Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-06-17
''Whence Reforms y
Remarkable Editorial in a
Gold Republican Paper.
Courageous Indictment of ofCowsrdly Con-
servatism Of Culture.

Under the heading "Whence Re-
forms9" the Eugene Register prints a
remarkably truthful editorial. Its
editor is a gold standard Republican,
son Of a college professor. graduate OF
the same college, and the editorial ap-
peared in the same issue with re-
port of the college graduation exer-
cises. Here is the article:
"wHENcE REFoRMs?"
Apropos OF Commencement week,
a season when from thousands Of col
leges Of our land go forth tens OF
thousands of youthful idealists,
primed with the roseate vision OF
scholastic reform, 1t is suggestive to
inquire, whence have come the great
reforms Of the worldP Have colleges
and universities, have churches them.
selves, brought about the great re.
formations of civilization
On the other hand, have these
great movements not originated ia
poverty, obscurity and often Hitter
acy?
Colleges breed conservatism conser-
yatism precludes radical reform, and
hence colleges follow rather than
lead In the great reformatory move
ments of the worlds history.
This we notice not as an argument
against higher education. for in it we
thoroughly believe, but rather as a
plea for the correction of bliRhtinp
abuse on the part of those "whC
knoweth TO do good and doeth 1t Dot. ,
Perhaps two of the greatest reforms
of history are incorporated in the de.
velopment Of English freedom anG
the abolition of American slavery.
In England the great Gladstone
stood for the enfranchisement of the
free born Engllshmen. He was op-
posed by Disraelil, who tenaciously
clung to the hidebound tenets Of royal
divinity. Where were Oxford and
Eon? Eton disclaimed and de-
nounced her graduate VIM, Ewert
Gladstone.
In America in our long struggle for
freedom, lasting for more than gen
Grafton, wherein the emancipation
of human hearts and bodies was pit
ted against the selfish money in.
terests and brutality of the slave
power, Harvard college was either ac'
tlvel, hostile or wholly Indifferent,
In saying this, we do not forget
the services rendered to the outraged
world, by sons Of Harvard, but these
sons were ostracized by their Alma
Mater.
When Charles Sumner was deliver
ing those priceless orations In the
United States senate which set ting
ling the nerves of the nation and the
world; when Wendell Philips, master
of more than Grecian eloquence, wal
pleading the cause of human freedom
In tones that have reverbrateG
through the domes of time, and wor
to his cause all uncorrupted hearts
where was Harvard?
When Theodore Parker was educa-
ting in political ethics the American
people, and making every coward
tremble beneath the force Of those
matchless sermons Of keen cutting
argument and sarcastic power, where
was Harvard college9
! Meyer one word encouragement die
1t speak to its bleeding sons; net one
word of'praise or recognition did theil
Alma Mater extend. On the contrary
they were frowned upon and ostra
cised in those halls which they were
born TO grace. Harvard college dis
owned her heroes.
When Wendell Phillips delivered
f's memorable address at Harvard OF
"The Cowardlce Of American Scholar.
ship" 1t was too much for poor weel
Harvard and the hero was prosecuted
as truly as were the witches Of Salem
Harvard worshiped Daniel Webster
but hated Sumner aud Phillips.
When Sumner said ito Webster "yor
have been the champion OF the con
stitution, now won't you become .th'
champion OF humanity" he voiced
the difference between Haryardi
scholarship and the scholarship o.
God.
Harvard represented the college
"culture" OF America which believed
with Rev Godfrey, of Georgia, who
wrote a book on the Baptism OF tn,
Negro" in which he argued that 4
he baptized a negro it made him 4
90 ~ -.