The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
DAY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN,

u BOmeWnHU lHOIuldl khObcihi6
nature in one of the large hotels here The
public exercises of a digniied nature
this morning when, at the Academy OF
Music, addresses were delivered by the
Secretary Of State, the President OF Harvard
University, Mr.. Joseph Hodges Choate ana
Mr.. Horace Howard Furness Secretary
Roots part consisted OF presenting 10 the
Ambassador Of France a gold medal struck
by order Of the Congress OF the Onteo
States, in order that the people OF France
might nave a lasting knowledge That the
people of America remembered which
country it was that first gave ankhn his
due recognition. During the afternoon,
at the rooms of the American philosopher
Society, some MIN papers were read 10
the delegates representing universities ana
| learned societies Of America and Europe
Perhaps the scenes OF widest interest,"
we're enacted yesterday when these guests
of the society visited Franklin's tomb ana
laid wreaths thereon, and, earlier In the
day, at the Academy of Music, where were
held memorial exercises by the University
Of Pennsylvania, which institution was
practically founded by Franklin, certainly
placed on a lasting basis through his In
dividual efforts. Nearly a score OF degrees
were conferred by the university, among
them one worthy of special notice. that
bestowed Upon the King OF England, N
dbsentid, through the person OF the Am.
bassador of Great Britain to the United
States. Addressing Sir Mortimer Durand,
the provost Of the university spoke orleny'
and his words may be quoted for the reason
that this is the first time an American de-
gree Of learning has been accepted by an
- ~ Nyi-- oa.I tLA nrAt,cdt,
Edward VII, King. Defender OF the Faith En-
peror OF india, represented by the person OF ms
Ambassador. . = . At the Court OF ST. James's'
upon the twelfth day OF August, l763, his Majesty
King George III. being present, In council. IL was
ordered that the Right Honorable the LORD high
Chancellor of Great Britain cause letters patent
10 be prepared and passed under the Great Seal
authorizing the nrst provost. William Smith' to
collect funds from ali well disposed persons Tor
the assistance and benefit OF the college. academy
and charitable school Of Philadelphia: ana upon
the ninth day Of April. 1904. the Archoisnop OF
Canterbury, together with Thomas ana hicnaiu
Penn. addressed a Joint letter TO the trustees OF 'he
college congratulating them upon the great success
which had attended the efforts OF the frst provost
through his Msjesty's royal brief"
After a moments pause the provost,
still addressing the British Ambassador,
announced:
The trustees OF the University OF Pennsylvania.
successors of the trustees OF the same foundation,
bearing in mind the interest which his Majesty
the then King OF England so graciousy showed
in the infant Institution in the Colony OF Pennsyl-
vanla, now confer upon his Majesty Edward VII"
impersonating England, the highest degree IN their
power to bestow'
Following the bestowal Of degrees Hamp-
ton T.. Carson, Attorney-Ge General Of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, delivered
an address, recalling that until Franklin
came to Philadelphia, then the most i'm
portant city in the country, its sidewalks
were unpaved, the streets were unlighted'
the fire brigade had no existence, the town
watch was unknown, there was no public
| library, no hospital, no college and no
philosophical society here. Houses were
, cold until Frsnklin's practical genius gave
them the stove, which for actual heating
purposes has never been improved upon
chimneys smoked until he cured them
destructive fires we're common until he
safeguarded buildings from lightning
: strokes; the very shipping was in danger
during stress Of weather until he taught
seafaring men how to pour oil upon the
troubled waters. 1t is the intensely prac'
: teal side to all of Franklin's philosophical
II teachings which, as already noted in thu
correspondence, continues to be empha
q sized by those gathered to honor his mem
ory. As for his sense of humor, Mr.. Carson
q recalled the fact that when DR.. Priestle.
: questioned whether the American Colonies
d could hold out in their war with England
Franklin sat down with pen and paper
:; after the battle Of Bunker Hill, and figured
= the problem thus: Britain, at the expens
Of three millions, has killed one hundred
and fifty Yankees this campaign. Durini
the same time sixty thousand children hav'
been born. From these data, the mathe
NAUTICAL head Of our dear, good friend Dr.
10 Price will easily calculate the time AM
expense that may be necessary to xii
e us all
e Perhaps the most striking phase OF Frank
II Inns character treated, however, was hi
" natriotism, his faith in the people of tn
country as a whole, his insistence upo
Is the preservation of individual and cor
porate rights so long as they were not use
for depressing the people; in a word, hi
true Americanism, which amounted to
ma ssion. He saw that what a Government
had to do, whether of colonial or nations
form. was to restrain it's citizens from in
vsdine each others rights and compt
them to respect each others freedom
This was the keynote Of his long fight againF
the proprietaries Of Pennsylvania. To-da
he stands forth a veritable figure of demo-
racv incarnate-the democracy not of or
political party or another, but of a grea
and free people. AS such a figure, as
scientist, man Of letters, statesman, edt
Gator, organizer of public and privat
business enterprises, Benjamin Frank
has been fttingly honored this week by
company of great men, gathered from ii
worlds most famous seats OF learning,
the city where were rendered most of h
vital services to
The Japanese in San Francisco.