The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-18
The Common Sense Of 1t.

The Minneapolis Tribune comes to
the defense of the practice of inviting
political notorieties to address the stu
dents of educational institutions 1t
hangs its opinion on the tenuous thread
of the argument that the idea is "to
place before the children and youths
examples of men who have risen to
fame under American institutions"
On the principle, we suppose. that "a
living ass is better than a dead lion,"
it would have school pupils taken from
their studies at any time to listen to
the words of any man who has got
himself prominently before the public
Great ability or representative merit
does not particularly count, since it
mentions, in it's own list of those whom
it is proper to honor in this way, some
men who have not risen by ideas, but
by the chances and developments of
party politics. If Senator Marion But
ler for example, is one of the STATES
men" whose personal presence would
prove more stimulating to the young
than the printed account of what he
has accomplished how could we eX-
clude Senator Tillman or "Sockless"
Simpson or the Hon. Jacob CoXey?
The proposition falls to the ground
of its own weight the moment the test
of common sense is applied. The coun-
orfi0 nj ,Iv RI cd
with statesmen at the present time,
and it has an oversupply Of peripetetic
politicians, whose continued prominence
depends almost entirely on the extent
to which they can advertise themselves.
One of the best forms of advertisement
is this touring of the country with
view to personal notice. The gratifica-
ton of this desire has no relation to
public education. We have found no
lack of ambition in our young people
in the past because they were not
brought into immediate contact with
the little great" men of their genera
ton. No boy or girl studies history
without being inspired to the utmost
by the noble example of those who have
served their country and their time
1t is not necessary to add to this, and
it does not add to it, to have them
called from their present duties to lis
ten to eminent politicians whose lives,
in many cases, are not a sample of the
conQuering force of modest worth, but
of the reward that follows persistent
and sometimes pernicious agitation and
a catering to the passions and preju-
dices of the multitude.
When the practice is admitted and
sustained, there is no rule by which a
ing representative of one party has the
right of entrance to schools and col
leges, the fact that these are sustained
by public support compels the extern
sion Of similar honor and favor to all
others. Institutions Of learning are
thus made mere adjuncts to personal
and party ends. We can conceive of
no loss to the young people of this day
if their knowledge Of it's principal po-
litical leaders is confined to books and
newspapers. It is very clear that the
contrary custom, which, as we have
said, must admit practically everybody
if it admits any one, tends to turn the
pursuit of learning into alien channels.
and to confuse or falsify the ideals of
youth. 1t is bad practice. It's error
becomes more evident with every nee
essary extension of it: and. if those in
charge Of public education do not per