New-York tribune., 1885-07-06
PRESIDENT WHITES WORK.
HISTORICAL STUDIES AND THEIR VALUE.

White was found in his library to-day actively en-
gagged in clearing up the work OF the collegiate year.
Although busy with his secretaries, he TOOK time W
talk upon collegiate. literary and political matters.
In answer to question as to his reasons for retr
ing from the presidency, he said:
"The reasons are mainly given IN my letter OF
resignation. / have now devoted myself during
twenty years to founding and developing the uni
versity Strictly speaking. it is twenty-five years
since labored for two years before its nominal or
gauization to the university charter ana 10
enlist leading men of tho State IN it,"
"You saw the reasons arc mainly given. Are
there any which ara not referred to in that letter
possibly one of some Importance, viz that
doubt whether any man, no matter how successful,
should continue full executive dd'les in unlver-
sity for moro than about twenty years. No 1nsti-
tuition should be in danger of coming. or OF SEEM
ing to come. into too ompete dependence upon any
individual"
"Is the present condition Of the university such
as to give you any misgivings"
"No far from it, The simple fact ~ that tho
university is thoroughly prosperous In every re-
spcct. The faculty is large and active, the
alumni taking vigorous hold upon American
life in all parts Of the country. and the numbers oil
resident graduates and undergraduates are increas-
ing at a rate most encouraging. Since my
crease in the number Of students from 3s4 IN 1881
to 573 durin the last year. Moreover, the increase
in quality has been even moro encouraging than In
ouantity since the newly established scholarships.
thirty-six in number each of the value OF Sou
year fer four years and the eight felowships each
of the value of $400 year. are drawing TO us larger
numbers than ever before of the best scholars from
the various high schools and academies OF this and
other States"
MAY ask what are tho prospects rs to immc-
date growth"
81 should answer that tho general classical,
literary, and philosophical side will be strengthened
by the election of professor to the newly endowed
chair of Moral Philosophy; on the purely scientific
side the completion of the new Laboratories Is 10
open new sources of strength aud on tho techni-
cal side tho coming of Professor Thurston from the
Stevens Institute of Technology to take charge OF
the Sbey College with its increased buildings and
endowment will certainly give q rapid develop
ment there"
"Your letter of resignation speaks OF your health
Do you consider il seriously impairedW
mo am not an invalid. and have but arrived
at what ia generally termed middle life But,
though never seriously i'll. l have never been TO-
bust aud during my whole lifc have found the best
medicine. indeed the only medicine, doing INC por-
nanent good to be change Of scene and work
The fact 10 that ] am weary OF the
mass of routine details which must
come upon the president of an institution
like this, embracing so many departments and with
uch relations to other institutions and to the
country There is every reason TO hope that year
abroad will give me strength sufficient to return to
a vigorous renewal of work"
"What work do you purpose to undertake on
your return ~
Ever since my early student days i have been
devotng Studying and lccturing to classes
at the University of Michigan and here on general
history with reference to the political and social
deyelopment of tho greater modern nations an d
more especially of cur own. have sought to make
any political or official experience of mine at home
or abroad useful IN the same direction Ny belief -
that the study of history has only begun its mission
in the universities and colleges OF this country and
among the people at largo a means OF
solving the most important political and social
problems which are coming upon us. IL IL TO work
in this field that have steadily devoted myself
for years as professor and as man among men,
but Of course greatly hampsred by the nover-ccas-
ing round of executive and other duties. Now !
wish to give whatever time shall remain to mo
fully to such work and oave Others TO take up and
carry on the details of executive labor and care
with all their responsibilities and anxetes"
"What particular field would you think OF work
ing in ut first 7"
"That is difficult to say. During my various
residences abroad 1 have collected much material
and done much work with reference to the hiStorl-
cal development Of social and political questions
in France. Germany and Italy While English his
tory is comparatively well understood. the i'm
mense progress made among the Continental ma
tions and the light thrown by them on our social
and political questions are hardly klovn and 1t is
quite likely that mil Ght begin upon these"
"Do YOU consider your connection with the
university as finally and completely severedi"
"By no means. The resolution of the
trustees inviting me into their board
of the facnlty asking me to continue my
connection with the course OF instruc-
tion and the aiunni expressive of con nfdence
certainly smooth the way toward a renewal OF my
form than heretofore. hspe yet to be OF use IN
aiding my successor to build largely upon tho
foundations already laid and to dovclsp the ideas
rsore fully which Cornell represents. Al the same
tine shall steadily refuse 10 take any position
which NAV be likely to hamper nv successor, dc
prive him Of credit or relieve him from any re-
visibility"
=" Can an ything be vet announced regarding your
successor in the presidency" 80,
10 that can only say that the trustees VIII
meet for the purpose, Of eccIing him oS July l3,
and my hope and belief Is that they VIII then
cheese the right kind OF a man.
MAY ask what you consider the right Kind oi
Il
Il shonld say man who can carry on the work
here successfully without any serons break of
proper continuity; % man who has had experience
m an institution of similar kind, who has made 1t
his habit to sivo thsnght TO university questions,
and who has had the opportunity ~ 500 such gnes-
tions successfully solved; man who will at ence
nave the respect Of tho trustees and faculty for his
executive ability, and Of all concerned inside and
outside Of the university for his scholarly acquire
meuts-n fact. Iaan wbe by character, experience
and attannents shall be fit TO develop such an In
stitution as we hope and pect Cornell Is to be-.
"You speak of scholarly attaininents; do you
not think that the executive position In n large
university should 10 purely one Of business. and
that the president snould devote himself entirely
to university business IN tho ordinary sense OF the