The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-06
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS
Chancellor Kirkland Makes the Ad
dress of the Day.
DEALS WITH OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT
What We Have Accomplished. The Dangers
That Threaten Us. The Great Need Of
Universe! Education and
Strong Patriotism.
Strong Patriotism.


Chapel Hill, N. c., June 5.-Com-
mencement day proper dawned bright
and clear and soon the beautiful cam
pus (the loveliest in America) was filled
with a bevy of happy young men and
maidens and by the hour for the exer
cises to open hundreds of the good peo-
pie of Orange and surrounding coun-
ties swelled the number who had come
to greet the even half hundred grad
uates, who with staff and gown, re-
ceived their degrees from C. B. Ay-
cock, Ii. D., Governor of North Caro-
lima. The trains brought large crowds
from East and West, many of them the
bellies of their respective sections.
1t was an audience of lovely women
and brave men who greeted the orator
of the day. Chancellor Kirkland, of
Vanderbilt University, and the young
men who delivered their graduating
orations.
These by four representatives Of the
Senior class were as follows:
lndividualism as a World Movement,
Charles Paul Coble, Jr.
The Man and the Trust, Emmett
Give Wills.
The Opportunity of a State, Dorman
Steel Thompson.
The Organization of Capital, Wiley
Hampton Swift
DR.. kirkland arrived yesterday and is
the guest of DR.. and Mrs Joshua w.
Gore. He is a scholar of great ability,
dignified and kindly gentleman, a
progressive and wise head of one of the
greatest colleges in America. He made
a splendid impression upon all with
whom he came in social contact while
here, for he is as agreeable and charm
ing in the home as interesting and in
structiVe in his public addresses. His
address defies reporting by synopsis,
for 1T was better than any synopsis can
make it appear. But l venture on the
following imperfect synopsis:
Recent years have contributed much to
strengthen the patriotic feelings of every
citizen of the United States. This is,
therefore, suitable time for an investi-
cation into the fundamental principles of
Of the hope of the perpetuty of our ma
tional life. 1t is easy to speak fatter-
ing words, but the truth is more profit
able. We must not shut our eyes to possi-
BILE sources of weakness and of danger.
Many extravagant claims have been made
for Democracy. The sum total of the
worlds experience makes us cautious as
to the strength and perpetuity of demo-
In nh
piers had an uncertain faith in Athenian
democracy The people of Rome rejoiced
when the strife of a Civil War ended
with strong military despotism. Note
the faith of republican France with it's
many revolutions and changes. Note the
turbulent history of the Spanish American
republics of Central and South America
The strongest argument yet adduced for
the stability of democratic government
is to be found in the history of the Uni
ted States. We have failed in some
points, but the success we have met with
has added a new glory to human effort
The founders of our government were not
desirous of establishing socialistic state
such as was outlined by Rousseau in his
Social Contract 1t was their aim to es-
tablish a government with strength to
endure and grow, flexible yet fixed Ours
is government by the people, but not
by all the people. We believe in liberty,
but only in a liberty to do the right We
boast of equality, but recognize that this
is legal fiction, that in reality there
is no equality in mental attributes and
moral forces.
No government can administer itself
Wise leaders are demanded to carry out
all great purposes. A century of noble
leadership has changed the Prussia of
Napoleon's day to the united Germany of
today. Two or three men have made over
again the map of Italy Renan we'll says
that "all civilization is the work of ars-
republic to serve as a point of concentra-
tion for the will of the people The ma
jority of opinions will be taken at second
hand and sound opinions must be furn-
ished for this purpose. Political parties
are essential to the popular government.
but party leaders should be men of integ-
rity and intelligence. Within the last
generation there has been an unfortunate
development in our system of party gov
ernment. Machines control political move |
ment and destroy all vital issues Even
business interests must be regulated nv |
party machinery and judges must speak |
party DEGREES. Representative govern |
ment will be overthrow by it's own chill |
dren unless this tendency can be |
thwarted. 1t is a hopeful sign that