Culture and the State 



57 



must be committed all that makes for human weal, to-day 

 and to-morrow and forever. 



Elihu Boot, a graduate of Hamilton College, perhaps 

 the foremost lawyer and ablest statesman of the country 

 now, recently, as we know, presided at a great constitu- 

 tional convention, to rebuild the organic law of six mil- 

 lion people of the Empire State. At one session an in- 

 vited officiating clergyman did not arrive, and Mr. Root 

 made the opening prayer himself: 



"Almighty God, guide us in our deliberations. 

 Make us humble, sincere, and devoted to the public 

 service. Make us wise, considerate of the feelings, 

 the opinions, and the rights of others. Make us ef- 

 fective and useful for the advancement of Thy cause, 

 of peace and justice and liberty in the world." 



Do not these, the event, the man, the language of peti- 

 tion do not these illustrate in every highest way the 

 service which culture, the culture which only the colleges 

 afford in our democracy, must ever render to the state if 

 the republic shall abide? 



Young ladies and gentlemen, your speaker at this mo- 

 ment recalls a scene like this, when on a summer morn- 

 ing long ago two-score young men and maidens appeared 

 upon a platform, like to this, to receive diplomas. Much 

 that went on that morning he has forgotten; but the 

 diploma, the parchment, writ in stately Latin phrase and 

 bound with glistening ribbon bands, all delivered by the 

 loving hands of our dearest friend and best well-wisher, 



