The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-02
The English Universities Deat Raoo-National
Lessons from tho Event.

lscs0Ou9 from tue EVENT.
The exciting and interesting event Of the
English Universities annual boat race
camo off on the water Of the Thames
river yesterday. The students Of Oxford and
sentatiyes to struggle in friendly and genial
rivalry for mastery on domain which Eng
land has claimed almost as national pro-
pretary from the earliest period of her naval
history. The British people were ont in vast
numbers, half a million Of persons appearing
on the banks and bridges of the river at an
early hour in the morning The crown and
the aristocracy were either absent or repre-
sented very feebly, significant result OF
the gradual withdrawal Of the members
Of the two classes-royalty and the peerage-
from participation in the sports of the English
nation just inasmuch rs its amusements be-
come popularized Independently Of their
patronage. The crew of the Cambridge boat
won. They made tho distance in twenty
three minutes and nine and a half seconds.
The start was effected in good style. The
Cambridge boys took the lead and maintained
il to the close. We report the facts by cable
telegram. They were hailed as the victors
with most enthusiastic cheers on the part OF
the vast assemblage. The betting was in
favor Of Cambridge from the beginning. The
popular joy at the triumph of the crew
appears to have been hearty and wholesouled,
and entirely uninauenced by interested con-
siderations of money. This is quite natural
Cambridge suffered defeat consecutively during
a great many years. A CLEAN of victorious sun
shine was vouchsafed to its rowers in the year
1870. II shone forth sunburst yesterday
Luck has not been with the Oxfords as usual
Have the defeats of the Oxfords come from
the absence of good luck? Can 1t be ex-
planned rs having occurred in complete har-
mony with the rule OF a fixed, unaltereble law
of physics? Can 1t be read in the light of
science? We think so. Oxford Is beginning
TO display the attenuated muscle which is pro-
duced By an aristocracy which has bred sin
ard in" by family intermarriage. Cambridge
has put forth the power of that thew and
sinew which is the formation of pure, healthy
hood transmitted from q clear fountain head,
untainted by vice and presenting the mems
soma In c0rpore s0iao as pleasing
and most valuable national result
Premier Gladstone's Universities reform
bill has already democratized Cambridge
to. q very considerable extent. Perhaps the
distinguished statesman witnessed the evil
dence Of this great fact personally from his
stand near the. Thames water yesterday.
Victory ever perches in the end on the banner
which is borne by the hands Of an educated
democracy, which regulates its social life in
accordance with the rules of hygiene and the
discipline of religion. Germany presents a
brilliant attestat'on of this grand fact to-day.
France-so far as the power Of reason remains
with France-has terrible cause to lament her
neglect of it. Her children rejected its unerring
truth in the long hours Of their glittering
demoraliz tons. They are afraid to acknow-
ledge it in tho moment OF their defeat; to
confess it with batcd, heated, feverish breath
before the peoples who read the daily chroni-
Gle Of their progress towards condition Of
feeble senli'y by the light Of the fires of
Paris run mad in its riot. 1t is a Godlke, con-
Soiihg 'act, NOTWITHSTANDING. "A nalion must
be moral in order TO be truly great. Ger
many, England aud the United States stand
forth as examples. They can be classed
as moral nations. Their present great
power and material force result from their OBJ
servance of moral law. Obedience to the
rules of morality enables their children to test
thcir individual strength in the exercise OF
such manly sport as that which was enjoyed
10y the English Universities boats crews on
the Thames yesterday, and which we hope to
have repeated, and with greater fclat, in
American waters whenever either the victors
or the vanquished choose to pay visit to the
shores Of the United States.