The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-12-25

done to an classes-- 7easlfa Garland
e., " j. World
social ana Feonoaa.e DIGESTION. Ia the
college
AaeibeEs college. Cleveland, ia ths CoHsrs--
Social and economic questions are
the burning questions of today. They
, are to lie the burning questions OF
/ tomorrow. II American civilization
is to develop into greater elaborate
ness and more fitting adjustments, the
development is to be accompanied by
the discussion of social and economic
questions. These questions do not
belong to a stable social order. They
belong to an advancing OF declining
social order. The changes in social
and economic conditions which have
occurred in the last twenty years nave
created social and economic problems.
These problems are nowhere more
serious than in the new advancing
conditions Of the United States.
These problems are Of wide nclus-
small in comparison with what they
do. The vast domain of political
economy and social science is embraced
within il. And this domain covers no
small share of all the human relations
Of moderu times-all that relates 10
capital and labor not only in their
relation to each other but also IN their
u-nH 80. oil -F 81
number OF hours a day of work, the
limitation of such by statute, the
TighteOUsue of the accumulation Of
wealth. in large amounts, the limita-
ti0n of such accumulation by statute,
wages in all their manifold relations,
machinery in the manifold relations
which it bears to manual work, the
currency, the tariff on imports, trans
portation, the best method of distri-
button of prodgcts as we'll as of their
production, the causes of Industrial
depression, the periodicity Of crises
these and a thousand other questions
go to make up the one great question,
social and economic. Rut the prob
lem has an even more Fundamental
reiatiOn-it touches the very orguniza-
ton Of society. Competition has been
the basis of the economic order. Shall
this basis continue, CT shall combina-
tiOn take the place of competition2
The question is also Fundamental in
respect to the individual. Shall the
individual continue to be the social
unit, or shall society itself in some
aggregate form become the social unit?
The Importance of giving the right
ans wer to these questions it is impos-
sible to Oyer-estimate. American des-
tiny depends upon the answer. In
giving the right answer the colleges
should offer the highest and worthiest
help. These questions can be answered
only through careful thinking, exact
discrimination, disciplined reasoning.
Such intellectual elements the college
is suppose to train. These questions
also can be answered only 10y men who
have the good of their fellows supreme
iy at heart, who believe in ana who
apply the golden rule in the largest
way. Where shall the modern world
look for brains clear insight, for hearts
puie and strong, il not to the college?
Where shall the world LOOK for "a sym
pathy which is not Weakness, and for
Il helpfuluess which is not seIdshuess'
and for vigor of eudeayor which is
not spasmodic, if not TO the college?
But the colleges have as yet hardly
aroused themselves to the seriousness
of these social and economic problems.
The college, like the scholar, is inclined
to be a recluse; it loves its sIippered
ease. As it is itself far more spirit
uai than material, SO it is inclined to
hold itself aloof from the materialism
and materialistic methods of q ma
terial age. But the colleges should
b o impressed with the duties that they
owe 20 the world. They should know
the worth of their own power. They
should be make to feel how much light
they can shed upon dark and perplex-
ing problems, and how wise may be
the leadership which their teachers
may give to public opinion. They
should know that they are in the pres
ent world and at the present time, and
that they can do most for man
of the first decade Of the twentieth
century by doing the most for the
men Of the last decade Of the nine
teenth.
Even the colleges, which are most
inclined to keep themselves in touch
with public movements, seem to he
more or less remote from having the
closest sympathy with these questions.
No college has in these last years been
more inclined to be hand in glove
with public interests than Harvard.
Harvard offers several courses in politi-
cal economy to its students know
they are excellent courses and excel
/ lently taught. The study of Mills
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