The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-18

The exercises or the lAth annual COM
mencement were opened at $3.50. this
morning. by the procession of alumni
from the campus TO the First Baptist
church. The alumni in large numbers
and all OF the undergraduates still I'm
Providence escorted the seniors to the
time-honored place where they were to
receive their parchments.
The fair weather brought out a great
number OF people. friends and relatives
OF the graduates, and when the seniors
marched slowly I'm last of all there was no
more room left In the church.
The number OF orations for the CASTOR
medal has been reduced for this and the
succeeding years 10 four. which were
carefully selected from some 90 handed
In three months ago to the English de-
partment
DUTY OF SCHOLAR TO STATE
The first grafton, 1.-THE Duty OF the
Scholar to the State" was by James VIII
liam Barry OF Hadley, Mass He has fsen
prominent in debating during his four
years at college. He also was one OF the
winners OF the Hicks prize debate. held
last year He Is a member OF Alpha Tau
Omega fraternity. He has great skill
In the arrangement and delivering OF an
oration. and HIS address was very well
lSeceived. Following Is the substance or
his remarks:
Few words suggest ideas more widely
differing than those brought to the mind
by scholar" and politician" They
seem as totally opposite as training. ex-
perience and ideals could make them.
Men of culture have feared the besmirch-
ing of reputation always threatening
I oh cta nd haV haa Tn taH m
take an active interest In public mat
ters. In consequence the municipal and
ward bosses have had full sway.
The tide, however. is turning. Edu-
Gated men are realizing that TO engage
In municipal affairs, to strive for equal
laws and their just enforcement. for the
establishment OF such public policies as
shall promote the interest OF the citizen
and the greatness OF the nation is not
a business degrading to the scholar.
IL IL said that the college-bred man is
visionary and Impractical, but the men
tion OF Bismarck, Cavour, Gladstone. anu
Webster. refute this argument other
things being equal, the college-bred man
10 best fitted for public duty. He can
best interpret the past and apply its les
son TO the solution OF the problems OF
the present He II Is who can best forsee
the problems of the future and anticipate
their needs.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION.
Experience is indeed the best teacher.
but experience finds in the educated man
far more plastic m,a erial 10 fashion than
I in the man whose breath of view has been
hampered by a prior life Of limited mem
tai action.
In every town and city there are com
tplex social, economic and political prob
lens that require special training How
may the youth best be educated? How
can taxes be equitably levied? How may
municipal expenditures be kept within the
bounds OF reason? To what extent shall
the city exercise local autonomy? How
shall an equitable return be assured for
the use OF public franchises
These are but a few OF the questions OF
municipal government. The minds that
solve them will not be feeble or unframed
They will be minds versed in law. In his
tories OF government, in economics and
the social sciences. They will be the
minds OF scholars.
REFORM AND PUBLIC POLICY.
The first question confronting him will
be reform, 10 elect honest men 10 root
out corruption and wrench the control OF
municipal politics from the professional
politician. The remedy, however. Is not 70
break away from party organization. II
r. necessary TO create public opinion and
20 convert II into public policy. Every
scholar should ally himself with the
party whose platform Is most I'm accord
with his ideas. He should not disdain to
use every influence, however trifing. or
however far removed from the exalted
ends TO which i'm his undergraduate days
ne dreamed OF consecrating his powers
Not until our most enlightened citizens
break away from blindly following the
party leaders can we hope for radical
reform This can only be done when edu-
Gated men take the lead.
Primarily the scholar should thorough
ly learn his municipal conditions by
careful study OF conditions and issues
and the publication OF the results. the
college man may exert a strong influence
against misrule. The people, so history
has shown. wait 10 be led. The question
is. who shall lead them2 This should be
: the scholars duty.
In the spirit then OF duty let the scholar
take an active interest In the affairs OF
his city bringing the best weight OF his
intellect and the best strength OF his
tongue and pen, 90 help I'm good govern
'ment Then will he be doing his duty
knowing that his aim Is 10 promote
peace, prosperity and liberty the right
eous direction and uplifting OF his fellow
men.
sKEPTICrsM IN COLLEGE.
Everett. Jarvis Horton. who delivered the
orauon 'skepticism In American Col
legee." is n Providence man. He has taken
part In many debates. notably In the de-
be ete with Syracuse this winter when he
wss captain OF the winning team. lie
r. member OF Delta Upsilon fraternity
hyd the Cammarian club
He spoke as follows: Skeptioism Is as
nuch Characteristic OF the thinking and
educated man an superstition ie OF the ix-
norsnt and unrenecting Many OF the
greatest reformers OF the past have been
fns most skepticai: not necessarily dia-