New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-05
EDUCATION AND POLITICS
AN ADDRESS BY ANDREW d WHITE.

ycrs.ty and th0 newly appointed Minister 10 Berlin,
addressed ~ ',al meeting of che Union League club
last evening Elucauon and Politics." and was fc-
qucutly applaudei 10y fine audience. Among
those present the Hon. Hamilton
Fish. president ~ the club. Peter Cooper and
President Barnard. of Columbia College who occupied
seats the platform. ANA Dr. Henry W. Bellows John
Bgrow. Eliot G. Cowdn, Cyrus Butler, Thomas c.
Acton, Salem II. Wales. District Attorney Bent
Phelps Sinclair Tousey, Dorman Il. Eaton Francis b.
Carpenter. Charles Butler Bota and william
II. Fagg. Mr Fish, In calling the meeting TO order,
said the audience bad convened 10 listen to
stranger to the club but to whose
services 10 education appreciated who
had rendered equal legislation and about
upon dntie. Of OF the most important
missions OF the country.
have purposed to speak this evening. said Mr. White.
upon what seems to the most important prob
lem OF advanced education in Its bearings upon
National and state politics, social economy and
general Jurisprudence. In the United States have.
fst OF all National Congress, called upon TO discuss
and decide the most impOrtln political and social ques
tons for 4O.OOO,OOO people. vino will number
100 1000 and lay the foundations for centuries
for what Is being done will tell for good
evil through long line OF generations. Ma
tons are either active or passive 10 bo acted upon
Ours belongs to the active, and what We do
IA not alone for hundred millions
OF future ctizons but for large part OF the human
County and boards, municipal councils, etc, all
called upon to work out problems for the greater
part OF the human race. To great extent the
Judicial body in this country is legislative
one judicial law felt and always viii be. Judcla
ideas Of public policy knit the whole moral and
political fabric. There is nation TO-DAY that 1t is not
suffering from mistakes their lawmakers. Pau
per,sm has been increased by legislation TO alle
viate it, I-adyised measures for wardlng
of public dcst.tution have time ana again brought
great peoples TO the verge Of starvation Crime has
been made more prevalent by rcprc,svc systems. An
able man recently sad it saddoned him to many
lines policy adopted IN America which had wrought
EVIL in Europe.
More and more civilization advances the political
and social questions become compex Our legislative
bodies represent the average ntccc l strength Of the
country. Take Congress tor example. do not share
the gaining ant that body. There few men
in both parties competent 20 discuss great
questions in finance and international law But most Of
the speeches made in Congress OF slight value. They
Ietray ignorance OF the recorded experience OF
kind ana OF the paines prime pies OF political economy
Measures frauGht with peril adopted. not by inayes
and fools. but by men OF vigorous minds, wit and
good common sense, because they lack that wisdom
/ which comes from krowcdg' and human experience.
know an instance where intelligent men have kept up
criminal high school, not from want OF integrity or
capacity, but because they had not studied The best
modes Of dealing with crime 10 other countries.
Tie frst requisite educate The great OF o-
z"us TO ,ho point " Srasp.n- simple political questions
! am Convinced that "a educated democracy 10 tle
best body to which great questions be submitted
The most accomplished OF contemporary English states
men has SAID that in his judgment in the last MY
years the middle educated class has made fcWcr c
mistakes than the highest educated class. Our primary
system or education il not perfect but very good and
hugh schools have great influence on the education
the But what il most suiaD Or the cduca
.NY MIN mt l t.l
They come from all class.s but malaly from Tie euer
getic and less wealthy class. For the development Of
these with re'rrcu 10 this leadership there Is no pres
the higher education OF the Uuoi states no ad"
a lave been made Touca economy is taught
only IN ieW OF or 1TGHi'Ee, '.No
before There Is certainly 10 Lack OF talent ana
Ey,,s ~ ,, Of ity onn. and The lower ibcy
possess Of presenting tlelf IDEAS 20 thcir icllo"
| often from this magazine or that newspaper
Instead OF arguments they give IuvCtbt aud appeal To
hunor but il enjoys powerful and thoughtful
discussions of political aud financial questions. II Is
probation Of close argument, but there Is a
lack of training tor Discussion. We want tie
teaching oil political economy Ia rs largest sense not oil
tins or that school, but a comparative STUDY OF al
schools lh'uuuE INC lrs..ol7 % tue '..UA, VI
oil taxation OF the causes o; and remedies paupr
ism. ~ the amoAordtlOn Of society; also careful
! investigations INTO the reason why the COMMUNIST.
solution the labor question has always aird aud
u
OF general ia- udrnce. There - too much Ol the al
forury and TOO little Of the iuri- daily lie.
Nothing can affect the happiness Of the world than
the stuuy OF Internal iOnal aW uy winch dputcs DO
tween nations may br settled NOT 10y arms ana oi
boot hut by dozen men IN alteration LAP
lis hopeful sign at there ia large number of ac-
colleges VINO VIII saiIh ordinary
dute. prepare themselves the study az
political questions. Faculties have sometimes. think,
succeeded 900 well III checking THIS tendency. WCuu
! rather send out from college one such young man
LOUNGE about clubs talking about al ana culture and
wondering why the cuuriiy IS going To tie devil zap
| number OF young men who have sLowen ltuc
interest in tue studies Of general Gonise
! 10 choose after their own ta-te' ana AIMS,
Ine wisdom Ot having special ,oec courses H political
| demonstrated IN Germany ava France uy excellent
administration IN tue one, ana the great aDHIty VITA
! when internal affairs are conducted lH tue other.
A. methods OF reform IN TINS couh,Iy II lr Hrst OF
all essential that general history ,ahd ESPECIALLY political
| boglaphy be taught In tie puDhc schools. For the
COLLEGES and universities. pOst-Tadla'e courses ID
natural srcuce might b. cstiboHel with this uhjcc
lion that only few could AFFORD Inc Nme ana money
-, ,,,r.Ie srrli course Or better nal Undergraduate
cor.s mia t be established having political and social
sci nee history and general Jurisprudence Tor s W~I
features. such course would attract I - uhADIs OI
are u,iLIly crowded Into tbe IasI lie" months VI q
college course whC FOR this epccla course tLey should
be- made the staple Tor the entire four years Objections
will be Gade. There VIII DC an appeal % COZ
that II won prove an Inferior means
Of mental dirripne oa-'m 'H", IL na' sr rii
| his moment before us as utultdIt ~ any
behind us. W must decide whether We snail consider
the question between capital ALu ltDcr IKE vDe'
nat; ut well poised uicu, or d, a! wiz IL WIN pH7oh
| dciuagogism and uicAey. Wal you bSet p'ofv-,
| r,,rIs eubvcr-ive OF inc whole system OF social
order by lcsiaauoni Two can piay at tAst refo1u-
uon, ks saturn de;';oys lie 9% M 5o5 and rob
| YOU TO pay ior II. Loud applause.l
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H1ERJED