New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-07
TYF yEUN FROM CORNELL.

| The resignation of President Charles hen-
dali Adams. of Cornell University. is genuine
SUNRISE 1t stirs the higher educational circles
from centre TO circumference, ana prompts a
review of the history of his administration
When he was chosen for the place IN 1889 IL
u,s NOT nv unanimous consent OF those directly
Interested Far from it. large, not to say
rho I,roer part of the alumni of the institution
and many Of the trustees would have preferred
another man-the first choice OF most OF them II
T.o mistake not being Francis Walker. They
RECOGNIZED Professor Adams's ability as pro-
fcssor: they conceded that he had done mnch
good work at Ann Arbor, but they doubted MS
nossesson OF the requisite executive power
and IN any event they would have preferred
that the successor of Mr. Andrew ID. White
should possess a wider reputation. 1t is per
hans duc 70 them and to Professor Adams TO
add that the charge of literary dishonesty which
had been made against him they did not re-
gard rs worthy of serious consideration. Their
attitude toward him was one OF entire respect
but they sincerely thought that Cornell. if she
applicd the rule of the survival of the ittest,
would bcstow her presidency upon some other
educator.
professor AudHlS vi li'C'NiNl w
came President Adams Of Cornell in the fall of
1855. He proceeded to meet the best expccta-
tionS of those who had been active in securing
his election. and to dSarm all the rest of the
Cornell conting mt. He speedily demonstrated
that he was something more than student,
that the study and the classroom had not I'M
fitted him for administrative work. His in
Gucncc for good was felt in all the departments
In his inaugural he had maintained that the
university would strengthen herself by adding
to the regular curriculum courses Of elective
studies. and one of the first fruits of his adj
mini,tration was the adoption of this wise,
progressive suggestion. Later he successfully
advocated the establishment of a department
of Law-whch is now in a flourshing condi-
ton. After serving for five years he was able
10 report that the university was then more
prosperous than it had been at any time in its
history that while the standard for admission
had been raised ths number OF students had
increased in the five years from five hundred
to thirteen hundred.
In the circumstances il is only natural that
the resignation should occasion much specula-
ton President Adams had achieved large
measure Of substantial success and for all
that appeared to the contrary to the general
public his relations with his associates of the
faculty and of the Board of Trustees were har-
monious and agreeable. The explanations
which are offered Of his withdrawal are vague
and unsatisfactory, and will be generally re-
garded vc believe, as inadequate. IL is pleas
ant for the friends Of Cornell to reflect that
this resignation, however much il is To be re-
GREETED is not calculated to check the pros
pcrity of the university. She is too firmly
established for that. Men may come and men
MAY 90, but Cornell will continue 10 fulfil her
bcncfccnt mission with an cvcr-increasng force
and efficiency