New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08


S dohs IN the moral the mental the physical
FOR the emergency. The causes which produce him
ana the results which follow his actions may form
contribute to characteristics which mark a century.
- maesar Hannibal, Napoleon, a Peter the
World The generations which live in the period OF
etle activities Of such phenomenal genius either
blinded by its radiance. Centuries must elapse be-
aoIr we can calmly contemplate their powers or
ana caamlties through which their work assumed
form ana permanence.
MR.. CORNELLs WISE FoRETHOUGHr.
1t is our happier lot celebrate one Of those
minor events which is not a revolution but an
evolution. The Government Of the United States
suddenly discovered that II had a duty TO perform
toward the education Of the people The Federal
constitution made it necessary to act through the
states. Congress gave for this purpose a large
grant of land, and nearly a million Of acres came
10 New-iork. Schools struggling in financial
uHlcuitles. localities ambitious for institution
OF learning and spectators seeking the possession
oil the prize threatened the conliscation or dis
sipation of the trust The friends OF higher cduca-
'oh' who had hoped for great benefits to the
commonwealth from the wise administration Of this
luhd' were in despair. The wisdom and generosity
oI Mr. Cornell saved the honor of the State and
rescued the National gift FOR education. lie said:
noncehtrate this endowment. which is the only
way To get its benefits and | VIII add half million
uoIlars TO 1t from my own fortune" It is a signn-
o@nt commentary upon the ignorance ana greed
OF the times and the progress Indicated bv This
celebration that the state Of New-York cxact"I
from Ezra Cornell $1,000 forced tribute for the
privilege of giving 100000 Of his own money for fno
permanent benefit of her people.
,h ne selection and placing upon The market 10y
me several states Of these lands had reduced their
price so low that but fraction of the sum in
enueu was realized Then the business
nS S'CttN, foresight ana indomtdbie courage which
nad carried the telegraph to success again came 10
me g gunnc service The founder contracted wiz.
t,c state 10 carry these lands and bear all The
burdens Of maintenance and taxation until their
for which they dedicated The trust imnair.d
MS fortune. increased his cares and brought mon
strength and grandeur of this great ana 9 9ro
uaee hi are th1 living monuments which yndi-
,ha ne tgnres and results maryeousy demonstrate
land grant to all se at @I Ezra Cruel 90 The
VI Micn New. ork s alone was 9s992o acres The
which NeW-YorKs part Te b bm Gt N q s s OF
near 9ne,halt The money FOR one-tenth OF the
which have made New-York the Emn Gy eS S,nis
th tm ne Onlon, when the clock struck the hour
SnsWerc de W fG w a1a T$s equal to the
WAS IL was my privilege as young man AMI the
side Ezra Cornell. learned to love and revere
NM IN those days, so fun of the strife ana
passions OF the civil War. ii a wonder and in
splraton to listen TO the peaceful plans this prac-
uca philanthropst for the benefit OF his fellow men
IN. Inc times were big with gigantic schemes for
me acquisition OF sudden fortunes. and his col
lvdEueS c9uld not understand this most earnest
ana uhselhsh worker 10 most Of Thorn he
was a schemer whose purposes they could not
A
dreamer. whose visions would never matciiaiize
Ihese doubters OF "A quarter OF century ago
TEEN 1t an honor to have The opportunity 10 con-
tribute chaplet 10 the wrcaths which crown the
statue of Ezra Cornell
whose ramifcatiors extended All over the State and
embraced the strongest men of both parties 10
needs of the canals Tho measure was sprun.
suddenly upon the House and as chairman 81
the Committee of Ways and Means 1t ny
pared for the task. When the enemy seemed
I. *
took from it Il carefully arranged mass Of figures
and statistics. and placed ,hcm before me. II
have been gathering these for several weeks
he said. I'm order to make speech against
such full and complete retutations Of The claims
Of the combination that at the closo OF the
debate the proposed act was defeated and IFS
advocates so completely routed that /, was never
revived. lie cared more for the triumph or
as its advocate. 1t was this utter Oblivion to
ser sen whicn lea nm, hin TO e cd 59r
WINGED of its necessity and laid its foundations.
OBJECT or HIGHE; EDUCATION.
1t was the highest public spirit which moved him
to contribute 4 half million of dollars TO concen-
trate and preserve the Congr, fsoral land grant
1t was the nobility which rises above natural and
justihable Indignation that made him submit 10 the
toll Of $1,000 for the privilege Of grandly giving
OF his own. Il the spirit Of which martyrs
are made that inspired him 10 carry the land grant
through years of financial depression perilling his
fortune and imparing his health WIKI the bard -
only thousands realized millions II was the mar
tyr to the purest and lofticst sense OF duty bis
country and mankind who buried the larger part
OF his estate building the railroads which connected
his university with the transportation facilities 81
the country. But he secured for the people q seat
of learning which will be ever increasing In
strength and benehcence and FOR himself the gtat-
itude Of all succeeding generations and immortal
fame.
Textbooks and lectures only part Of an cdu-
cation. There is more growth w,,noUt than within
the classroom. The faculty NAV De ever 30 faith
The spirit OF college indelibly Impress its stu
dents. With the contury-oid foundations. II it Inc
treasured memories and traditions Of brilliant
past IT is the force Of the accumulated achieve
glory of the Republic. 1t matters little 10 Yale or
names with which nothing tangible can be CON
nected. 1t Is much-t Is everything to young
Cornell that her can be inspired by such a
The main object Of higher education through al
World dSe " had O not been tRoush neccsary to DO
much for women. either for earth or heaven. The
Puritans started the college win the setii-meht
but it was 10 train young men for the Christian
from the belief that Il university career Is worse
than useless except for the p9I iaW ana mrai-
foundly believed that the better fitted man was
for his nework 1.-The better his preparation for an
i'm nation Of workers, cared nothing for spccula-
tive philosophers. but had unbounded faith in the
The materiallsm OF time is frequently de-
nounced and cloquenty assacd. 1t Is IN sense
the protest OF the present against the past, OF the
practical prOgresssts against the musty school
men 1t gives people more and better homes
It's inventions add UNNECESSARILY to the cOmiOr
and happiness of lives. It's enterprise anc
energy develop our resources and increase our Ma
fiOnal wealth Gross materiasm which sacrifices
everything TO the mere accumulation Of money,
merits the censuTc ii receives but the real bcnc
factors of the world in our age Of hard struggles
and hot competition are those who do most to fit
both heads and hands for the needs OF the hour
Whatever blessings have belonged In the past 10
him who made two blades of grass 10 grow where
only one did before, equally earned by the man
whose locomotive or electrical device or machine
or engine has multiplied power and simpnhed
labor Every scientific or mining or chronological
or manual training school Is the outgrowth OF and
contribution TO our higher materiasm The
nov learning Is not assault but
largement Of the old. The splendid results OF
ancient methods keep firm their hold upon the col
leccs The training they give is equally beneficial
for business and the professions.
1t is the liberal education for ordinary pursuits
OF the great aims Of teachlng II would found an