Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — CURTIS ON HAYES. [ARTICLE]

CURTIS ON HAYES.

Mr. George William Curtis wellknown as the editor of Harper’s Weekly , delivered the Chancellor’s address at the commencement exercises of Union College on the 27ih of last mouth, and in closing paid this eloquent tribute to President Hayes who was present as a visitor: A public spirit so lofty is not confined to other ages and distant lands. You ure conscious of its stirring in your souls. It calls you to courageous service, aud J am here to bid you obey tlie call. Such patriotism may be ours. Let it be your purting vow that it shall be yours. Bollingbroke described a patriot king in Hngland. I cau imagine a patriot President in America. I can see him indeed, the choice of a party, and called to administer the government when sectional jealousy is fiercest aud party passion most'inflamed- 1 can.imagiue him seeing clearly what justice and humanity, the national .welfare, required him to do, and resolved to do it. I cau imagine aim patiently enduring not only the mad cry of party hale, the taunt of “recreant” and traitor,” of “renegade” and of “coward,” but what' is harder to (tear, the amazement, the doubt, the grief, the denunciation of those as sincerely devoted as lie to tlie common welfare. 1 cau imagine Win pushing firmly on, trusting the heart, tlie intelligence, the conscience offiis countrymen, healing angry wotihds, correcting niisuiiderstaiioiugs planting justice on surer foundations, and, whether his party rise or fall, lifting his country heavenward to a more perfect union of prosperity and peace. This is tlie spirit of a pkltiotisiu that girds the commonwealth with the resistless splendor of tlie moral law; the invulnerable pauo|*oly of states, the celestial secret of a great nation, aud a happy people.