The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-31
Diplomas are Presented 10
Twenty-three Pupils.
ADDRESS BY DR.. SKIES
Gu line Of What The Distinguished Wake Forest
Professor Had TO Say" The hmsri-
can Presidency"---0Iher
Details.
Especial to News and Observer)

graded school day in Durham. The grad
uating exercises were held in the Morehead
school building and twenty three students
ten boys and thirteen girls received their
diplomas. Prizes and honors were
awarded.
The large auditorium was packed to
the very doors and on all sides fiOated the
graded school colors-yellow and white.
II was great occasion. Three OF the
graduating class read essays and one was
valcdictorian. Those reading essays were
Misses Leila Young. Eleanor Whitaker
and Nan Jordan. Master Holland Holton
was the valedictorian. The other MEM
bers of the graduating class were as fol
lows: Messrs. Luther Barbce, Frank Bod
die, John Grafton, Alec Dickson, Claud
Hicks, Richard Howerton, Leon Kelley,
Robert Shaw, Lewis Wall: Misses Bowl
ing Darlington, Beulah Terrell, Sallie
Terrell, Bessie Breenburg, Fannie Hicks,
Irene Hicks, Susie Muehaels, Mollie Speed,
Annie Tillett.
superintendent J. A. Mattheson an
nounced that of the twenty-three in the
class twenty-five would enter college next
fall and others have promised to en-
ter next spring or the following fall
The speaker OF the occasion was Dr. w
l.. Skies. of Wake Forest College, and
his address was an able effort. From the
very beginning to the end of his talk he
held the attention of all. His subject was
Tho American Presidency" and he dealt
with the various presidents of the Amer-
can Republic The period from the end
of the revolution to the present was di-
vided into three periods. The first was
from the time of Washington to Andrew
ackson. The second from Andrew Jack
son to Lincoln, and the third from Lin
coin to present time.
The speaker began with the very be-
ginning of the republic and spoke of the
victory of the American forces over those
of England But to win battles, he
said, rs not to win victories Freedoms
battle once begun is bequeathed from
bleeding sire to son. What booted it
though CORVALLIS legion did return to
England beaten and crest -falleni of what
worth was it that Washington suffered at
Valley Forge and Greene fought at Gull
ford if these free men of the west were
unable to form a government" The
speaker then took up the forming of the
constitution and said that it was a grand
body of men who met for the purpose of
laying the foundation of great govern
ment. The instrument made at that time
has become almost sacred, yet it was re-
ceived with great dissatisfaction at first
Never did constitution that people
har~ 10 firaI h
opposition. Old General Person, of North
Carolina, denounced it as the friend Of
tyrrany Burkett, Of Virginia, said it con
tanned the very machinery of tyrrany."
He then told OF how bitter it was fought
Speaking of Washington. DR. Sykes
said: We have been accustomed to think
of Washington as democrat in principles.
but Edward VII is scarcely more punctil-
lious about court etiquette than was
Washington For Washington the presi-
dency was no bed of roses. This amiable
gentleman decided that he would initiate
the English and for a coalition cabinet,
composed of all the best talent in the coun-
try" He then told of Hamilton being
placed in charge of the treasury and of
Jefferson being in charge of foreign af-
fairs, and told of the work of each and Of
the many quarrel between the two. ut
was a blessing, he continued. that the
federalists had charge of the presidency
for the first twelve years. They were
friendl VITO the constitution and the new
government So the first executives were
the constitutions friends. Jefferson de
termined that the style of Washington on
and Adams must be supplanted by good
republican simplicity. No sooner was
jefferson in power than an opportunity
came TO make the Louisiana Purchase.
The constitution did not give jefferson the
power to do so and Jefferson's own theory
forbade him. But it was a good bargain,
financially and politically Then did this
jealous guardian of strict constitution
overlap the walls of his own constitution
and by breaking the letters of his own
forging immortalzed his administration
which otherwise was commonplace
Dr. Sykes took up the various presi-
dents on to Andrew Jackson. and there
he sal dbegan the second period of our gov
eminent. He was not trained for the po-
sition other than fighting English and In.
dams He hated both. His friends de
manded that he should be made president
and this was done. He began by tearing
down the national bank and cleaning out
all Of the old officeholders. jackson rep
resented the Western ideas as against the
idea Of Virginia and Massachusetts,. All
before him had taken their ideas from
England. but Jackson said turn your face
towards the west. Many of his ideas pre-
vail today. Jackson and Jefferson are
the patron saints of democracy" he said
"but there is vast difference in the two
types Of democracy. Jefferson's idea of de
mocracy was that each State should have
much power and the nation little Jack
sons was that the people should have pow
err that If the people made a man presi
dent he could do what he pleased"
'"The great question during the second
period" he said especially from IA tC
81 was the slavery question n that tim,