Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-22
THE TOO PRACTICAL


Professor Alexander Winchell, in the
Forum, enters a dignifed but vigorous
protest against the growing disposition to
belittle" scientific research, and to refuse
1t Governmental encouragement except
under cover of something " practical" No
obseryant man of this day, who has a true
conception of the vast Importance to the
race, civilization, human progress and
human comfort of pure research, has failed
to notice this disposition or to deplore it.
Wmchell declares that not within thirty
years has there been made any direct APP
preparation for pure science. 1t has been
aided mainly by tagging" it on to some
practical scheme. This is true in natu-
raj history, geology, astronomy, geograph-
zeal science and the whole long list of pure
research. Even the observation of the
transit of Venus and the Polar expeditions
were made secondary, in declaration at
least, to navigation and the Signal Service.
in order to excuse to the popular mind the
money cost.
But why, it may be asked, should there
be objection to this, so long as the desired
end is attained? To the elaborate answer
ing of this question Prof. Winchell devotes
his scholarly monograph To answer in our
own way we should respond, because scien-
tifie research, to be well pursued and have
It's highest possibilities worked out, should
be followed for its own sake. Because, in
the intense effort to be practical, we as a
people, are losing sight and appreciation
OF the debt we owe to science Because
scientific study, harnessed to commercial
enterprise, is crippled and incapable of
proper exertion or best results.
1t is not easy to comprehend why peo
pie for whom science has done so much,
whose progress in the mechanic arts, trans
portation and communication facilities and
mediums, agriculture, schemes of educa-
ton, and indeed in all the avenues of adj
vancement, and on all the planes of intel
hgence should manifest such jealousy of
scientists, and such disposition to starye
scientific research. Unquestionably. it is
largely due to the false idea of what is
practical" and this in turn is bego.ten of
the mad race for wealth. But it is also
attributable, in some degree, to jealousy by
those who do not pursue scientific study. of
every effort to popularize science. To such
an extent has this gone, and to such a de-
gree have demagogues pandered to it, that
II Is only with difficulty the most ordinary
scientific facts can be retained as studies in
the public schools. There is howl-it is |
worthy of no more respectful designation
against all advanced education. even upon
as low plane as the ordinary high |
school, and the yelp against it is periodi- |
cally Joined in by every shallow-pated Jour
nalistic noodle and political demagogue in i
the country.
Apparently no better reason can be |
given for this, unfortunately, growing. dis
position-and it is no reason. indeed.
than dangerously false idea that higher
education is for the so-called privileged
classes" only, and is but "adornment." as |
Nmchell puts it. The truth is, that the |
poor men, and the uneducated men, and |
the men of moderate means. more than
the rich, favored or cultured, should be |
greedy for the very best and highest edu-
cational instruction for their children at
public cost. The rich can command adj |
vantages for their children, the poor cam
not.
As illustrative of the augmenting dispo-
sition TO undervalue higher education and
plate public endeavor with so.called
"practicalness,. the case of Detroit is
cited. where a Board of Education-dom-
mated by an element that has about as
much regard for popular education as a
horse has for hydronanlics, and which
owes allegiance to ward strikers and
bosses-holds the high school by the
throat, while it debates the propriety of
strangiing to death this one, and only pub
lie representative Of higher education in
that city. There have been indications in
times past of like spirit in our own CITY.
The false estimate of the practical. in
short, is binding our people to the great
truth that the civilization we enioy. the
very character of our political institutions.
the magnitude of our mechanical achieve
ments, the breadth of public intelligence.
and the consequent Independence and
strength of our citizenship, the prosperity
of our systems OF agriculture, horticulture
and similar industries, the means
of our happiness and the short
est avenues to the supplying
OF our material wants in this day, to say |
nothing OF the satisfying of our intellect
uai needs, through the agency of press.
books, engravings and all the arts and |
forms OF sign language, nay the COM
merce of the age itself, are due more
largely to scientific research and higher
education than to our vigor, genius, free
institutions and all other causes combined.
We are in danger of becoming so prac-