The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-23

G~A P%0PAN. <AhAOAS AtNSC
I a an humble place. and as I yield TO
the In fiuences of this occasion. 1 cannot re-
sist the train of thought which especia ~ re-
minds me OF the promise of national safety
and the guaranty of the permanence of our
free institutions. which may and ought to
radiate from the universities and colleges
scattered throughout our land.
obviously. a government resting upon
the will and universal suffrage of the peo-
pie has no anchorage except in the peoples
intelligence. While the advantages OF a
collegiate education are by no means neces-
sary to good citizenship, yet the college
graduate found everywhere, cannot
smother his opportunities to teach his fell
low-countrymen and influence them for
good. nor hide his ia ents in a napkin, with
out recreancy to a trust.
TOLERATION ESSENTIAL.
In a nation like ours, charged with the
care of numerous and widely varied in
terests, a spirit of conservatism and tolera-
ton is absolutely essential. A collegiate
training, the study of principles unvexed
by distracting and misleading influences,
and a correct apprehension of the theories
upon which our Republic is established,
ought to constitute the college graduate a
constant monitor. warning against popular
rashness and excess. The character of our
institutions and our national self-interest
require that a feeling of sincere brother
hood and disposition to unite in mutual
endeavor should pervade our people. Our
scheme of government in it's beginning was
based upon this eminent, and its inter-
ot'h'C h-S = 4 diiCN anu tptt lCkSA I~Aii
to grievously menace our national health.
Who can better caution against passion and
bitterness than those who know by thought
and study their baneful consequences. and
who are themselves within the noble broth
erhood of higher education? There are
natural laws and economic truths which
command Implicit obedience, and which
should unalterably fix the bounds of whole
some popular discussion and the limits of
political strife. The knowledge gained in
our universities and colleges would be sad
" deficient If it's beneficiarieS were unable
to recognize and nOiDt ont to their fellow
citizens these truths and natural laws, and
to teach the mischievous futility of their
nonobServance or attempted violation.
1.-The activity of our people and their
restless desire to gather to themselves es-
growth of an unconfessed tendency TO re-
gard their government as the giver of pri-
xate gifts; and to look upon the agencies
for its administration as the distributors
of official places and Dreferment. Those
who, in university or college, have had an
opportunity to study the mission of our
institutions, and who, in the light of his
tory, have learned the danger to a people
of their neglect of the patriotic care they
owe the national ife ntrusted to heir Ike p
ing, should be well fitted to constantly ad-
monish their fellow-citizens that the use
fulness and beneficence of their plan of
government can only be preserved through
their unselfsh and loving support, and
their contented willingness to accept, in
full return, the peace. protection and OPP
portunity which it impartially bestows.
Not more surely do the rules of honesty
and good faith fix the standard of indi-
vidual character in a community than do
these same rules determine the character
and standing of a nation in the world of
civilization. Neither the glitter of power,
nor the tinsel of it's commercial prosper
wealth, conceal the cankering rust Of ma
tional dishonesty, and cover the meannesS
of national bad faith. A constant stream of
thoughtful, educated men should come from
our universities and colleges preaching ma
tional honor and integrity. and teaching
obedience to the laws of God is not born
of superstition. l do not forget the prac-
teal necessity of political parties, nor do l
deny their desirability.
VIA COLLEGES SHOULD DC.
81 recognize wholesome differences of
opinion touching legitimate governmental
policies, and would by no means control
or limit the utmost freedom in their dis
cussion. / have only attempted to suggest
the important patriotic service which our
institutions of higher education and their
graduates are fitted to render to our peo-
pie in the enforcement of those immutable
truths and fundamental principles, which
are related to our national condition., but
should never be dragged into the field of
political strife, nor impressed into the SER
vice of partisan contention.
When the excitement of party warfare
presses dangerously near our national Sa lie
guards, l would have the intelligent con-
warn the contestants in impressive tones
against the prrils of a breach impossible to
repair.
W x ~ civ cSl
are stimulated by the arts of designing
partisans to a pitch perilously near to class
hatred or sectional anger, | would have our
universities and colleges sound the alarm
in the name of American brotherhood and
fraternal dependence.
when the attempt is made to delude
the people into the belief that their suf-
frages can change the operation of natural
laws, l would have our universities and
colleges proclaim that those laws are mex
orabie and far removed from political con-
troll.
when selfish interest seeks undue pri-
vate benefit through governmental aid. and
public places are claimed as reward of
party service, 1 would have our universities
and colleges persuade the people to a re-
linquishment of the demand for party
spoilS and exhort them to Il diSintereSted
and patriotic love of their government.
for its own sake, and because in its true
secures TO every citizen his just share OF
the safety and prosperity it holds in store
"when a design is apparent to lure the
people from their honest thought and to
oiind their eyes to the sad plight of ma
tional dishonor and bad faith: ] would have
Princeton University. panoplied in her pa
triotic traditions and glorious memories:
and joined by all the other universities and !
colleges of our land. cry out against the in
Fiction of this treaeherous and fatal
wound. I would have the influence of these
institutions on the side of religion and NOR
ality. | would have those they send out
among the people not ashamed to acinowl-
edge God, and to proclaim His interposi-
ton in the affairs of men, enjoining such
obedience to His laws and make manifest
the. path OF national perpetuity and pros
perity.
Il hasten to concede the good already
accomplished by our educated men in puri-
flying and steadying political sentiments:
but ] hone I may be allowed to intimate
my belief that their work in these direc-
tons would be easier and more useful IL
it were less spasmodic and occasional. The
of our people is such that While
they may be inclined to distrust those who
only on rare occasions come among them
from an exclusivenesS, savoring of assumed
superiority. they readily listen to those who
exhibit a real fellowship and q friendly and
habitual interest in all that concerns the
common welfare. Such a condition of init
macy would, / believe, not only improve
the general political atmosphere. but would
vastly increaSe1 the influence of our univer-
stiles and colleges in their effort to prevent
popular decisions or correct them before
they reach an acute and dangerous stage.
POLITICS NOT DEGRADING.
81 am certain, therefore, that a more
and active participation in politi-
cal affairs on the part of our men of edu-
cation would be of the greatest possible
value to our country. 1t is exceedingly UNI
that politics should be regarded
in any quarter as an unclean thing, to be
by those claiming to be educated
or respectable. 1t would be strange indeed
if anything related to the administrator of
our government or the welfare of our Ma
ton should be essentially degrading. 1 be-