The record-union., 1898-08-02
ER-GRADUATES AND SOL
DIERS.


DIERS.
Agood deal of sharp and caustic COM
ment was recently INDUCED in because
OF an address by one of the professors
of Harvard's faculty, to the students of
that institution in which he advised
them to finish their study courses rather
than enter the volunteer army. In that
discourse the professor exercised his
right to criticize the cause of the war,
finding that the United States is not
justified in its prosecution, judgment
which is diametrically opposed to that
OF the mass of the American people,
and judgment, by the way which has
fallen fiat SO far as the address of tha
Professor is concerned, since despite his
advice 200 Harvard men have enlisted
in the volunteer army.
The structures upon the address have
been so broad as to fall upon the Uni
versity also and the institution has
caught it right and left, and in most
cases unjustly since the expression
criticised was personal. These crit
icisms have called out reply from
George f. Hurt, of Atlanta, a Harvard
student, who writes to his home paper
as follows:
Harvard is the home of free and in
dependent thought and research Here
they teach the students methods rather
than facts. According to the idea pre-
vailing at Harvard, it is better to teach
1000 men year something of the right
way to advance upon a problem and
the right way to solve it than to store
1000 minds with useless information,
soon to be forgotten So in event of
war, what view does Harvard take?
II the country is not pressed for men,
it is better to finish the training Of
those men now here. They and the
country will be better for it, Delibera-
ton and calmness, a long head and
good foresight are the possessions of
every true Harvard graduate. While
this composed old lady bears herself
with such seemly dignity in times of
such haste and mistakes, yet she has
given her heartiest and profoundest
blessing, to those two hundred odd
men who have replied to the countrys
call, and even now, she has arranged
for a splendid gift to her namesake,
the cruiser Harvard.
This brings the Atlanta Journal
to the front with a criticism in which
it is held that in modern warfare in
tellectual vigor brains and clear seeing
of things, along with high spirit and
physical vigor, are what the country
wants to employ in the army and navy,
that these qualities of the soldier count
for more than numbers. This is the
extreme view. 1t is to be conceded that
the intelligent soldier is a better one
than the ignorant and heavy-minded
one. But it does not follow that the
hIghly-cultured, the thoroughly edu-
Gated and the men of specially strong
intellects are so much more desirable
under arms as to make a small number
OF them more useful in the army than
large number of hardy, devoted, aver
age young men who are susceptible to
discipline and inspired by love of coun-
try, and Of adventure.
In commands there must be brains.
Of course, and cultivated brain power
| unQuestionably adds to the equipment
of the officer. An ignorant, slow think
ing and dull officer is infinitely worse
than none at all in command The
New York Times" remarks that it
may be better to choose mature men
who have had university education and
are devoted TO the cause, as they would
make better soldiers than the half
| baked undergraduates. We should say
| that the question of graduation has
very little to do with the matter of
| fitness for the duty of the soldier 1t
is conceded that our regulars are good
| fighters, are finely disciplined and have
never shamed the service. But how
many graduates of universities are to
| be found among them?