New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-08
WHAT EDUCATION MUST DO.
ADDRESS OF CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

ADDRESS OF CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS
CoIAEGr--TnE COLLEGES MUST EDUCATE INDIE
rr,pENr JOURNALISTS, IMPRESSIVE PREACHERS,
AND CLOSE THINKERS.
IfRoM A srRcIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIbuNE.l
AnHrrsr. Mass, July THE address before the
Social Union this afternoon was delivered in College
Hall by Charles Francis Adams. This was par oN-
cellenco the literary event of Commencement week,
and in spite of tho scorching weather the Hall
was crowded The Trustees of the College, the PreSi-
Sert and Faculty and a large number of the Alumni
wers present. Tho address was rs follows:
GENTLEMEN or THE SOCIAL UNION; Al my time or
life thius may take it FOE granted that by accept
ing yor earnest invitation to address such an assem-
bly, as see before me, incur suspicion of INDUCING
vain hope to shine. Whatever aspirations may nave
harDorod youth for the nonors that attend upon esc
occasons. have been either sufficiently grained or ai'o
gethor oatiyed now consent to serve only Wheh IN
dulgng hope however Ircslmpuous tina: some prac-
tica good may grow ont OF il. remember that THIS IS
tbe SEASON usually devoted 10 survey OF the state ci The
higher education among us. when an opportunity IA
offered \ careful examination rs well of what more IS
found necessary be added OF what has been success
fully attained wen Of the progress for the future as
OF the advance Ia the past. IL is, thcn season for
speaking not altogether the language of optimism but
rather in frank though KINDLY split, words OF straight
forward application to the requirements OF the period III
which we live. C.
And when use the word optimism" you win he kind
enough 10 understand il denOtng that species OF SELF
graduation the habasl resort which has been long
made subject Of reproach 70 M by the censoous OF
older nations Our tendency to cannot be honestly 90
MED pceped out early in our history on singular &c
casion which IL will do harm now toc to renier
brancc. Scarcely had seven years passed from our
happy attainment OF the glorious prize OF solid ioim Oh
federal government. in defiance of serious RESISTANCE
when the representatives chosen hy the people 10 consul
tute the great delbcratvo assembly OF the country
Thought Il. propose in grave pablo address, J." ali
nouncc that this young nation hardly chipping ia ouser
shell was already -" the frecSt and most enlightened IN
the world" debate of two days ensued not marked so
much by distrs of the audacy of the assumption - ny
the glaing Inconsistency induced by party spirit which
vigorously denied either fmess or wisdom Ia mo very
first of the Government, supported though
twas 10y the most brilliant talent IN the land collected
under the sanction Of the gicst and good Washington
himself. curious prologue tl's TO he drama oil the
most sacned nation in the world =! Even atteF the
lapse OF 80 years there is TO reading more instructive
and edify ing than the report Of this angry discussion Al
its close the majority, appearing to begin TO uis.ust
their position consented to abandon the lofty prctcnSon
az superiority all the rest al the world ana retrraed
t. the more modest assumption that We wof no the
most but free and cnish ned nation" Ana 20 TINS
matter cnbalmed in the National record down to
tho prcsens hour.
NOR THE MOST ENLIGHTENED NATION.
free and enlightened ndipu let ur sup hCic iO
momcnt TO examine how far. in the face of other and
older ustions. We wore entitled 20 confidence III then
rlacipg oareclyca even on level with them We lad n
dee gained political Independence VITA the al OF
one OF item. and free nom subsection to any tA-
,orry sway: but the pertinent OF cur caiac!,y gov
ern ouIee, - TIE true IL 6niton of free peop, ha'5
utterly failed FOR years, had been in successful opera
ton for cny the length OF time II waslnSt NJ me
moment pessny through ts FIST severe ordeal Not
mach must admit. to boast OF yet A. TO the CLAIMS
to he enghtenel. the settlement of that necessarily "e-
pended uron the meaning attached to the word lght
Here com. arson with other nations MAS inevitable II
Tie asst WIZ 10 bc made consist of the decree % adj
vance in science literature, learning and 1o ar's' Ii Is
clear that Lat W. had made not from native O"th
but nad reacucd second hand from be moihi cOl-
Try In Great Britain indeed. there Va just then
bright dawn. aud people wasinr from ne ieiLdr<5
into which tho accession of the two German Georges to
the sovereignty had plum od them Then burst forth the
era OF Chatham and Bsrke. of Pitt and Fox, OF Gihoon
and Hu,ae. Of johnson and Goldsmith, Of Gray and
Cooper Oh Adam smith, Duaalc stewart and the loond-
ers OF thc scotch school OF philosophy aud literature
assiYy over the Channel 10 The still brighter region "
France IL was all alive with intellectual Muvelrent
Need | mtnuon V0!taIc and Bullion Rousseau ai'd
Ipderof Oresnay Holvetius. Esc2r. Mrabeau, Condor.
Get and DC Nsbly not u mention the jealous lAborcrs Of
the Academy which shed much Light al once 20 o or
excite the rahiiics of that Extraordinary people.
In contrast with this brilliant development Of intel
1ectna aetsi VIVA; had The period - fe
rentf FRANKLIN prettJ muCh Ito Cir'nd
Jnent whole stock of original Souids. suail
class OF graduates from the colleges North and South
educated 10 tie higher prO o' some OF whom were
eloquent d.vucs ami others grew Hi0siesn,n; ay0uh
here and there producing spirited o. as.ial Ole
tese embraced pretty nuca all the original enshei-
nont % the generation. he'd nearly forgotten 10 rc
mind you 0i tho solitary of African OH N whose
scattefeh leaves OF inspiration deemed on merit
sufficient Justify the collection OF them 1n'o printed
book glaced by tho patrOnarf aHd subscription Of tic
Father of nA Country. the ustrOus Wtsiir-t0r A!Ss
for tie American genius OF taet day| wonder how
many OF yea. my young friends ever saw the DOCK OF
poems by Pnll.s Wheatcyf
Yet though il eanHot be pretended tet in IL large
sense of the term the enlightenment Of America IL at
day WIS of any other kind than that winch tic moon
may boast relatively to the sun It IL, on me other ani
not unrcasona bio TO claim Tor il uEusGa measure Of
general intelligence, acquired by familiarity with the
rudjrelS Of knOwed-c. II The test were confined sim
ply the relative numbers OF persons able 10 fcA ana
write ar uDt that ;o claim advanced by The Con-
eress Oh 1876 would appear extravagant. And al
though great efforts have ben since made IN many parts
of Europe to spread the same advantage far and wde
feel quite confident that corresponding labos tn the
same end during time have been successful in
fully equal proportions. Neither is ts condition OF things
likely tOdcgcncrac. Or the contrary the probabilities are
now tai in tao vulgar course OF events aud with thc
facilities everywhere Afforded among the negroes.
~ we'll the immigrant who Gock to us from ali other
cncs day not very dstnnt when the primal i'll
srction shall found to have extended coequay with
the multi ptcation of numbers. Toward the arrival
OF this result The attractions Of The pablo Press VIII r-
lafe contribute hat the elaborate teachings
OF the schools. Curiosity and the force of social eniua-
ton TENT the dulcsi and most indifferent 20 master
what would mover DC accomplished either by reasoning
or fmce.