New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-11
THE REPORT.

At Inc November meeting OF last year the under
signed were appointed spec!a! committee 70 con-
rreogntion hy the University OF distinguished pub
The nsunc.ency In existing methods IS obvious.
The subject under discussion in r. Bead at the
MIN Was ss Psoaysd pun
Hc spirit as well as courage and devotion IN dan
where this physician resides. earnestly desired
pine adequate rscognon for The public service zee
medical profession tha, could be conferred and
nothing better could be suggested Tran to mark
our appreciation Of this physician's service by
l'nnatural as this appears. there s the bad
within our gift OF that Of any other literary and
eHucatonal INSTITUTION, that would not seem more
Oe %, srccedents for such use
the ;itle Of IL y: Only few weeks ago enc CT
laneous use OF the degreeexpressins its PATRIOTS
admiration of public service without seeming 20
ohby aPpends isS t% Of Of me- t' B. to that Of
admiral, already given BY our Government 10 the
Dor Of Manila and added on archi5elago to the
domain OF the United States. To some OF us TINS
is almost AS homogeneous It would be 10 solve
the embarrassment Of congress about the proper
recognition for the gallant officer who saved an
other Spanish fleet from all temptation to run into
that humanitarian service with the tile Of doctor
Of divinity II either use OF these learned degrees
who shall yet hoist the American flag over santi,
But it may be assumed that the Board did not
have in mind when appointing this committee such
referred to. There exist admirable and ample de-
grees for cases OF that knd-suitabe: not neon
Giuous-in the proies sion adorned not In somebody
else's profession and fortuna ely grateful coun-
try Is not slow to bestow them.
There are other services not so easily CLASSIFIED,
and to the su!tao recognition OF which there Il no
such easy road. As ready example enough by
me an i%S boSnl e o wod to the
the Atlantic cable had nothing but n puD.c
banquet and the confla grafton OF City Hall. About
the only other available thing would hnv" been to
send him To Congress The British Premier of the
day said that II ne were 4 citizen to their country
Inc Government would haye high honors FOR him.
We had In the end. too for Congress unanimously
voted him It's thanks and a gold medal. hdt sufn
the Government service are 80 rare that they ma
almost be LEI, OF reckoning In the very field OF
ration what recognition has their own country
given to Morse and to Edison? Other countries in
France 10 Turkey We have practically 20 ready
and ACCEPTED mGihod for publicly recognising and
service iH, public. often most gallantiy and ie
yotedly renl"' q. by men IN no way IN 'hr Gov
f'Honneur as well as some other distinctions. Ing
land has perhaps dozen, altogether. outside her
them. We do not and II Is not clear that they
would he In accordance with the temper Of our pco-
tina; is beyond our province as Board - Regents.
What is clear TO your sp"rill committee Is that
authority to devise or conter other than educational
or literary degrees and that It's duty Is 10 b"stow
those or encourage their best"wal only for dIs'!n
cush@d merit and in where the degree IL
anprcpr!ate 20 the service I, is intended 20
nlc We may properly 'aic note OF The public
conspicuous service outside the fields either Of Gov
crnment employment or ~ literary end educa tional
activity; hut we constrained to exrrcss our
sense ~ The incongrri;y az using our degrees for
that purpose and o. our lack Of authority fer ad.
''''e' wHITEI.Aw RE,D.
ANSON J. TPSON
WILLIAM CROSWEI'L DOANE.