New-York tribune., 1872-10-19

u
in full conclave assembled they solemnly ruled
the animal off the course; that is, they ex-
plunged lis name from the books OF the
university, and sent the money paid for hls
entry back to his master We have not heard
that any American seat Of learning has thus
far conferred learned h0nOrs upon horse,
but that many donkey has been thus emDel-
lished. and sent forth wearing his decoration
like n thistle, the observation Of all men
attests. It does not follow that every un-
worthy recipient of these distinctions has put
bis hand in his pocket and paid the money
therefor. Some have perhaps been given In
the hope of elciting pOsthumOus benefactlons
on behalf Of the school. Some because the
recipients had won distinction in other walks
than those of learning. Some perhaps were
impudently bored for and were given under
the stress Of tedious importantly. But
wherever they arc bestowed, unless the attain
ments of the person receiving them correspond
with the import of the titles bestowed, they
arc dishonest, and discredit both him that
gives and him that takes.
While the distribution Of these honors to
undeserving persons Is merely ceremonial and
complimentary, it ia only ridiculous; but when
it is meant to certify competence to discharge
particular functions, it becomes criminal ana
involves serious peril to society. year or
more since, public mention was made OF that
which had long been known to physicians,
that there were several spurious medical col
leges in Philadelphia whose sole business 1t
was to issue and sell bogus diplomas, each
setting forth that the pOssessor had gone
through the customary course OF study, and
was qualified medical practitioner These
certificates were bald naked lies, and, relying
On their good faith, it is beyond question that
multitudes of people have been promptly and
extensively doctOred off the face of the earth.
The effort of THE TRIBUNE has, we hope, ex-
tinguishcd that traffic, but the injury which it
has already wrought upon society Is not to be
corrected or alleviated.
Since academic degrees were first established
at Bologna, far in the Middle Ages they have
naturally been in eminent request Only few
men in any ago have had a legitimate title to
the higher designations. But many have worn
them, and they have sometimes been very
whimsCally bestowed. Mareschal de SAKE was
made Doctor of Laws, though he only knew
enough of them to break them; and one of
the Italian schools bestowed q degree on
CagliOstro. Suwarrow brutal and Ignorant
COssack, who knew less Of art than his or
derly, and less of philosophy than his horse,
was dubbed Master of the one and Doctor
of the other by the University of Prague, and
he might have had all the other initials at its
command for the asking. Accepting these as
valid precedents, there would seem no reason
why Harvard and Amherst and Yale should
not send On something OF the sort to
ret ~ sAg, C'BTien. It would help him just now
a,areraly IL Is true that he can hardly read,
81 that alth0ugb he eauses letters with his
7.l;able signature appended to be printed IN
thr rewspapors, he writes little more than
MS rsme If the schools are to con-
tinue ~ distribute unearned hOnOrs, either
for gain or favor, or other reasons than
those of ascertained capacity and acknOwl-
edged and eminent desert, O'Brien is the
best possible person to set off in vivid
light the grace and utility of the system. Let
him be made q doctor of the laws which he
has so frequently broken, and whose infractiOn
be has so diligently and meritOriously expiated
in the Penitentiary. What school wants the
honor of first bestOwing upon him the academic
accoladeR Such bestowal would really work
great good. If he got a degree, nobody else
would want one, and we should at last have
an end of vain and OstentatiOus custom
which is fast degenerating into downright
impOsture.