The news & observer., 1897-05-28
Striking Addresses by Young
Men of the College.
Mr.. SlMMS ON MELIORISM
GEN. RANSOM PRESENTS POR-
TRAIT OF JOHN G. WILLIAMS.
ACCEPTANCE BY Or. SKINNER
Timely Subjects.

Timely Subjects.
Wake Forest, n. c., May 27.-(Spe-
cial) THE last day of commencement
dawned as fair and pleasant as could
nave been desired. The weather at com
mencement times is usually oppressively
not. but tais year the ladies scarcely need
ed fans.
AT II o'clock the bell rang and the
great crowd OF people thronged into the
Wingate Memorial HALL to witness the
graduating exercises Of the largest class
ever sent out from Wake Forest Col
lege-a class numbering forty-one. The
class marched in under the inspiring
strains of the First Regimcntal band of
Richmond, and took their seats on the
right side of the rostrum. The trustees
aud faculty occupied the other side.
The exercises were opened Icy prayer
ly Or. 4. u. Simns. of Raleigh. after
which the salutatoriau, Alr. X. \. Simms,
son OF the gentleman just referred TO-
came forward to deliver ais address. lie
first made "A Jew refreshing remarks by
ny Of Salutati0n ana Jagn entered upon
the discussion Of his subject, Mcli0rism
AEeiolisni, as he defines it, is the golden
mean betweeen optimism and pessimlsm.
The Meliorist is rhe man who realizes the
evils existing around him, and strives to
better the condition OF things 10y eXpel
ling those evils. Meliorism is what we
need.
MIR. G. L.. Greaves was next cahed up
on to speak upon the subject of Truth
Triumphant. BY way Of Introduction, he
called attention to the general interes
in every department Of human thought.
il spite Of this, truth crushed 10 earth
will rise again" This he showed 10 be
true in religion. in science, in politics,
aad in literature.
Mr.. \. Il. Sans spyk next ON The
Tyranny OF Public Opinion. Opinion.
he says. is the result OF growth. Once
established. ii is prolific in fhe ordering
af political and socsal affairs 1t is icEle
in lis decisions. does violence TO mo-
tiyes, and Is therefore hostile to indi-
vidualty Of character Politicians profit
! by its fluctuations, while statesmen
Withdraw from the arena. lie then gave
/! examples Of true men whom zone genera
ton allowed to perish in oGScurity, but
! whose names were cherished as synonyms
/ Of greatness after every possibility of
! mercy was removed.
| Mr.. G. G.. Lineberry nex5 spoke on
, Freedom: It's Origin and Dangers" The
I tendency of the present time is to legis-
late principles into the people instead of
( hearing their voice in national affairs.
! All true reforms originate from the peo-
+ pie. He presented examples Of this from
England. Russia and America. The peO-
pie are wiser than the wisest critic, and
their voice should be more sacred IN
affairs Of State The danger lies not
in strikes and anarchists, for they are
TOO poor TO affect the nations destiny il
lies in the concentration Of wealth.
Wealth rightly used benefits all classes,
but is dangerous when it controls legis-
lation and the administration of justice.
Mr. A. b. Cannady followed with a
gracefully and vigorously delivered ora
ton on international Arbitration" He
traced the history or arbitration, show
ing that as man has advanced in educa-
ton, Christianity and civilization, he has
been characterized by growing hatred
for war and has come more and more to
realize that il disputes may in justice
be settled between men and between
States the same may rightly be done be
tween nations. He spoke of the destruc-
tiveness of war and of what might have
been saved to the world if nations
had always resorted to arbitration for set
tlement of their troubles rather than to
the sword. He declared that the Chris
tian nations of the world are under moral
obligation to bring an end to war, speak
ing feelingly of the duty of Christian
Europe towards their prosecuted brethren
Of Armenia and Crete, and Of the duty of
the United States to stop by some means
the cruel warfare now going on in Cuba.
He closed with contrast between war
and peace: one revert:ng to barbarism the
other leading to the day of universal
brotherhood.
THE Mission Of thc Poet" was the sub
ject Of Mr.. w. ii. Heck, Of Raleigh. Ger
tainly this subject could not have had
better treatment than Mr.. Heck gave it.
His Grafton was IA poem in prose-beauti-
full in its arrangement, it's language, it's
figures, and most poetical in its general
conception. He SAID in substance: Ma
terial ABSORPTION should not render peo-
pie Ohhvious to the finer poetical elements
of existence The function of the poet is
30 present and preserve for as the loftiest
aspira lions and ideals of life. Poetry
may be defined as the expression Of the
human soul in metrical language. 1t is
the chief Of the fine arts, for language is
the natural channel of expression for all
that is most subtle, most passionate, and
most worshipped. Creation moves to
melody: the deepest insight into beauty
expresses itself in rythm. All men are
poets in a degree. Thousands lack the
ability Of expression, but none are entire
ly without that faculty which responds 70
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