The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29

| should pervade our people. Our scheme
of government in its beginning was based
| on this sentiment and any interruption
has never failed and can never fail to
| grievously menace our national health.
! Who can better caution against passion
and bitterness than those who know by
thought and study their baneful conse-
| quences and who are themselves without
| the noble brotherhood of higher educa-
| ton?
"There are natural laws and economic
truth which command implicit obedience
and which should unalterably fix the
bounds of wholesome popular discussion
and the limits of political strife. The
| knowledge gained in our universities and
colleges would be sadly deficient if it's
beneticiarics were unable to recognize
| and point out to their fellow citizens
these truths and natural laws and to
teach the mischievous futility of, their
| non-observance or attempted violation.
The activity of our people and their rest
less desire to gather to themselves es-
| pecial benefits and advantages lead to
the drought of an unconfessed tendency
| to regard their government as the giyer
of private gifts and to look upon the
| agencies for its administration as the
distributors of official places and perfer-
ment. Those who have had an opportu-
| u
buttons and who, in the light Of history,
have learned the danger to a people of
their neglect of the patriotic care they
owe the national life entrusted to their
keeping, should be well fitted to con-
stantly admOnish their fellow citizens
that the usefulness and beneticence of
their plan of government can only be
preserved through their unsefsh and
| loving support and their contented will
| IN, In, full h,
protection and opportunity which it i'm
| partially bestows. Not more surely do
the rules of honesty and good faith fix
| the standard of individual character in
Il community than do these same rules
determine the character and standing of
a nation in the world of civilization.
Neither the glitter of its power nor the
| tinsel of its commercial prosperity nor
| the guady show of its peoples wealth
! conceal the cankering lust of national dis
| honesty and cover the meanness of ma
| thoughtful. educated men should come
| thought full, educated men should come
| from our universities and colleges,
| preaching a general honor and integrity
and teaching that a belief in the neces-
| sty of national obedience to the laws of
, God is not born of superstitution.
Il do not forget the practical neces-
sty of political parties, nor do l deny
| differences of opinion touching legitimate
governmental policies and would by no
| means control or limit the utmost free
dom in their discussion.
81 have only attempted to suggest the
important patriotic service which our in
situations of higher education and their
graduates are fitted to render our peo-
pie in the enforcement of those immuta-
BILE truths and fundamental principles
which are related to our national condi-
ton but should never be dragged into
the field of political strife nor impressed
into the service of partisan contention
when the excitement of party war
fare presses dangerously near our ma
tional safeguards | would have the in
telligent conservatism Of our universities
and colleges warn the contestants in i'm
pressive tones against the perlls OF
breach impossible to repair.
"When popular discomfort and passion
are stimulated by the arts of designing
partsans to pitch perilously near to
class hatred or sectional anger, l would
have our universities and colleges sound
the alarm in the name of American
brotherhood and fraternal dependence.
When the attempt is made to delllde the
people into the belief that their suii-
RACES can change the operation OF nat
ural laws. | would have our universe
ties and colleges proclaim that those laws
are memorable and far removed from
political control.
"When selfish interests seek undue pri-
vatc benefit through governmental aid
and public places are claimed as reward
of party service, ! would have our uni
versties and colleges persuade the people
to REIMBURSEMENT of the demand FOR
party planks and eXhort them to a dis
;,t nd
government for its sake and because IN
its true adjustment and unperverted
operation il secures to every citizen his
lust share of the safety and prosperity
it holds in store for all.
when Il design is apparent to lure the
people from their honest thoughts ana
TO blind their eyes to the sad plight OF
national dishonor and bad faith, would
have Princeton Uniyersity-panoplied in
her patriotic traditions and glorious mem
cries. and joined by all the other uni
versities and colleges Of our land--cry
out against the infliction of this PREACHER
Gus and fatal wound. ! would have the
influence of these institutions on the side
of religion and morality. would nave
those to send out among the people gradu,
ates not ashamed to acknowledge God !
and to proclaim His intcrpOsition IN the |
affairs of men enjoying such obedience |
TO His laws. and make manifest the path |
of national perpetuity and prosperity.
IL hasten to cOncede the good already |
accomplished by our educated men IN
purifying and steadying political sentl-
ment: but | hope | may be allowed TO
intimate my belief that their work i'll
these directions would be easier and more
useful if it were less spasm0dlc ana |
occa sional. The disposition of orr peo-
pie is such that while they may be in
rlincd to distrust those who only on
rare occasions come among them from
m exclusiveness savoring of assumed
they readily listen to those
who exhibit a real fellowship and n
friendly and habitual interest in all that
concerns the common welfare. Such II
of intimacy would. ! believe,
not only improve the general political at
nospherc, but would vastly increase the
influence of our universities and colleges
n their efforts to prevent popular de-
usions or correct them before they
each an acute and dangerous stage.
81 am certain. therefore, that more
constant and active participation in
political affairs on the part of our men
v education would be of the greatest
! ,ssible value to our country.
1T is exceedingly fortunate that poll
rs should be regarded in any quarter
j. an nnclean thing to be avoided by
hose claiming to be educated or re-
,pectable. 1t would be strange indeed
anything related to the administration
# our government or the welfare of our
lation should be essentially degrading.
.T.saN I