The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-21
INJECTION.
ecretary Receives the Degree
of Doctor of Laws,


PRINCETON, N. J., Oct. 2o.-The exer-
16ises in commemoration Of the 18th an
niversary Of the signing Of the charter
| of Princeton College were held this
| morning in Alexander Hall. TIE observ-
ance of this day dates from the sesqui-
centennial anniversary, when it was de-
termined by the trustees Of the university
to mark the recurrence Of the day with
| an address by some man Of eminence
| and the comforting Of honorary degrees
for distinguished services in the State or
in the world of letters. The historic
date Ia the 22d Of October, the observance
Of the day this year being anticipated ior
the convenience Of those interested
The trustees and faculty, with The dis
tinguished guests, assembled in the read
ing room Of the Chancellor Green library
at 10:15 o'clock. dressed in academic
costume, and marched directly to Alex
ander Hall, Prof. William Libbey acting
as marshal. The large gallery was
crowded with students, the ground noor
being reserved for the alumni, visitors,
and the guests of the university. Before
the exercises proper an organ recital was
given by Harold Mason. The address Of
the occasion was delivered by the Ri.
Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee, D. D., Bishop
of Washington on Morals and Ameri- an
Civilization"
Bishop Satterlee, after defining the
Constitution of the United States and
presenting the Greek and Roman ideas Of
civilization, took up the question Of
American civilization.
A careful review was made OF the most
vexing problems that had confronted the
country from 1887 to 1896. in which he Sc
verely scored corrupt political machines
and explained the causes Of low morals in
our political life, after which he spoke In
part as follows:
within the past three years most I'M
expected events have followed fast upon
another, each Of which is pregnant with
historic significance. II, in 1895, some
prophet had arisen among us to foretell
what has actually taken place since the
battles of Manila and Santiago, we should
have treated his words as beyond the
bounds Of historic possibility. 1t Is as
though God had lifted our whole nation up
long before its own education was COM
pleted and set it in the vanguard of the
march of civilization.
I'm the light Of these stupendous events
one thing is positive. We can no longer
cling to the same isolated position among
the nations that we formerly rejoiced in.
The United States Of today cannot go back
to what the country was fifty or hundred
years ago. Whether we will or not,
whether for better or worse, We must
go forward.
I'VE hear in these days great deal
about Imperialism / see no spirit Of i'm
perialism in all American history. and
least of all in the past two years. The
natir1 has less greed for territory to-
day tnan when Jefferson bought Louisiana
Or Monroe Florida or Seward Alaska, and !
far less than when the annexation Of
Texas brought on the Mexican war. We |
had no thought whatever of territorial ag- |
when we went to war with |
Spain, and now, before We had time to |
-ealize the full meaning of passing events,
certain islands, as the result of that war. |
nave become de facto an actual part of
he United States. We cannot go back
I we would from these new responsible
les which have been thrust upon US.
THE greatest danger of all is the peril
II an arrested development. Whatever has
life must grow or it must decay. On the
,ne hand there is danger of departing
rom the original ideal of American civ
lization; ON the other hand there is
qually imminent danger of becoming
hortsighted in our views of our country's
uture, of failing to read the signs Of the
lines and to realize the actual historic
ituation as 1t stands today"
At the conclusion Of the address the hon
rary degree OF doctor Of laws was con-
erred upon the Hon. John Hay, Secretary
( State. After the ceremony Mr.. Hay re-
pended in brief address in acknowledge
,ent Of the honor He said:
MY gratitude for this distinguished hon.
r is not diminished-it is rather enhanced
hy no nf m II,
ess Of 1t. l accept it, sir. with deep ap-
for / am allowed to interpret
as sign OF your approval OF the man 1
er in which I and my colleagues in the
government have, under the direction of
he President. conducted the foreign re-
,tions Of the country for the past two {
ears. They have been years of much la {
or and many perpiexities, and If any
leasure Of success has attended our eff
,rts it has been due, not to any strength
ability Of mine, but to the fact that our
purse was so clearly marked out for US
y a century Of national traditions, from
hich We have never sweryed.
I'VE have believed in the country, as
ur fathers did in it's high and beneficent ,
estiny, and SO believing. we needed to
Omit no other considerations than those {
the national welfare, We had to hearken {
o no voices but the call of duty and
OHOT. nope may even say tHdt Tue I
ght which has guided me has been Of kin
D that bright ef1uence which has made s
his great university for so many genera q
ions a radiant beacon to the continent, &
[ learning and morals.
'In the brief space OF public service
hich may yet be mine. / can have no $
filter inspiration than the desire to be-
ome less unworthy of the honor you have a
one me and the responsibility you have I
i'd upon me-" t