The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-23

will be part of the history of the United
States. Primarily the event was the Gel
ebration of the University's sesqui CEN
tennial. Historically, it was a congress
of nations, formed by the best brains of
those nations. Learned savants from the
shores of France; renowned scholars
from metaphysical old Germany; living
personitications of the centuries of lore
embraced within the walls of ancient Ok
ford, touched elbow to elbow and drank
great toasts together.
Pre.eminent among all stood the chief
executive of this nation, President Cleve-
land. Necessarily the President was the
main speaker of the day and nearly every
man is saying here tonight that he made
the oratorical effort of his life. bespoke in
AlneXander Hall to n multitude compris-
ing representatives of nearly every great
institution 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.
Mr.. Cleveland spoke without any at
tempt Mt oratorical effect and with very
little emphasis even, but the points in his
address were quickly grasped by his
hearers and he was frequently inter
rupted by hearty handclapping and cries
body of the house. On each occasion of
this sort the great crowd of students in
the balcony worked in their college yell
with "Clev Gland, Cleveland, Clevelandn
ut the end of it with telling effect. Mr..
Cleveland said:
''Mr. President and Ladies and Gentle
men: AS those in different occupations
and with different training each see most
plainly in. the-same landscape view those
features which .are the most nearly re-
lated to their several habitual environ
ments; so, in our contemplation of an
event.or an occasion, each individual
especially 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 situation
TO day, while all of us warmly share
the general enthusiasm and felicitation
which pervade this assemblage am sure
its various suggestions and meanings as
sumo prominence in our respective
fields of mental vision dependent upon
their relation to our experience and CON
dition. Those charged with the manage
ment and direction of the educational ad-
vantages of this noble institution most
plainly see, with well-carned satisfaction.
proofs of its growth and usefulness ana
its enhanced opportunities for doing good.
The graduate of Princeton sees first the
evidence of IL greater glory and prestige
that have come to his Alma Mater and
the added honor thence REFLECTED upon
himself while those still within her stu
dent halls see most prominently 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
ST tp ha 81,
trumphs on she fields of higher educa-
ton, and the part she has taken during
her long and glorious career in the eleva-
ton and betterment of II great people
Among these / take an humble place:
and us yield TO the influences of this oc..
casion, cannot resist the train of thought
which especially reminds me of the
promise of national safety and the guar
anty OF the permanence of our free insti-
buttons which may and ought to radiatc
from the universities and colleges scat
tered throughout our land
obviously a Government resting upon
the will and universal suffrage of the PEG.
pie has no anchorage except in the peo-
pies intelligence. While the advantages
of collegiate education are by no means
necessary to good citizenship, yet the col
lege graduate, found everywhere, cannot
smother his opportunities to teach his fell
low-countrymen and influence them for
good, nor hide his talents in n napkin,
without recreancy TO Il trust.
In nation like ours, charged with
the care of numerous and widely varied
interests, spirit of conservatism and
federation is absolutely essential A col
legiate training, the study of principles
unveXed by distracting ann misleading
influences, and Il correct apprehension OF
the theories nnOu which Our nfu ll is
established, ought to constitute the col
leSe graduate Il constant monitor, warn
ing against popular rashness and excess.
The character of our institutions and
our national Self-interest require that Il
feeling OF sincere brotherhood and dis
poSitlon to unite in mutual endeavor
should pervade orr people. Our scheme
oil government in it's beginning was based
upon this sentiment, and it's interruption
has never failed and can never fail to
grlevously menace our national health
VINO can better caution against passion
ana bitterness than those who know by
Thought and study their baneful conse-
quences and who are themselves within
the noble brotherhood of higher education?
There are natural laws and economic
truths which command implicit obedi-
ence, and which should unalterably fix
the bounds of wholesome popular discus
sion and the limits of political strife.
The knowledge gained in our universities
and colleges would be sadly deficient if
ats Denehclaries We're unable to recognize
and point out to their fellow citizens these
Truths and natural laws, and to teach the
mischievous futility of their non-observ-
ance or attempted violation.
The activity OF our people and their
restless desire to gather to themselves