The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-22

President spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. Provost, officers and students of the
University OF fennsyfyHnts, fudtes and
gentlemen:
We celebrats here as In every part of
our country. the birthday of greet pa
triot. who assured the beginning of .
great nation. This day belongs TO patri-
otism and the people. But in certain
sense the University of Pennsylvania has
special reason for observing the 22d of
February, For over half a century with
ever-incrsasing popularity and public
recognition you have observed the occasion
either as holiday or with patriotic ex-
ercisss, participated In by faculty and
students. No other American institution
or learning has a prouder title to the VEN
Grafton OF Wasfinaton's memory than
this. whose foundation was laid in colo
NAL days nearly 80 years before Pennayl-
vania became state: whose progress was
largely due TO the activity OF Franklin
and other Jealous and far-seeing patriots
and whose trustees we're on terms Of
sufficient Intimacy with WashinRtoh to
congratulate him upon his election TO the
presidency ard to receive from him u no.
table reply which has passed into the ,ky-
| tory of the times.
Washington. too. belonged to ths
| brotherhood OF the alumni OF this insti-
| tuition, having accepted the degree OF
| doctor OF laws conferred upon him in
| 1903, mn NOnOr uOubilesS tHe 1noTe hDpre-
| ciated when he recalled the events which
gave him close and peculiar attachment
| to the city Of Philadelphia.
| No wonder that your great university
| has made the 22d OF February its most
| impressive ceremonial and devoted its
| annual exercises to sDecial tributes to
| the memory of the iifst president OF the
United States and ths patriotic themes
| which cluster thickly abort his life and
work. / rejoice with you I'm the day.
l rejoice, also, tn at throughout this
broad land the birthday Of the patriot
leader is faithfully observed ana cels-
bratud with an enthusiasm.and esrnest-
ness which testify To the virtue and graf
itude of the American people.
President Mckinley then spoke elo-
quently of the prominent points in
Wasnington's career and continuing
said:
From the day our fac was unfurled to
the present hour, no stain of just ob.
legation violated has yet tarnished the
American name.
This must aud will be as true in the
future as IL has been in the past. There
will be prophets of evil and false
teachers. Some part of the column may
~aver and wander away from thu
standard, but there will ever rally around
IL IA right majority to preserve IL stain
less and in honor.
Al no point In his administration does
Washington appear in grander proper
tions than when he enunciates ais idens
In regard TO the foreign policy of th"
government: "Observs good faith a
] istice toward all nations; c4ltiyate
psace and harmony with all; rslisio
and morality Bjoln this conduct Z n
10 be that good policy docs not equally
snjoin itS IL will he worthy OF free,
enlightened and, ut no distant period, "A
great nation to give Co mankind tie
magnanimous and TOO novel exampie of a
people always guided by an EXALTED
Justice and benev0lence.
Today, nearly n certury from Washing
tons death, we turn rev,rsntially 70
study the leading principles Of tuat conn
prehsnsive chart for the guidance cf the
people. IL was his unilincning, mmov
atls devotion tn thess perceptions cf dcty
which mora than ANYTHING else mfds him
what be was ard contributed diiectlv 90
make US what wo are. foilovi ts
Irfcppts of MashinRton We canntt err.
4 he wise lessons IN government which he
lett us n will bee profitable ~ ne a. iie
seemed O. have grssyed all possible con-
ditions and Ioiutgd tire Way safely to
meet them. lie has established daner
signals all along the pathway Of che
nation march.