The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-11
coMMENcEMENr AppREss.

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS,
with clear voice and impressive earnest
ness, Hon. II. NJ. Garwood of Houston de-
lvcred the commencement address. which
was accorded close attention from beginning
to end The discussion began with the fol-
loving wc-known quotation from Shakes
peare:
"This above all; TO thine own self be
true,
And it must follow as the night the day
Thou canst not then be false 20 any man.
This theme was made the basis of
discussion upon the power of individuality
and the necessity of our mental self'reli'
ance. mo man can be great thinker
who does not realize that as thinker It
Is his duty to follow his intellect TO what
ever conclusion 1t may lead him."
There Is an intellectual faithfulness
which works strength and an intellectual
uufaithfulness which works ruin to the
mind as does perhdy TO the soul In Gods
universe there are but two yerltles: Ma.
ture aud the soul. In the last analysis, but
one: The soul. Character is the souls
correlation with nature. II depends upon
mans conception OF the relation OF his
soul to the Great Soul of the universe"
While contending for the isolated strength
character over achievement an optimistic
view of the age was taken. The age Is
deeply spiritual. Every great faith that
appeals TO the conscience OF mankind Is
rising TO greater heights of spiritual ex-
cellence. Along broad lines the race Is
sweeping forward to the great results"
lie urged his hearers TO throw them
selves joyfully into the worlds struggle
Hercules, wrestling with A taeus. could
ne'er obtain the mastery while the feet
OF his antagonist were upon the earth.
Like Antaeus we are strongest upon the
ground-in closest contact with the ver!ties
surroundings. Not dreamers after impossi.
D.e ideals, not seekers after the Holy Grail
but with feet. nrmly planted upon the
passions that Is the true life" The ten.
dency, however, OF modern life IS not to.
wards the excellence OF the individual, but
slant pressure is that 81. the mass against
the Individual. Yet individuality is the
only force that saves. AS illustrations of
the power Of Individuality We're cited the d,
failure that of Vergniaud In the French
convention. Its greatest illustration is the
cause Of John c.. Calhoun In the senate
after. the notification convention In South
Carolina. mo tribute to individual
strength could be complete that omitted
the nsne OF John Y, Calhoun. II does not
most cursory manner the principle for
which this great logician commended. Go
back with me TO that great scene In the
senate OF the United States His State
mad tmg defiance TO the Union. She was
alone and he was alone. Without support
from any State or from any party. In
the executive chair was Andrew Jackson
with a united party behind him. Sternly
preparing with force II need be to compel
obedience TO the laws, OF the National
government. Calhoun stood alone, over
ais head hung the threat OF prosecu-
ton for treason. Who, now In modern
Gays. can rise to the height OF that great
was debated while all the world wondered.
and nj the end OF that the greatest session
of the United states senate, the law OF
which his State complained wQs repealed
and Calhoun was victor In the highest
and sternest legislative contest whereof the
world holds record Was Il because he