The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-23

ride and 10 shoot and to speak the
truth" The things are not far apart
Bodily discipline helps a man TO dare
to say the thing that is. and no other.
To know the prevailing wishes OF
man is 10 know his character. All that
IL highest and holiest in human attain
ment finds birth here.
To. hold ones life well in hand. TO
handle ones powers OF thought and
expression. to have convictions and
maintain them. this is the glory OF an
educated man. and large part of the
aim of culture.
And here II affords me great pleas
ure to be a witness OF the interest re-
Gently sprung up i'm this and other coll
leges in public debate.
1t is a matter of no small moment
for the training OF men for professional
life. and still more for public influence.
for the enlightenment of the people and
for the preservation of our free govern
ment.
ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.
know that in times past there was
disposition among scholars To under
value the art of public speaking. My
honored chief, President Woolsey.
laughed at the ambition of young Am
erica 10 make a speech.
DIR. Thayer of Newport said that the
gift OF the CAB was the smallest of all
Gods gifts Doubtless i'm an earlier time
there was too much stress on rhetoric
and oratory. III the days when
junior exhibitions meant the APP
pearance of half or two-thirds
of the class in orations, and
all day long. These times have passed.
The junior promenade and the senior
ball have usurped their place.We would
not have il otherwise And yet the
power of public speaking and writing
Is no less important.
The great development of scies1tifc
study and achievement has called at
tention to facts and discoveries.
This university has well held its
place in all these departments. astron-
omy. chemistry. biology. botany and
the whole honorable and ever increas-
ing train. We glory in them all. But
even here ii must be acknowledged
that the power of lucid and eloquent
expression. the gift OF the graceful
writer and the enthusiastic lecturer
has been an essential element in ad-
vancing the love of science and urging
men on to it's higher triumphs.
The man who can think ON his legs,
sthe man who in common parlance. has
his wits about him is the man TO make
his knowledge available, not for his
own fame only. but what Is better for
the advancement OF truth and the BEN
eft OF the race. a student may be as
siduous in his chosen field. he may
make progress In comprehending its
value and even ferreting out IT'S inn
portant secrets. but he loses much OF
influence and OF reflex advantage if he
cannot utter himself. Such an one
stumbles and fails where he ought 10
win. As Emerson says. He is timid
and apologetic. If he knew all the facts
i'm the Encyclopedia IL would not help
him. for this is an affair OF presence or
mind, OF attitude, OF aplomb.
Now I say that we have occasion TO
reioice over the renewed interest in
expression both I'm writing and speak
ing. III is a matter that concerns ~
ly our public lfe, municipal and ma
tional.
DEPENDS ON EDUCATED MEN.
I sincerely believe that the true well
fare of our nation and even her ire IL.
self depends on her educated men, ana
n these are unwilling to assume the
place of leaders. IL they either cannot
or will not utter themselves boldly on
public affairs. we must leave the COM
monwealth and the nation To those VINO
are incompetent to guide. and indiner-
ent to liberty and truth.
IL is now four and twenty years since
that brilliant scholar and writer. Lewis
oman, to whom many of US owe 50
much. gave his eloquent Grafton before
the Phi Beta Kappa society or Har-
ward on THE Alienation OF the Educa-
ted Glass from Politics.. II was
timely warning and I believe has had
an effect In many quarters TO rouse
a new interest IN the responsibility of
scholars. believe since that day there
has been something OF an Improvement
and am hopeful enough TO descry
signs of greater things IN the future.
Since that time James Russell Lowell,
whom I once had the honor OF meeting
at the fireside OF Prof. Diman. was fof
six years minister at the Court OF St
James. and no man ever I'D more 4,
maintain the dignity Of our nation or
stood up with more convincing de-
fence of democracy. More lately your
own John Hay. graduate OF '5s. a class
distinguished for scholarship and patri-
otic sacrifice, after occupying diploma
tic stations in Paris and Vienna and
Madrid. represented us In London with
alb blitles that won admiration. and was
only withdrawn TO be secretary .of
state. standing next IN suecesSion % the
highest office in the world Happy for
the nation has it been that your srsdu-
stes have not all been alienated from
public life. Ten years ago on this plat
form stood Richard Olney. classmate
Of the late United states Senator Hii,
once professor of chemistry here. IL
lustrstine well the affinity or science
with public duty.
\ DIsTrNGr1sHED ROLL
Richard olney wac IN censress and ia