness of the Country TO its
Hnnnr.
Honor.


ing of the first charter Of the Col
Iege OF New Jersey was celebrated
this morning in Alexander Hall. Tnis
is Anniversary-Day proper in the ceie-
bration programme, and many distin-
guished men who had been unable to at
tend the other exercises OF the sesqui-
centennial were present to-day. AleXan-
der Hall was crowded to its utmost
capacity by those eager to do homage
to Princeton University in the hour OF
her glory. and also to hear the address OF
President Cleveland.
After the academic procession had filed
into the building prayer was offered by
the Rev. DR.. Theodore Cuyler, Of Brook
Iyn. DR.. Patton. in making the announce
ment Of the University title, spoke
OF the pleasure it gave the trustees that
no change in the charter Of the college
had been made necessary in changing
the corporate name He said: Prom
this moment. what has heretofore been
known as the College of New Jersey,
WIN be known i'm the future as princeton
University" After the cheers had sub
sided he invoked the blessing Of God on
the University and on the men in charge
Of its various departments.
President Patton then spoke OF the sue
cess which had attended the efforts to-
wards increasing the endowment Of the
University Although the complete list
is not yet prepared, he announced the
founding OF the Mccormick professor
ship and also the partial endowment Of
tho McCosh chair of philosophy. gift
OF 500 60 for the library was announced,
but the name Of the donor is still with
held. Another gift of S2500o0 for pur-
pose not specified was also acknowledged
from an unknown source The total
amount obtained up to the present time
was given as $,S53,0oG
The ceremony of comforting the de-
grees on the sixty-fve men elected FOR
that honor was next on the pro-
gramme 1t was learned to-day that
President Patton desired to confer the
degree Of Doctor Of Laws upon Mr. Cleve-
land. but that the President modestly de
cined the honor
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
President Cleveland was then intro
duced and took the platform, amid a
tumult Of cheers and enthusiasm. No
more hearty welcome could possibly have
been accorded any one than was given 70
Mr.. Cleveland.
His opening paragraphs were devoted
10 the subject Of the advantages of a
collegiate training for good citizenship.
Its tendency, Mr. Cleveland argued. was
to promote intelligent conservatism.
He said the activity Of our people and
their restless desire 10 gather TO them
selves special benefits and advantages
led to the growth Of an uncOnfessed ten
dency TO regard their government as
the giver Of private gifts. and 10 look
upon the agents OF its administration as
the distributors Of official places and pre-
ferment Those who IN university OF
college have had an opportunity to study
the mission Of our institutions. and who
in the light Of history have learned the
danger TO a people Of their neglect of the
patriotic care they owe the national life
entrusted TO their keeping, should be we'll
fitted TO constantly admonish theii
fellow-oitizens that the usefulness and
benehcence Of their plan Of government
can only be preserved through their un-
selfish and loving support, and their con-
tinued willingness 70 accept in full re-
turn the peace, protection and oppor-
Not more surely do the rules OF honesty
and good faith fix the standard OF in
dividual character in a community than
| do the same rules determine the charac-
ter and standing of a nation in the world
of civilization.
Neither the glitter Of its power nor tn'
| tlnsel Of its commercial prosperity, no
the gaudy show of its peoples wealth
can conceal tha cankerlng rust of ma
| tlonal dishonesty and cover the mean
ness OF national bad faith. a cOnstan
| stream OF thoughtful. educated mel
| should come from our universities AM
| colleges preaching national honor and in
| tegrity, and teaching that belief in IN
| necessity of national obedience to tn
laws Of God is not born Of superstition.
POLITICAL PARTIES.
81 do not forget the practical necessit.
| Of political parties, nor do I deny thei
deslrability. / recognize wholesome dit
/ ferences Of opinion touching Legitimate
! governmental policies, and would by NJ
| means control or limit the utmost free
! dom In their discussion. l have only az
| tempted 10 suggest the important pa
| triotic service which our institutions o
| higher education and their graduates ar
| fitted to render TO our people in the en-
| forcement of those immutable truths an
| fundamental principles which are relate
| 10 our national condition, but shouh
! never be dragged into the field or polltl
| cal strife nor impressed into the servic
| of partisan contention.
| "When the excitement Of party warfar
| presses dangerously near our nationa
| safeguards, l would have the intelligen
conservatism of our universities and col
! leges warn the contestants in impressiv
tones against the perils of a breach in,
possible to repair. When popular dlscon
| tent and passion are stimulated by tn
arts of designing partsans 10 a pitc
| nerilously near TO class hatred or sec
tioual anger, l would have our uniyers
| lies and COLLEGES sound the alarm i'm IN
name OF American brotherhood and fra
ternal dependence. when the attempt
made 70 delude the people into the belle
that their suffrages can change the opera
| tion of natural laws, / would have on
universities and colleges proclaim tina
| those laws are inexOrable and far re
moved from political control.
"When selfish interest seeks undue pr
vate benefit through governmental aiG
and public places are claimed as reward
Of marty service, 1 would have our un
versities and colleges persuade the peopl
10 a REIMBURSEMENT OF the demand 70
party spoils. and exhort them TO disif
terested and patriotic love OF their gov
ernment for its own sake. and becaus
i'm its true adjustment and unperverte
| operation il secures TO every citizen III
lust share of the safety and prosperity
holds in store for all
when a design is apparent to lure IN
people from their honest thoughts and
blind their eyes to the sad plight OF NJ
tional dishonor and bad faith, woul
have Princeton University. panoplied
her patriotic traditions and glorious men
ories. and joined by all the other uil''e'
| sitfes and colleges of our land. cry OF
against the infiction of this treacherou
and fatal wound.
81 would have the influence OF thos
,nstltutions on the side OF religion an