The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17

= snt in the opinion that law or usage
: ould be changed one would think that
it should be comparatively easy to effect
the change. But it is not 30. For the
point of greater difficulty is to agree on
a substitute for the unsatisfactory law
or custom. So it often happens that a
usage with which no one is satisfied
fingers years after it has been condem-
ned, like bridge adjudged unsafe.
We are thinking of the system of
examinations in general use in our
schools and colleges. 1t is rare that one
meets with an intelligent educator who
does not regard them as a delusion
They neither test scholarship nor pro-
mote scholarship. They put the en-
phasis in the wrong place-on the grade
and on passing" instead of on acquir-
ing mastery of subjects. They substi-
tute cram for knowledge. And they put
a strain on the nervous system of the
student which is gratuitous tax on in.
telligence. Yet the system is not re-
formed because educators are not agreed
on substitute for it.
The political pendulum swings to
the Republican side again. That puts
the responsibility on distinct party and
requires it to give account of it's steward
ship. This is as it should be. But the
Republicans will make great mistake
if they assume that the victory went to
them because they are Republicans. In
other words it will be blunder in them
to ignore their allies in this war. The
discontented vote was large: The dis
gusted vote was larger. Democracy was
defeated by Democratic voters, just as a
little while ago the Republican party
was defeated by Republican voters.
Bosses are at discount, the people rule.
Long live the people!
The overthrow of Tammany in New
York is the best result of the popular
revolution. This again could not have
been done but for the balloters. DR..
Parkhurst seemed for some time to be a
mere voice crying in the city wilderness.
He has his reward sooner than he could
have expected. But it should not be
forgotten how long and ably and un-
compromisingly the New York Evening
Post fought. almost alone, the battle of
decent politics and municipal emancipa-
ton, against the entrenched powers and
impudence of that organization AS
year after year the ranks closed and
Tammany came out triumphant, il
seemed as if the exposures of the Post
were futile. But it vas forging thunder.
bolts even when there was not cloud
in Tammany's sky.
james Anthony Froude. passing
suddenly away at 76. while his readers
have just in hand the latest of his books
a powerful study of Erasmus, renews
the reflection, that in our day authors
retain their mental force and their liter.
ary art to the very last. Mr.. Froude
was, we suppose, what Matthew Arnold
would call great writer. He did vast
amount Of writing and he did it all we'll
He was student and an original ex-
plorer. He created as much stir by his
history of England as any man who ever
wrote on thai mixed and inexhaustible
theme. In an entirely different way he
produced an equal sensation by his
manner of editing the memorials Of
Carlyle. Contrary to what is often the
fact, the second sober thought of the
public about Froude's history and his
Carlyleana confirmed its first thought
and left him with an impaired reputa
! ton for sound judgment