The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-07-18
MOI DR.. Cleveland.

President Clevelaud's letter declin-
ing the decree Of Ill. d., rendered him
by Wilberforce University, has come
to light. 1t is polite but plain and
sensible letter, and evincesW6mmenda.
BILE good judgment. In these days,
when there is so much conferring of
degrees on sentimental or other insult
ficient grounds by institutions Of high
standing and such an indiscriminate
disposal OF such honors by colleges
that are colleges only in name, these
honorary titles have become nearly as
meaningless as military titles. There
are many thousands of captains and
colonels and generals who never mus
tered or sniff d the smell of gunpow-
der on battle field, and there is
host Of professors" and doctors" who
are self-tited or have had empty hon
ore thrust upon them. A degree that
has been earned at college is an honor
much to be esteemed and so is the
honorary degree which is properly
conferred by college or university OF
established reputation upon citizen
who has rendered such distinguished
service and evinced such splendid ca
pabilities as will justify the learned
body in paying deserved compliment
to his attainments. But the loose ex.
ercise of the privilege and the distri.
button of "honors" for purposes other
than the simple recognition of COM
manding merit have tended to make
the honorary degree questionable
distinction. We are having too many
"doctors" whose easily noted medioc.
rity i'll comports with their high
sounding titles. Titles have become
SO common in this republic Of ours,
people often can not know whether
they are deserved or not, and one
sometimes feels inclined to inquire of
the 'doctor" what institution is be-
hind his title just as one sometimes
feels like asking the Colonel" what
regiment he had the honor to COM
mand upon the field OF action.
l
But we have digressed little from
the subject OF President Cleveland's
letter. As successful and distin-
guished statesman he could doubtless
accept without fear OF criticism the
honorary degree DILL. d., despite the
fact that he is not a graduate from
any college-for men Of exceptiOna
ability and learning are not confined
to college grsdustes-but he has some
decided views OF his own upon the
subject aud has thus expressed them
ia his letter to the President OF Will
beriorce University:
M Dear Sir Your letter Of May
21 has remained unanswered thus long
on account of slight indispositior
| from which | have just recovered.
am very much gratified by the actor
OF the faculty OF your university in ex
pressing their desire to confer upor
me the degree of Doctor of Laws.
must, however, be entirely frank with
you, for ] have ideas, or, perhaps, pref
udices, on this subject, from which
find it impossible to escape. | am no
a graduate from any college Il wish
we're. | do not think ] am entitled Il
. a college degree, and few years agl
I resisted, in the lace OF much per
suasion, the bestowal OF such degre
7 upon me by Harvard University. Il
/. these circumstances / am constraine
|, to ask your faculty TO permit me t
maintain my consistency by folegoin
. their kindly intention. You and tue
may feel sure that | will otake the wi
for the Decd and be as much graf
fled by the action they have alread
), taken AZ il the degree were actuall
conferred -N0eapjHe P1u0og