The Indianapolis journal., 1892-05-22
THE SCHOLAR IN POLITICS,

The successful Inauguration of the
National League of College Republican
Clubs. at Ann Arbor, Mich, marks the
beginning of an interesting political
movement. The object of the league is
stated TO be Ito counteract the general
impression that college men are free
traders and foster the development of
healthy study of political economy from
practical rather than theoretical
standpoint, to encourage young men to
take more prominent part IN political
work. and by encouraging pure methods
place politics on higher plane" Parti-
san considerations aside. these are ex-
cellent objects for an organization of
young cOilegians to work for. Of strictly
literary societies, Greek societies and
kindred organizations there are already
quite enough in our colleges. The stu
dents need something on a different
line. College life is passed, for the most
part, in a purely literary atmosphere,
which, while 1t may be very conducive
to intellectual culture, does not tend to
develop the practical side of character
or familiarize young men with the COM
mon duties and responsibilities of Ameri
can citizenship. Literary and intellect
ual culture ought to tend to make
better citizens, but, as a matter of fact.
it often tends to give young men q dis
taste for practical affairs and implant
the seeds of disgust for what we call
politics. Most young men outgrow this
feeling soon after leaving college, but
not all do. and none should be required
to. No young man ought to leave col
lege with contempt or distaste for pol
itics. 1t is the duty of every American
citizen to take an earnest interest In
politics and try to impress himself on
the management of public affairs in the
interests of good government. The
better informed man is and the more
capable of taking high and broad views,
the more imperative is the obligation
upon him to take an interest in politics.
1t is one Of the misfortunes, we might
say one of the threatening dangers, of
the times, that educated men are dis
posed to hold aloOf from politics. They
cannot do so without, in a sense, being
guilty of treason to the Republic. The
scholar is needed in politics. He is
needed in public office. in the admins
tration of public affairs, in the shaping
and molding of public opinion. and to
assist in encouraging pure methods and
placing politics on higher plane.
of fha nlA nd no. of
ern colleges were represented at the
Ann ArbOr meeting by from two to five
delegates. The entire number of col
leRes represented was thirty four, of
which twelve were Eastern colleges and
the rest Western. 1t is doubtful if any
conference or convention has ever been
held in this country at which SO large a
number of high class institutions of
learning were represented. The move
ment seems likely to be very successful.
Already there are more than six thou
sand persons enrolled as members of
the various clubs, and the number is
rapidly increasing. The National Re-
publican League has decided to give
the College League use of part of its
space in New York TO be used as head
quarters. The league will be furnished
with an abundance of literature, to be
sent out from the New York office and
distributed to the different college clu bs
under the direction of the executive
committee. The president of the Col
lege League will make his headquarters
In New York from the end of the COL
lege year until the conclusion of the
campaign, and will keep in close touch
with the membership of the organiza-
tiOn throughout the country.
The Journal regrets to notice that but
one Indiana college sent delegates to
the recent meeting at Ann Arbor, viz,
Purdue. AT the next annual meeting of
the league we hope to see every college
in Indiana represented by full delega-
tiOn. Meanwhile the Republican stu
dents in all our colleges should prepare
for that event by organizing Republican
| clubs and State league that Will insure
unity of action and purpose. We should
like to see Indiana colleges foremost in
the movement to introduce the scholar
into politics.
THE NEW POWER IN BRITISH AFFAIRS.