The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-29

nave tlled high places in TINS land.
III asked to name them one could well
say that they We're too numerous TO
mention on one occasion.
In these days when the study of
our early history is attracting SO much
attention l felt that l could not perform
a more agreeable service to you young
gentlemen than to speak to you about
George Mason. He did much for the
cause of independence in the war of the
Revolution. Thomas Jefferson said he
was a great man among the greatest,
and similar expressions We're made by
Madison and others of the period.
so great was the majesty of his
presence and his ability that in any
Virginia assembly he was picked out as
the foremost man there, unless the
greatest man of the perlod-George
WashingtOn-was present.
He was born in Kingston, England,
in 1928, and came to this country after
the battle Of Worcester. On reaching
manhood he did what every young man
ought to do; took unto himself a wife,
by marriage and by inheritance he
was man of wealth, and what is
most unusual with men of wealth, he
SNi Gu MS NOOlIlIS "IlCll llG Il9iNNh Ail9
all. He was early recognized as lead
er of thought in the questions which
were perpleXing the minds of the people
of those days.
IN 1776, at Williamsburg, Va, at q
great convention bill of rights was
framed by a committee consisting of
Madison, Mason and others. 1t was
the first declaration of independence in
this country, and every fundamental
principle of Anglo-Saxon law was stat
ed in its seventeen sections. In compo-
sition it was far better than the Decla-
ration Of Independence, and with all
the culture of to-day it would be hard
| for anyone to suggest the alteration of
one word which would improve the pa
| per"
| Justice Harlan quoted from the bill of
rights to show that the fundamental
principles of equality of all men and
protection to life and property were all
there.
You men of New England Justly
pride yourselves on having abolished
slavery but one hundred years before
the institution was not less strongly
denounced in this bill Of rights.
| again, the bill of rights declares that
the government exists by and for the
people. Some dislike to hear that the
people rule. They believe In the divine
right of kings.
Separation of the judicial from the
! legislative and executive branches is
most important. You will find that ii
you take away that principle our inde-
pendence is gone.
| 'CaIrCo Macon tCoo+bo, Do
rick Henry and Randolph, opposed the
new constitution because it did not
have bill of rights. and it is probably
| due to Mason that the bill of rights
was later adopted.
Young gentlemen, my sympathy
will go with you as you go forth from
| this school into the great and noble
profession which you have chosen
! Upon the members of that profession
the people must depend for the protec.
| tion of their rights and liberties Its
| members have always been the defend.
ers of liberty when it has been assailet
| by despotic powers.
The great lesson to learn is devotion
| to America, and equality of all men
Some profess to believe that our gov.
| ernment cannot endure without a SOW.
ereign head. Others appear to dislike
all that is American, and recall thai
when they were abroad they saw {
| duke or viscount, or one deigned tC
speak to them. 1t would be well foI
the country if such men would remain
abroad and never return home. They
only deserve our pity and contempt.
Let us be pure and undefled Amer.
leans. There are some who would con
vert cur government into great ma.
chine. To others our government is O.
no account
"Others are the foes of all order
They would destroy, but never builc
up. They carry the red flag of an
archy and they hate liberty. I TAX,
leave to warn you against such ideas.
At the close Dean Wayland announc
ed the following prizes and honors fo1
the year, and the service closed witt
the benediction by the Rev. Dr. Nun
ger.