New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-21
EX.yUDGE NOAH DAVIS PROTESTS.
HE DOES NOT APPROVE THE POLITICAL
DOCTRINES OF PROFESSOR WILSON.
OF PRINCETON.

HE DOES NOT APPROVE THE POLITICAL
DOCTRINES OF PROFESSOR WILSON.
OF PRINCETON.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: I have just read in The Tribune Of to
day what purports TO be an extract from an
address" by Professor Wilson to the students at
Princeton. desire to protest against the doc
trnes he announces
He declared" says the report that there 10
party leadership except in the machines
thence the machine is a necessity" The ma
chine" in the in which the professor uses
the term. is a great evil. may be made 50 in
the hands Of bad men: but IL by no means fol-
lows that 1T is necessity"
To teach the youth OF the country that II 10
so is TO do a great wrong What should be taught
ia that such machines not necessities
and that whenever they become "necessities'
they should be trampled down and extermnated.
What the professor teaches the young men OF
his college is in effect that they should keep
out of public life because the leaders and man.
ayers of our politics partisans mot patriots)
working for evil and not for the public good.
What should be taught Is the duty Of every
young man Of his college 10 take part In public
life, TO elevate politics. restore patriotism
and honesty In all public affairs. and be himself
true Americana man among men. and not a
miserable sneak" who is willing machines"
shall triumph rather than do his duty by aiding
to prevent their existence.
The college professor who does that r. worthy
OF all praise
The professor proceeds I'm bis address 10 wcrn
his pupils from entering political life II they
have not an independent living. because. he
says. the temptation to corrupt is too great
ia
pernIcious doctrine-a doctrine that would have
kept the humble boy Mckinley from the Presi-
dency which he so greatly honors. Il warn
YOU" says the professor. against entering public
life II you have not an independent living; the
temptation to corrupt is too great for most
men" This doctrine makes riches predominant
over virtues No man should seek Office, no
man should be active in political life nor seek
place to reform it's evils unless he has AN in
dependent living" Does Princeton seek 10 in
oulcate such ideas in its youth
II so she NAV well excam, "Oh for one hour
OF DR.. McCosh"
But in teaching such ideas Professor Wilson
thought 1t necessary to break the force OF Gov
ernor Roosevelt's example. In speaking OF him
he SAYS: Governor Roosevet's power In poll
tics whether in office or out Of office, lies In the
fact that he il not dependent"
What is this but assertion that II Roose-
welt were dependent" he too would be corrupt
This paragraph induced me to enter this pro-
test Can we have nobody in public Office how
ever pure his past has been, whose exemption
from debasement is to be found only in his
wealth?
God help our country II this be the case.
have known Governor Roosevelt from his
boyhood. and knew we'll his noble father Be-
-fc-r1 n
never lived devout Christian, devoted
| patriot all through the war seeking 10 aid his
country. and after it to care for the wounded
| and the widows and children OF its dead
Knowing him 30 well, came early to know his
son. and to admire in him the traits that made
| his father such truly Christian and patriot
citizen His father left him a grander inherf-
| lance than millions-an example which he has
| always emulated and followed
II Anglers me to hear il insinuated that his In
| tegrity in his high ONCE is dependent upon MS
| pecunary ability to live without corruption.
In every position he has held, whether IN
peace or in war; he has shown those traits tnat
mark him an honest man.
| It Is q shame for anybody 10 assert that hls
| integrity depends upon his independent means
Of living.
| Instead Of so vile an insnuation that the in
| tsoritv ~ such a man. whether in office or out
| Of office lies in the fact that he is not depend
| emit" the professor should have seized the &C.
| casion to show his pupils the true value OF such
a character whether rich or poor, and the
| nromptness Of the people TO honor him when
| they come 10 know him. for this integrity and
genuine traits OF virtue and patriotism
NOAH DAVIS
Pocantico Hills, May ~. 1899.