The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-18
1 DEGREE FOR MKINLEY.
rv,yERyITF OF CHICAGO MAKES HIM
DOCTOR OF LAWS.

v,,,, Time tho Degree Has Been Conferred
=, the UniVsrsity-Dr. Bmall Says the
Administration OF President Mckinley
In, Heightened National self-Respect.
. outcIoo. Oct. 17.-President Mckinley re-
.,ivod to-day the degree Of doctor OF laws
s,nm the University OF Chicago. This IL the
AZ, time that the university has conferred
~ deRree. The occasion was made cere-
,,onious by the presence Of the faculty. trus-
80 and students Of the university In process
Ian from the home Of President Harper.
mere President Mckinley and his Cabinet
r.r,y lunched. to Kent Theatre. on the uni
,srsity grounds. After the Dean had In Latin
commended the President as a man deserv-
,ns Of the highest honor thai the university
soud bestow. President Harper. speaking In
the same language. said:
"You. William Mckinley. a man endowed
nth all advantages OF education aud expert
s.cs. who at a time OF Gravest crisis, when the
veal not only Of this republic. but OF foreign
states was put In. deepest peril, 4 the path
n wisdom lay dark before the people. served
zach highest interest. and. by your wisdom
and your foresight, out OF confusion brought
n happy ending. the trustees OF the University
NJ Chicago. on nomination by the Academic
Senate. have admitted ito the degree Of doo-
for OF laws. now for the first time given By
them. and have granted and bestowed upon
you all honors. rights and PRIVILEGES here or
elsewhere appertaining TO the same. In testi-
mony whereof l now present You with the doc
TORS hood of the University.o f Chicago. which.
IN virtue of this degree. you have the right to
wear. and with the diploma OF the university.
And may you increase in wisdom and In vir-
tue. and in days to come. as in the past. cher
ish the republic and defend her."
The hood is OF faille silk. decorated in royal
purple; the inside is maroon. the color Of the
university. Besides the hood. the authorities
Of the university presented to President Nc
Kinley an academic cap and gown OF the same
silk, the gown. bacded across the front in
royal purple. The chevrons were OF the same
color.
an open question of political theory whether
the rare powers OF the American Chief MaGis-
tracy are on the whole an element Of strength
or a menace to the republic. The President
Of the United States must combine in his own
functions wRi.h the British Constitution d.
Like the Premier he must lead his party; like
the sovereign he must be superior to parti-
sanshlp.
seize an occasion like this for indiscriminate
l%audation. but without implying q Judgment
upon debatable issues. It is a duty and o privi-
lege for the university to emphasize the ser
vice which the present Administration has
rendered by sustaining the prestige Of the
Executive office. Since the successor Of Mr..
Lincoln degraded the Presidency to its nadir,
each subsequent incumbent has contributed
something to confirm the office in the respect
Of the nation. There is not, nor is there likely
TO be In the future. any serious doubt that in
this regard the present Administration has
crowned the work. Of its predecessors. This
splendid service of our present Chief MaRis-
trate has been due to his singular combina-
ton OF executive efficiency with loyal subor-
dination Of his personality to his representa-
tive obligations, Seeing the national character
symbolized in the Presidents official conduct.
the citizens have had their confidence In their
Government confirmed. They have become
conscious OF heightened national self-respect.
They have recognized more exalted national
standards. They have enlarged their concep-
ton OF national vocation.
I'VE honor the President for a~vertinR resort
to arms until war was inevitable. and because
no longer avoidable, a solemn and sacred obli-
more truly representative OF the conscience OF
the nation than when. with swift severity. he
welded his power as Commander-in-Chie OF
our soldiers and sailors, who again displayed
the genuine quality OF our people by a valor in
battle eolipsed only by their chiyalrY In vic
Tory. An observer unfamiliar with American
Institutions might easily mistake the present
alike for evidence that we have transferred TO
onr elective Chief MAGISTRATE the monarchical
doctrine that the king can do no wrong. What
ever may be our ultimate apportionment OF
public responsibility, reflective men, at all
events, see in the recent conduct OF the Presi-
dental Office vindication Of the past and assur-
ance for the future OF American democracy"