New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-30
POLITICAL SCIENCE IN AMERICAN COL
LEGES.

LELLO
ADDRESS BY PROF. W. G. SUMNER OF YALE coLLE1h
REFoRE AN ASSOCIATION OF ITS ALUMNI.
The Yale Alumni Association, which now
rnubers oso members held its fourth literary and social
entertainment at Demoncos last evening, the Rev. Dr'
Adams presiding in the place OF the Hon. VIM NJ
Evarts the President OF the Association Il W. Do
Forest acted rs Secretary The most important part VI
the literary portion Of the exercises was Drle auresS
on Political Science in American Colleges" oy froi'
W G. Sumner of Yale College After some OF the pre-
minary business had been transacted, and resolutions
OF regret at the by death OF two OF the members OF
the association the Hon. Joseph b. Varnum and the
Hon. Maunse b. Field had been passed. Prof.. sumner
was presented with few graceful remarks DY Dr'
Adams Prof Sumner said in substance after referring
his OF subject most In accordance with his
interest and knowledge:
The first remark suggesting itself In connection with
this subject is that IL Is something new In former
years the subject OF political science and political econ
omy-early in the century at least-was more thor
onehly studied IN some Of the southern universities
than in any OF the Northern universities. In new
Woosey, by whom 1t undertaken-as 1t is generally
in American colleges by some professor suncenty
occupied Otherwiseand who added this TO the burden
lac already carried. IL has TO occupy public
attention. and has been found necessary to intrust
it an especial study. The first difficulty that
is that have not got any trained
recruits forced forward to take the responsible Of
fees must say am somewhat IN that position my
nshed a No man has been able 10 address him.
self We have not, therefore, any old men VINO are
bearing the burden OF the work, have we any text
books and impossible that young man taking the
thing in hand should supply them. IL IS not to-day
studied n England so scientifically as In this country
The Germans have done MORE but there, OF course we
are with the difficulty Of a foreign language ana
more than that the Germans have had the philosophy
and theory of the matter while the Englishmen and
Americans have had the practical fe ana III Is true that
where those two are sundered you cannot have proper
q m al
Another question is, How far can you teach political
newspapers in the active passing history OF the
DAY eau trust the history aud traditions thit
cluster around every nreside in regard liberty and
civil government, and train up the young people In cor
rect ideas Tegardngitl This question may properly ne
raised. 1t depends in my OPINION, TO great extent on
another question, and that Is how far there il any
science OF politics. MY own belief is thst there ia
scientific substratumthat is that there are principles
laws which inevitable and perfect IN their 0pr
ton which underle all these social sciences which
do make it possible TO arrange them III te1pooKS ana
teach them in classroom II Is mater OF IHlth
with Political science would not IN my view men
fail the development of moral philosophy, II 1t did
should think it would bo subject OF continuous wrans-
ling, out of which could never nnd satisfactory
issue but il fdl!s 10 my Judgment ia the development
OF historical science, and believe that what we call
civil liberty in England and TIM, country Is really
grand induction from the long centuries OF experience
ont OF which our fathers wrought this little group OF
doctrines whereupon we now huld our naIOns ana
found our national parties. lAppause
The necessity for instruction III tins science increases
in this country and for various reasons ior instance
that the objects OF interest to every iAelgent
educated man arc multiplying every year Every IN,
telligeut man. venture TO say, finds himself burdened
by a number OF objects that seem 10 make we'll
grounded demand upon his attention. He wants 10
about the politics OF half dozen civilized c0un-
tries about which be wants TO know soncthine there
are vast number OF geographical aud other physical
nvestgationsin short. the facs is symbOlzed IN the
growing ze OF the morning newspaper, which brings
every OF this accumulation OF facts and news,
and requires almost days work 90 read It, Our poll
ucs are demanding more and more of our
attention. Formerly the country used 10 run It
self. and scarcely required our attention Al the time
when the embarrassment of the Government TO
know what do with the surplus income without
ducing Protective Tariff that furnished the heaviest
problem that the Government had before ltj but we
have the politics of the nation rise 20 absorbing
interest commanding the attention and study OF every
individual and tue best thought and study. and ven
ture 10 say no one Will contradict when express
the belief that in the future the politics OF our country
must demand Of us still greater attention and study
than before. For this reasOn-that the questions
before especially scientific questions not simply
OF internal policy They fiscal questions that re-
Quire training study, and scientific knowledge for any
man form any intelligent opinion IN regard TO them.
There Is another fact. The amount OF intellectual
attention man can give IS limited, just much the
bodily exercise he can take; and II you put too much
stress on subject others must short SO In the
OF facts upon must bring to our aid all the
assistance that science can give us 10 dispose OF these
questlpns accurately and i may say, summarlly 1t
follows naturally that the task OF dealing with these
questions must DC nrusted to class OF trained per-
sons That simply coming TO the proposition that we
must have trained statesmen. l think we need only
look about us little and reflect on our own experience
TO a very expensive thing indeed TO rule
by of the small men lapplausel, especially when
great national debt and the neavy taXatiOnDeglns TO
into the life and pocket OF every separate ndi-
vidual citizen.
Where you to look for that necessary class OF
trained men except in the university Z 10 is very
evident indeed that nation cannot govern Itself unless
certain premises are satisfied ana they consist nr5t IN
the intelligence OF the population then IN the self.
control, and above all We want true conception OF
what law is Where are you going 10 nnd material ior
such population except among tne trained ana
of the United States are beginning TO feel proud
OF the full International position 1t holds
desire to enter INTO the family OF nations In
full and have their full share OF responsibility as
member Of that lamlly. For that purpose We need
trained men in diplomatic fields Ono thing, upon which
] lay especial emphasis III my instruction IN coieSe, Is
the antithess between democracy and con-
stitutOnal government The government OF the United
States, IA understand IT, Is constltutlonal republic
The organs OF government and OF power are defined
beforehand and tue point upon which We have TO bear
down particularly Is TINS OF the constitutional order
The idea in which it is most essential that our young
shOnld be trained is this OF the value Of law
aud the value OF constitutional provisions the absolute
necessity OF preserving them intact at every moment,
against every party and under every play OF passion
and preudice, NOT allowing them to yield a hairs
breadth TO consideration whatever which should
infringe upon the guarantees descended 10 from
turtles OF experience tried over and over again hours
OF the greatest danger, and upon which the hopes
OF human liberty depend. lAppls.use ,,-..
what regard foolish and unwlse criticism OF public
affairs aud institutions, and, most Of all, public men,
on the part OF young gentlemen who sti a state
OF pupage. II does proper that they should
sweeping denunclati0ns of public men. | cannot say
always think it when done by graduates augherl
to be principle nowadays 10 throw mud on
"a man any way, and II it don't belong
10 MIN lie can bCIapb IL on lbaugltCrI NtltDCr 40 L
believe III the method Of dilletante criticism which Is
becoming very fashionable the merely negative. de-
structve criticism which hds positive vigOr IN H. 1t
u.s. IL seems TO me- the KIND that is eneryaing the minds
OF this generation. We must have practical American
citiZens who, II they must run down policies, can
substitute something III their place. / regard IL
as OF my chief duties, aud which
gives me the greatest pleasure-to work forward in
what recognize the Yale tradition a1d sprt-train
ing men to hold OF practical needs may say
cerely that live in IT, belong TO Il, work in It with the
most complete satisfaction, aud believe that every
stroke make good work and must tell IN sound and
good results for our country. Long applause
Judge Woodruff OF the United states Court moved a
yntc Ihanks 10 The speaker 10 YnEX COMPLIMENTARY