New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
COLLEGE PATRIOTISM.

No American college needs to furnish new
testimonials Of its National spirit One and
all they have shown at this time that they are
flesh of the Nations flesh and bone OF It's bone
ready TO work In peace with their fellows and
to fight with them In war The country meets
no trial which they do not share and feels no
inspiration with which they do not thrill. Yet
II is with a new pleasure and with certain
exaltation that we note every added piece or
evidence Of the sound and healthy patriotism.
enthusiastic and at the same time clear-slghted
and self restrained, which animates the youth
who often appears to love nothing but football
and the professor who may seem to have for
gotten everything but books.
We think no American who read Professor
PERKINS, speech at the recent University meet
Ing in New Haven. which The Tribune pub
lished yesterday, could have failed to be both
touched and inspired by IT, II was full or the
manly seriousness, the strength and bravery.
the tenderness and the good common-sense al
ways TO be expected in the best American col
legcs His conservatism was no less valuable
than his declaration that the country's call
browns all voice Of complaint or chdng and
stills all discussion OF the preliminary ques-
lions over which thinkers differed. That patri-
otto spirit really needed no exposition but the
word OF warning and restraint TO unselfsh
aspirations and heroic enthusiasm, the reminder
that there were other solemn duties for youths
than fighting was most opporune. There mas
been some danger that noble impulses would
carry 10 the front immature boys from the col
leges who might serve their country better by
learning how to make the best use OF their
talents in after nfe. The Civil War carried
those BOYS fathers into the ranks as a supreme
duty and the sons in time OF stern trial would
owe the same self-sacrifice, but when men
whose going does not mean the giving up OF
education and the crppling OF future useful
ness nrc anxious 10 60 in larger numbers IMAM
the Government requires. the duty OF those boys
NAV b. quite "a much 10 restrain their hgh I'M
pnlc. toward action and do the duller work AT
lrs!ie At least II II well that they should be
made to balance the question In their minds
and not think that they can show their patriot
ism in no way but by enlStng
Professor PERKINS, quotation from fathers
letter about his son Is one for which he is
to be thanked 1t gives glimpse into an
American home OF tho kind which It Is the
glory OF any nation to possess. No land can
come to grief where duties TO country and to
self are considered In the spirit OF these sen
tenccs
While We share in his enthusiasm, and may
nerdon ourselves II think ~ inherited 20 n
certain extent. The need for soldiers IL not yet
so apparent 10 VS. as Il IL 10 him. II IL. now
eyer assuming too great n risk for us 10 check In
this how too r,idely q sense 81 duty which car
ricd his father through four years Of war and
which brought his mothers two brothers 10
their graves from gunshot wounds In me war
Of the Rebellion We must have a little time To
think If this matter and to talk II over WIN
him We want 10 keep his loyal spirit. ana
keep our only son II We can consistently out
II need be- the boy must 40 first
That recalls the noblest traditions or 1Sl
1t just1es Professor PERKINS, patriotic ooasts.
1t gives touch OF conservation TO the spirit
which. while Spain is closing fs universities
for fear Of rotng among the Students threat
ems 10 close our universities because the STU
dents throng 10 support the Government