New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-20
TIE VIE PRESIDENCY.

THE YALE PRESIDENCY.
Or. Dwght's intention OF retiring from the
presidency Of Yale ut the end Of the present
academic year was evidently well-kept secret
| but the surprise which his announcement hai
caused Is greater than 1t would otherwise have
been. for the reason that the approaching hi
centennial celebration has enlisted his ardent
interest and will he an event with which he
would naturally wish to be officially associated
In that fact Is found complete PROOF or the
sincerity OF his conviction that his age makes
his resignation suitable and advantageous. fot
il can scarcely he doubted that his personal in
cllnatlon has tempted him to extend his term
over the Iniversty's two hundredth anniver-
sary He has shown. at least in public no signs
Of feeling the pressure of advancing years, or
manifested desire TO be relieved of any part
of the multifarious work which devolves upon
a president of Yale; and TO those who at recent
alumni meetings have remarked his bodily
vigor and mental elasticity it has seemed that
he might retain his great office for another
decade to his own satisfaction and that of the
University. And yet if his capacity for con-
tinued service enhances regret at his retire
ment II also justIfes the hope that he will live
long in the enjoyment of well-earned repOse.
The problem Of choosing a successor to Pres
ident Dwight. so suddenly assigned TO the Yale
corpora ton. Is bound TO arouse intense Interest
among all graduates OF the University. and the
interest will not he confined to them Already
speculation has begun. and n dozen possibilities
have been suggested. Such a canvass Is as
desirable as II is inevitable. for there are few
duties more important and more difficult than
the duty Of putting a new man AZ the head OF
great institution Of learning. In this case
there is no one 10 whom the general opinion
Of Yale points the natural successor of Pres
ident Dwight as most of his predecessors. If
not he himself. were designated. II is an open
field for this reason. and for another reason
there is likely to be wider range OF consid-
GRAFTON than there has been heretofore. The
tradition that the president of Yale must be
clergyman has had almost the force Of a
charter provision In the past. but there IS sub
stantlal reason 70 think that II will not control
the next choice This is By no means equiv
aent to saying that clergyman will not be
chosen, but If the long line Of clerical incum-
bents remains unbroken tradition will prob
ably not have much 10 do with it's continuance.
The corporation of Yale Is q body Of liberal
minded men, or nj least Is controlled by men
OF liberal minds. over whom the progressive
spirit Of the age may be expected TO exercise
a legitimate influence. But for the same rea-
son II is not likely 10 exaggerate the merits Of
an innovation.
One thing seems 70 us certain: Those who
arc preparing to oppose the appointment Of
clergyman merely because he is a clergyman
will find themselves confronted with extracr-
dnarily impressive proofs of the sagacity with
which the material rs we'll as the intellectual
and moral interests Of Yale have been man
aged. Her clerical presidents have not been
igurehea1s They have possessed large author
ity and they have been in the habit of using
II all And under their successive admnistra-
tons the college has grown into a University
by natural evolution. has increased enormous
ly in attendance and equipment mas made sur
prisingly few poor Investments and stands to-
day among the foremost examples of progress
slve conservatism in the world. Those who
think that better record might have been
made and that II IS time for n new departure
will not easily demonstrate their proposition.
1t IS to be hoped. and 1t Is probable, that the
members Of the Yale corporation, In their
search for successor TO the wise and able
man whose successful rule Is by his own choice
near It's end. Will consider that theological
degree is neither proof nor disproof Of fitness
for the place they have TO fill.