The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-02

nations awaited the result of the bat
tie. Why this suspense? Was it be-
cause the fate of an island borne down
by four centuries of Spanish oppres-
sion was to be written in the issue of
the approaching combat? Was it be-
cause the world supposed the time was
drawing near when the American
navy, whose record from the days OF
John Paul Jones was scarcely surpaSs-
ed i'm all the annals of naval warfare
might go down in defeat before the
bulwarks of the insolent Spanard?
Considerations of mOmentouS con-
Germ to us We're there; but there was
involved another great issue which
ELECTED not only our interest but that
of the whole civilized world for that
battle was in large measure to deter
mine whether or not America would
Immediately swing out of her sphere
of comparative isolation and lift her
colOrs in the arena of world politics.
The fall of the Spanish flag from the
masthead of the 'Reina CriStiana'' or
the memorable first of May, 1898, an
nounced to the listening nations that
America had reached the transcendent
category of World-empires and begun
her role in the spectacular game of
world politics.
What has been our policy since we
attained this high dignity and re-
sponsibiilty as a nation? Let history
answer the question.
The prosperous and Well-governe
republic of Cuba stands as a monu-
ment to American philanthropy and
love of liberty. America has preserv-
ed the territorial and administrative
entity of the helpless empire of China
That our verdict on international law
is priced more highly by the nations
than even the decisions of The Hague
tnsI1 rnr,l
when England and Germany were
pressing their claims upon the impov-
erished and revolutiOn-racked republic
OF Venezuela, these European powers,
a. we'll as Venezuela, named as the
preferable arbiter Of the disputes. not
The Hague tribunal-an international
supreme court, established primarily
for purposes of arbitration, but the
President of the United States. the
President of the country that so pep
sistently enforces against all European
aggression the hated Monroe doctrine.
This means that America, young
America, not yet a hundred and fifty
years old, holds the moral and politi-
cal dictatorship of all civilized man
kind.
What has raised America to this SUI
premely commanding height? Has
the sword done it? Indeed. she has
icus success. But he makes a mon
strous mistake who supposes the
American republic has been carved
with the sword. We have given our
best energies to the pursuits of peace
and achieve our most glorious
triumphs in the bloodless contests of
ii dustry, politics and religion. Blest
by Providence with a country in which
can be produced practically every ar
nv
proved ourselves worthy of our goodly
heritage. Nature has placed the stamp
of commercial supremacy upon our
country by making it the best business
stand on the globe.
But, important as they are. com
handing geographical situation and
boundless natural resources have not
been the chief factors in the making
CT the American republic. The main
source of American glory is not to be
found in soil, climate, latitude. or any
other objective natural advantage. but
in the character of the American peo-
plea character which has stood for
enlightened democracy in government
individual activity and just conditions
in industry, absolute freedom of con-
science in religion, and fair play every
where, at home and abroad. on land
and sea. We have fostered an
exalted individualism, and this ideal is
the chief corner stone of our national
! greatness. AS long as we preserve this
ideal our civilization shall survive all
the onsiaughts of corporate greed and
sordid selfshness, and America. still
bearing the torch of liberty enlighten-
ing the world shall march on down
the ages with ever increasing fame
Then came the commencement adj
dress by John Huston Finley. Phi. d.
LID, president of the college of the
/ City of New York. DR.. Finley spoke
for forty-fiVe minutes, using for his
subject:
Medals, prizes and fellowships were
awarded to the following students. on
merit and distinction, the depart
| ments in which they were offered:
The Hume Medal-C. p. Russell.
The Harris Prize-R. F. Leinbach.
The Greek Prize-V. L. Stephenson.
The Worth Prizes. S. Robins.
The Library Prizes-T. 3. Higdon,
o. E. Ross.
The Early English Text Society
| PRICE. r. Wilson.
The Bingham Prize-H. S. Lewis.
The Bryan PRICE. X. Wilson.
The Mangum Medal-E. S. w. Dam
eron.
The Bradham Prize B. LeGwin.
The Hill Fellowship H
/ pr. Venable then announced that
| the following certificates had been
given and in the following depart
ments:
Chemistry-E. F. Bohannon, j. p.
Irwin, G. A. Johnston, r. A. Lichten-
thaeler, l.. b. Lockhart W. NJ. Mar
riott, Ernest clifford w. A. Whitaker
Economics-A. Fl. Johnston, w. r.
Osborne, e. L. Sawyer.
English-N. r. Graham, J. Il. Huff.
w, f. McCanless, f. +. Randolph, c.
p. Russell.
French-Gray Archer w. p. ia
cocks w. e. Osborne, w. c. Rankin.
J. II. Winston.
Geology and Mineralogy-R A.
Lichtenthaeler.
German-W. C. Rankin.
Greek-W. II. Mann.
History-E. e. Randolph, f. l..
Sawyer, J. II. Vaughan.
Latin-Gray Archer, W. c.. Rankin,
J. II. Winston.
Pedagogy-G. A. Johnston, w. e.
| Osborne, j. Il. Vaughan.
Physics "A. l.. Cox, r. F. Kicker
son, II. b. Frost, T. d. Morrison. j.
| II. Pearson.
Af+o,. @I,;e oo,,,o +I,o.