Year: 1869

toronto University Association Anniversary


Address of Goodwin smitli-The Cornell


University, Alabama Claims, American Press


and British Honor.


TORONTO June II, 1859.


Professor Goodwin Smith was present at the
annual dinner Of the Toronto University Association
last night, and In response to the toast Of the
"Unversity College and kindred institutions'
said:-He thanked them for the honor they had
seae TO the universities kindred TO this: He could
respond for two, one OF wnlcn was old; the other
was OF yesterday. The first, the University OF
Oxford was founded by Alfred more than thou
sand years ago. the other was founded by Ezra
Cornell few years ago. he need NOT refer to
Oxford as 1t was essential figure in the history
Of England AS for Cornell, 1t was in rude. unfn-
ished state, and still 1t 0urishes but you know 1t Is
the habit OF the American Eagle to open and boast
OF It's institutions before they quite fixed up.
Still he looked upon Cornell as an honor both to Its
founder and TO the people among whom 1t had been
which 1t was founded. Cornell was very poor
man, who realized munincent fortune and spent
ttod In raising an9ne institution
and he questioned whether they would ever
hear within Its walls Greek iambics SO correctly
rected as they had been here to-day still he hoped
to see mingled with the study OF natural science
there some attention to the higher classics. There
Of and aa S
aim Is to ramify education through all the strata
OF society; and secondly, we are undenominational:
he could respect the feelings OF men WHO thought
education and religion should go together, and he
regarded the chapel and college as beautiful union
Still 1t was TACT that religion was now divided,
and it was impossible 10 split the world up In an
educational aspect into as many sections as there
were religious beliefs; for then the great laws which
tended towards the universal spread Of education
would be marred In their operation and their WORK
lost by multiplicity Of agencies He did not by
left to the churches to provide religious teaching for
her children He was proud OF his connection with
Cornell. He was indebted In every way to tae @
Anglo Saxon. and on this account he trusted to fur
ther the interests Of Cornell But the other day he
thought his position somewhat precarious. He was
refuge in Canada; but he glad to see the thun-
derstorm was passing rapidly away without doing
amy barn. nsd s gSas
subsantate hts denuncaton of England; but he
alone took up the cause OF England; he stated her
Of abuse and especially from the press But
as he was here under the safe protec.


a Ua Se % ns s1a press aag mot %st
celebrated for Its Intelligence and one OF the papers
that had been particu ary fierce in Its denuncaion
bearing Oh the hat and boots Of rival editor. He
sincerely hoped the storm would blow over and the
more he saw of the American people the more he
convinced Of their readiness to meet every other
people In q fair and honorable spirit. All he feared
was the extreme virtue OF some Of the politicians.





dsinterested and sublime. He was afraid Of this;
for nasty progress In that direction would lead 10
serious consequences We, the English were ready
to repair any wrong we might have committed; and
n we had done any injury to any other people
let that people come IN proper spirit and
we would at once acknowledge It. We are ready
todo that, but we are not by any means ready 70
allow any one To have the honor OF trampling our
flag under foot. Englishmen were by no means too
tenacious Of their purse but they very tenacious
Of their character. Their money might be wrested
from them, but no one would take from them their
honor with impunity. That Is the line Americans
must take care to discriminate. Let them oyerstep
that and serious consequences will ensue. Our gov
ernment has shown real desire to repair any wrong
done and to soothe the wounded Feelings OF the
American people; therefore he thought this cloud
was nearly completely dispelled and the storm
passed away. Social and commercial intercourse
were the great cords which must ever bind nation to
nation, and these, intertwned with intelligence and
religious sentiments and feelings OF common
brotherhood, must ever prevent any serious breach
between the people OF the United States and the peo
pie OF England. Again he thanked them for the
honor they had done him in speaking OF kindred u
cttt tuf