The record-union., 1897-10-23
One Hundred and Fifty-First Birth
day of the College.
This Years Anniversary Celebration Of
More Than Usual Interest.
Grover Cleveland and Lord Aber-
deem, Governor-General of Ca
NADIA, Among the Notables Pres
an Able Address on "The Self
Made Man."

PRINCETON On. j., Oct. 22.-The
hundred and fifty-first birthday of
Princeton University was celebrated
here to-day. More than usual inter-
est was manifested in the commemora-
ton on account of the presence of ex-
President Grover Cleveland and Lord
Aberdeen, Governor General of Canada.
The academic procession of Princeton
Trustees, faculty, alumni and under
graduates formed at Marquand Chapel
at o'clock this morning, and marched
to Alexander Hall. The body was led
by Mr.. Cleveland, the Narl of Aberdeen
and President Patton. The exercises
were opend by Dan Murray with a
prayer.
Then Grover Cleveland read his ad-
dress the subject being THE Self-made
Man" He said in part:
"The merit of the successful man who
has struggled with difficulties and dis
advantages must be judged by the kind
of success he has achieved; by the use
he makes of it, and by its effect upon
his character and life. If his sue
cess is clean and wholesome, If he uses
it to make his fellows better and hap
pier, and if he faithfully responds to all
the obligations of liberal, public splr-
tied and useful citizen, his struggles
should add immeasurably to the honor
and consideration he deserves. II, on
the other hand, his success is of the
grasping, sordid kind; if he clutches it
closely for his selfish qualification, and
; 6 p he ic 11ar char
acter sordidly mean, useless as cit
izen, or of evil influences in his relations
with his fellow men, his struggles
should not save him from contempt.
Wealth should be by no means dis
paraged as representing success, pro-
vided it is accompanied by reasonable
realization of the obligations its pos
session imposes. We cannot attempt
to fix the extent of these obligations,
but we are entitled to insist that in the
race for riches the feeling and senti-
ment that maks good citizenship should
not be satisfied, and that the rich, di-
rectly by charity and beneficiency, or
indirectly through their liberal enter
prise and active thrift, should do some
thing for humanity and the public
good. If wealth is the best that can
be exhibited as result of success, it
ought to make it's fair contribution to
the welfare of society. This burden
should not be altogether shifted upon
those who, though without riches, con-
stantly give, from the results of their
nobler successes, gifts that exalt hu-
manity.
1--WE have a right to complain of the
rich. if, after spending their lives in
gathering wealth, they find in its pos
session no mandate of duty and no
pleasure, save in the inactive and sor-
did contemplat ation of their hoard.
In referring to "One particular condi-
ton of American life which sadly needs
the active and persistent interposi-
tion of a. well constructed and well pre-
served self-made man." he said:
evidence is constantly aceumulat-
ing that at no point can he do more
vitality useful work than in the field of
politics. The fact that this word, sig
nifying the science Of government and
the administration of public affairs, is
associated in the common mind with
sharp manipulatfons and smooth de-
been .soiled with all ignoble USE while
the contempt with which self-seeking
candidacy and party subserviency, even
in a canvass now pending, speaks of
disinterested citizens who are organ
lied to secure good government as a
modern school of doctrinaires and as
college professors startlingly illustrates
how confidently arrogant partisanship
dares to insult thoughtful and intelli-
gent citizenship. Since our hope of
the perpetual endurance of our govern
ment as the source of priceless benefit
to the American people, and as proof of
mans right and fitness to govern him
self, must rest upon the peoples intel
Igence and patriotism, those should be
carefully protected against malign
agencies which continually attempt to
undermine them. and should be con-
stantly supported and reinforced by the
educated men of the land.
Already a dangerous advantage has
been gained by the force of reckless
ness and selfishness. largely through
the indifference of those who should
have challenged their first advance.
and now when partisanship, without
giving reasons, assumes to lead. and
hosts without return seem willing to
and when party organization,
which should be the servant of inteln-
gence and patriotism, proclaims itself
their master and attempts to bind
them hand and foot, the time has sure
ly come when all the intelligence and
education of our land should hear a
call to duty.
To say nothing of actual danger to
our institutions, all must see that we
cannot gain their most beneficial re-
suits, if the best intelligence and the
most disinterested patriotism among
our people either refuses to enter the
field of politics, or allow themselves to
be driven from it.
81 am not eondemning party allegi-
ance founded on reason and Judgment.
Party men we may all well be. but only
with the reservation that thoughtful
and patriotic citizens we must be. In
our public life we may be sure that as
a general rule our servants and agents
will be nobler than the people who Gre
ate them They may be infinitely
worse through the peoples neglect or
Therefore, no true American
should be willing to endanger the in