Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-16
MIR. WILSON'S INSTALLATION.

|
and In the presence OF notable ga'nei-
ing, Hon. William L. Wilson was instaheo
| as president Of Washington and Lee UNI
versity, at Lexington. This morning we
publish In full the address OF the ne"
president. together with abstracts OF tne
other speeches delivered on the OCCASION
We are sure we speak for every aiumhus
OF the institution, and for It's tnousahuS
| OF other friends throughout the country
when we express the hope that the cere-
monies of yesterday mark new era OF
usefulness, influence. and development
| for the venerable seat OF learning. Al
the same time we are equally certain that
we also speak for its alumni ana its
other friends when we voice the nope
that whatever increased usefulness ana
influence, and whatever development the
future may have in store for the insutu-
ton, may be along the lines OF It's own
traditions-that however elaborate snah
be the enlarged educational structure
that may be erected at Washington and
Lee hereafter, that structure will rest on
the ancient foundation of the school.
The history Of the institution through
out It's evolution from an academy to
university is indlssolubly connected with
the history Of the republic. On its roll
of honor are names that brighten every
page of our national annals. From It's
halls have come out from its earnest
days soldiers. statesmen. educators
jurists ministers Of the Gospel, and men
of affairs, who have been second to none
in rejecting credit upon their Alma Mater
their State. and the nation. We cannot
wish a nobler service or more unfading
laurels for Washington and Lee in the
days that are to come than that 1t may
continue to turn out such men as in the
days long agone burned the midnight oil
at old Liberty Hall and Washington aca-
denies, and the light of whose lamps ana
examples has been a sure and safe gulde
to the footsteps of those who have trod
the corridors of the college or univer-
sity either as teachers or pupils.
We are glad to see that Mr.. Wilson an
tagonized the error so common at the
North that before the war the South
was in higher education a laggard and
perceptibly behind other sections OF the
country, and we believe, with him, that
II is possible for the South to produce
such statesmen in the future and con-
tribute them to the country as she pro-
duced and contributed to the country
in the past. We believe 1t to be In the
power Of Washington and Lee TO make
in the future, as she has done in the past,
brilliant contributions to the list of
American statesmen. But when we COM
pare the craftsmanship Of the present
with the craftsmanship Of the old TO-
gime. we are warned that our hope fol
the future is in holding fast to what Is
good in the old in our educational sys-
tenn, as in other things. If we will do
this we may safely press forward to
what may be good In the new order;
not otherwise. He that would rank
with the southern statesman Of old must
first plant himself on the bedrock of
broad political principles, as handed down
from the fathers of the republic, end
whatever Of politics, progress, and
changed environments may demand shall
be taught in our universities and colleges
must be in harmony with these princi-
ples. We venerate Washington and
Lee for its past, we love and cherish 1t
for it's recent present, we are deeply
interested in and earnestly hopeful or
its future, and none more heartily wish
than do we success to the new president
in the responsible position to which he
has been called, and the great and In
spring work that is before MIN.