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Ansd S.F.
Mch. 19. 96

The Catholic University of America,
Washington, D.C.
March 9, 1896.

My dear Mrs. Stanford:

Permit me to offer you my hearty congratulations
on the happy ending of the litigation which has so long held the future
of your University in suspense. While the danger was hanging over you
I did not dare to offer even a word of sympathy. The interests at is-
sue were to great to be even talked about. But I offered up many a
prayer that justice might be done, and that the Institution with which
your heart's affections are so intimately bound up might not be imper-
illed. Now that the danger clouds have passed away I congratulate you
with my whole heart. I hope you will always find comfort in the solid
progress of the Institution, and in the good work that it will do, The
work will be sure to be good, if it is always guided by those fundament
al principles laid down by Mr. Stanford in his sketch of the organic
law of the University. You remember how I dwelt upon those principles
and upon the wisdom that had inspired them in the address which I had
the pleasure of making to the professors and students some two years
ago. Many times since then I have referred to them in public. Only
two weeks ago in a philosophical discourse which I gave in New Orleans,
I instanced this action of Mr Stanford as an illustration of the phil-
osophical light in which our century is closingin contrast with the
philosophic darkness with which it commenced.

Again and again accept my cordial best wishes, and let me hope