Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-02

would answer, it owes something to the
State in proportion to what it has received
from the State. The State has chartered,
possibly has founded, and protects the
college and the college owes a suitable
return to the State for this. But this is
by no means the measure of obligation.
There is another, nobler, more beautiful
principle upon which the college owes
service to the State.-the principle of
HoblesSc ObliDC. Learning and opportu-
nifty put men under special obligations.
So the college, in determining what is due
to the State, should do it in the light of
this principle, embodied in the phrase,
nOblCsSC ObtiyC.
The college has received much, and its
obligation is only measured by what it
has received. What has the college re-
celved ? What has the young man more
when he leaves the institution of learning
than when he entered it In the first
place he has received intellectual training.
He owes to the State an intellectual debt
corresponding to his intellectual oppor-
tunities. He has been a student of things
of wide range, and for that very reason is
fitted to become helper to the world. He
should have fine discernmcnt n trained
logical mind. This power he owes to the
State. But he has received more. He has
received moral training. He has learned
that certain things are absolutely certain.
He has learned the position of moral
llUln WIN IeltItuCc W Nll OlUeT kllltlS Oh
truth, aud how moral truths are fitted to
govern.
But he has learned not only moral, he
has learned religious truths. In being a
religious institution college is not sec
tartan or UNCONVENTIONAL; it Is Christian.
This is Il religious nation, Il Christian ma
ton. Both State and college are and of
right ought to be, religious IN the broad
est, deepest and highest sense of the term
one of the great things that an edu
Gated man can do for the State is TO free
II from the denomination of travesties.
Nothing Is more common in public debate
than passing from the things which are
tue to the things which are irrelevant
and inconsequentlal. Now the alumuus
ought TO be able to detect and expose this
fallacy. And SO with reference to moral
truth, there seems to be prevalent the
fallacy that eXDediency is what is prac-
teal. Now this is something that the col
lege can do Tor the State-to teach the
state that the things which are practical
are the things which are absolutely and
eternally true. The art of craftsmanship
lies IN experimenting great permanent
truths, and setting them in their working
relation among men. One great trouble
IS that men do not half believe what they
think. There is just as much need OF
faith In moral yerities As there is of faith
IN God. There is just as much need of
faith in political affairs as there is in re-
llSloUs affairs. Now if the great uues-
tious which are agitating this country are
to be properly understood, and their de
mands met, it will not he until men begin
TO nave falth III moral verites as practical
things.
But these moral convictions of ours are
apt TO lack stability unless they have II
religious root. The college owes it to the
State to 90 ont into the world as the
apostle OF moral verities rooted in Him
who is the life and light of the world.
Now what does the state need that can
he furnished at your hands 1t
needs fine perception, to start with The
world Is suffering immensely to-day
Tor need OF discrimination. 1t needs the
man who has been taught to make this
line discrimination hHbitually and who
Will carry 1t into life, The world is full
OF lallacles. III our training has not been
IN vain, we should have learned many
things on that subject Men generally do
not hold thing up long enough to sec
what is in it, They leap to conclusions
before the evidence is half in There
should be more patience of investigation
and power of holding the judgment in
suspense until the process of delibera
training fits a. man for this. An
other thing which the college is
lifted to do is to clear away, to ascer-
tain what the world has really found fit
ted to enter into the life of men. A
shifting process is all the time going on
w no are the ones who can sift out
what the world has said MS its permanent
possession The men who have had time
TO inquire INTO the past life of the race
so the college should he able to point
out to men what has been tested and at
tested.
Much is to be done in clearing the dis
positions or men. The great danger of
This republic is not from illiteracy
There never was people equal IN in
tellgence to the American people. take
them altogether. Our danger comes
from a lack Of character rooted and
grounded in moral and religious truth
What shall the college for the State do to
avert his danger? In the first place it
recognizes it. 1t ought to be the first to
recognize the fact that the danger to our
repulic is on the moral side Who shall
take the lead in the matter | wish to
submit one reason why the University of
Vermont Is peculiarly fitted to take the
lead III the practical education of men for
the State: There was time when Bur
!lngton claimed to stand ut the head in
in this country in Christian phlosophlc
thought; and believe that she did. Now
II 1t Is claimed that these phlosophic
thoughts are mere distractions, they are
so only when they have not been thought
out N their relation to life-thought
INTO lie; These philosophic thoughts
nave IN them the potency of tremendous
plactCal FORCES among men. Now would
have the University take another step in
advance-bring all that is high in think
Ing into all that is practical in living.
mat is the field, and the field is the world.
But, 1t is objected, to enter into practical
political life with these high thoughts,
high aspirations, would bring us into very
disagreeable relations. Suppose that our
foretathers had said the same thing of the
assertion of independence How much
did they gain for us, how much of value
in the opportunity, if it is to be resigned to
corrupt men, incompetent men Now
what | plead for is that the refined, the
discriminating, the cultivated men shall
enter actively into political affairs. They
are ltted to govern, they can govern, they
ought 10 govern. That is the need of our
day. That is what will redeem this coun-
try,, under God, from the Things that
really threaten It,
This University is still in its youth.
Eighty years is rs one day in the life of
such an institution. If true 10 its real, its
glorious past, the past of the University
shall be but the happy prophecy of its in
in 1 no fttttt 70, b,,