The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-23
CLEVELAND TO STUDENTS.
HE AND LoRD ABERDEEN SPEAK
At PRINCETON ON CHARTER DAY.

The ES-President's Topic ''seIr-NInde Men--
ne Refers TO tho Election In New York and
the Need or scholars in PoIuics-Lora
Aberdeen on international III Feeling.
PRINCETON, N. j.. Oct, 22.-One hundred and
nfty.onc years ago to-day Princcton's FIRST char
ter was signed by John Hamilton. President Of
his Majesty's Council. Exercises commemorate
ing tho event wero held in Alexander Hall,
which was filled with undergraduates, alumni,
and friends OF tho university. The undergradu-
ates assembled in front Of Marquand Chapel
this morning ut 10i5 o'clock, and. headed by
President Patton, marched to Alexander Hall,
the seniors acting ms an escort to the guests. At
the entrance OF the hall the seniors, with barred
heads. were drawn up In two lines, between
which tho procession passed. Tho rostrum
was occupied by President Patton. with Lord
Aberdeen, the overnor.Genera OF Canada,
and ex.presidcnt Grover Cleveland seated on
his right. The trustees Of the university sat
in the raised seats at the rear of the platform.
The exercises were opened by tho Rev. DIR. J. Q.
Murray. dean OF the faculty, who offered prayer.
This was followed by an address by Mr.. Cleve-
land. who read from manuscript. Mr.. Clcve-
lands topic was "Self-Made Men," In the
course OF his address ho said:
81 desire here to explicitly and emphatically
express my respect and admiration for those
who have won honorable success in spite of dis
couraging surroundings, and who have made
themselves great and useful in their day and
generation, through the sheer force of indomita-
bio will and courage. Nothing can DO moro
noble and heroic than their struggles, and moth
ing can be moro inspiring and valuable than
their example and achievements, and whatever
may be their measure of success. their willing
ness to undergo hardships to win 1t demon
strates that they have in their nature tho
nbro and lasting qualities that make strong
men. But while we thus pay a de-
served tribute 90 true manliness. we by
no means admit tho fanciful notion that
the difficulties that stood in tho way of
these self.made men were essential to
their success. They wero obstacles which they
overcamc, and thus won distinction and honor.
Thousands Of others have been discouraged by
these same obstacles and found an appropriate
place among billiards and drones. 1t is true
that many eager men have laid tho foundations
of future usefulness and greatness in study be-
tween the hours of their labor for bread and by
the light Of a pine knot or open fireplace; but
many others have spent the same time not more
probably than in careless sleepy Incidence, and
have by the same light undermined their mental
and moral health with vile books and COM
partnership and in learning the first lessons in
vice.
"we have all seen handsome and quite elab-
orately carved articles or trinkets which were
made entirely with q pocket knife. AS curiosi-
ties they challenge our interest, because of the
ingenuity OF their construction with such a
simple tool; but We do not regard them as more
useful for that reason; nor do we for n moment
suppose that the pocket knife was essential to
their construction. or that their beauty or
merit would have been diminished by tho use
OF more effective and suitable tools. 1t is well
to remember, too. in considering those who
succeed. Notwithstanding difficulties, that not
all successes, even though so gained. arc OF
that useful and elovating kind that should
excite our admiration. Tho churlish cur
mudgeon who by sharp practices and avaricious
dealing has amused q fortune. should not be
permitted TO caiole us by boasting of his early
privations and sordid self.dcnial; we are at lib
erty to resent in any case the attempt to cover a
multitude OF sins with the cloak of the self
worth and labor that cong cpDquers a Useful and
honorable career; nor should the successful po-
iitieal hack DO allowed to distract attention
Bile origin, his lack OF early advantages, and the
struggles of his boyhood. as independent and
sufficient proofs that he is entitled to our SUI
"Manifestly among the tools to be used in the
construction of the best quality OF our self.made
man. education is vitality important.
In a country like ours. where the people arc
there should DO so many blind followers of the |
lying partisan and the. fattering demagogue.
sary for me to state that / am attempting not
only to present the self.made man as he ought
to exist. but TO speak Of him in his relations to
the common everyday life of our people. ! am
considering my topic, while l have constantly
before my mind the mass OF our American citt;
Zenship. My thought is that this mass can and
ough. TO BIO greatly improved. and made a better
and safer depository OF our trust in the per-
believe this can be accomplished b. addingt" our
citizenship more OF the heaven OF genuine, we'll
They must, OF course, be not only well con
structed and well equipped, but they should be
bettermento of the conditions surrounding them
in other words, they should be actively useful.
Or all useless men the most eulp4bly useless are
and fitness for beneficial work, do no moro than
exploit their requirements In the false and un.
only aids to the selfish pleasure of constantly
restless foreign travel and accessories to other
cations for valuable service Is especially blame
worthy In a country like ours, where so many
national problems remain unsolved, and where
activity and effort. have mentioned u liberal
s shee construc e a Of m osr ia i%PIo seifnmaPs Fo @ss. IN
hardly need say that this means something more
than mere book learning. and that it includes
corning men and things which SO easily accom-
panies, the knowledge OF books, as well AS the
which systematic study bcgets. Obviously this
definition excludes that measure of book learn.
for no better purpose than to decorate the case
81 wealth and ornament al, inactive existence.
j am Conscious tnaJ 1 nave uOnB lltLlt more than
TO toGrh upon the importance Of n liber educa-
tion as essential to tho proper construction Of
our selr-mado man. ! have Intentionally avoid
Cd q moro extended discussion OF a proposition
which. it seems to me. is SO plainly certain and
yet, Notwithstanding the potency OF this factor,
and even though education may have con.
triDuted to the construction all that IL can &C.
complish. the work. II still lacking moral
STAN ma and resistance, will be a sad failure, II
nothing worse. We have known of those for
whom education had done its most. and who yet
did, wrong continually. espousing every vicious
and uurllltDOuS Cluse and lelikhtinX in rho
prostitution Of their splendid powers and nc.
auirements to the betrayal and injury OF every
noble purpose.
We have seen the scholar in public life
teaching tricks to tricksters, and with the mask
of education on his face leading the way to the
lowest depths of partisan deceit and intrigue:
Il will not close without a more specific refer
ence to one particular condition OF American
VIC WHICH sadly needs the active and persistent
tnterposition OF our well constructed and well
preserved sclf-made man. Evidence Is con-
stantly accommodating that at no point can he do
Nore vitality useful work than in the field OF
politics. The fact that this word signifying the
SCIENCE OF government and the administration
OF public affairs ia associated in the common