Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-26
A NEW PILOT AT THE HELM.


Now that Hon. Horace Davis has been
installed with fitting ceremonial into: his
high office as President of the University,
the people will be justified in expecting
permanency in that chair. Nothing can
be worse for developing institution of
this character than repeated changes in
its head. Our University has suffered ON
this account, but we trust its trials in that
direction are at an end. The choice of
Mr.. Davis was a very deliberate one 1t
was largely influenced, no doubt, by the
fact that the new chief is a Californian;
that all his interests, hopes and ambitions
center here, and that as thoroughly as any
man in the State he knows the people with
whom he is to deal
There is immense strength in the har-
mony Of the man with his environment in
any station. Injection of new blood into
educational institutions we have believed
in, and do still, because it prevents us
from repeating our errors. For this rea-
son it is wise to introduce teachers from
other States, now and then, into the COM
mon schools that we may profit by varied
experiences under many systems. But
this does not apply in the case of the Ex-
ecutive Of the University. In that in
stance it is essential that the President
should be thoroughly familiar with the
State, and especially with its people;
know their characteristics and understand
the local social fabric from the foundation
to the cap-stone. In Mr.. Davis this re-
quirement is filled, while at the same time
we secure intellectual and scholarly ability,
with executive capacity born of intimate
relation with great business interests and
broad political experience
We are justified in looking for the same
devoted interest being given to the Uni
versity by Mr.. Davis that he has mani
Tested in business, and in forwarding the
material interests of the State generally.
A faculty binds itself to the Intervals of
the institution; of necessity its horizon is
limited by the curriculum of the Univer-
sity, while its relation to the State is but
secondary at best in faculty estimation.
The Regents are called to their duty as an
avocation only, and cannot be expected
to have that constant and abiding interest
in the affairs of the. University that will be
felt by President who takes pride not
only in the institution itself, but in the
State of which it and he, in sense, are
products. Mr.. Davis unquestionably takes
up his new task as a life-work it is not to
him mere question of few years of ex-
pertinent, or one Of salary to be shifted by
an offer of Office with greater rewards
elsewhere. He goes into the Presidents
chair not merely to fill it, but to elevate
the University in public esteem, and to
educate the people into broader and clearer
conceptions of its importance to the Cali
fornia scheme of popular education.
The inaugural address of the new Presi-
dent-and which gives us a brief view of
the man and his aim-is distinguished by
clearness of view, practical and common
sense ideas, and broad and far-seeing inten-
tons regarding his new work. 1t is en-
phatic in its vigor and yet promises moth
ing which the past life of the new Presi-
dent does not give warrant us to expect.
The State is to be congratulated On his
Inauguration, and we think we see the
time not far distant when the people will
realize that at the head of their chief in
stitution of learning they have placed not
only an executive, but one who will de-
yelop new motive power for it; who will,
in other words, bring the people and the
University closer together, and thereby
draw from the former the elements of new
force for the advancement of the latter.