New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-27
Mr.. REDS ADDRESS.

Then Bishop Doane introduced Mr.. Reid with
the words: Il do not presume to introduce to
this or any other American audience Mr.. white
law Reid but will say do so with great pleas
ure." Mr. Reid expressed his thanks for the
Bishops kind words. and then said:
successful, sef-made man. controlling great
capital and rightly called great captain OF In
dustry was recently quoted on the Pacihc coast
as deprecating the influences Of the colleges In
carving the general education OF the rising gen
Grafton too far. There was an instant outourst OF
wrath against the alleged desire Of capital and
monopoly to restrict the education Of the laborns
classes I happened TO be present when the casual
utterauce referred TO was made, and am sure that
Il nisconstrueo
On the other hand in document relating TO edu-
cational work in this State recently sent 10 some
of US with a request for an opinion about II, the
+sx- was taken from a paper containing the follow
ing curious remark:
"A conflict has been going In the State since
Colonial times between a democratic tendency
started and fostered by the Dutch. and an artsto-
cratic tendency brought in and developed by the
English The one gave rise TO the free public
school and the Department Of Public Instruction;
the other developed colleges. academies and the
Board OF Regents.
II This is history It seems new. Whether history
or not II Is false and dangerous doctrine. No man
can DO the cause OF popular education worse ser
vice than by teaching that little learning IS
democratic and therefore IN accordance with our
institutions while learning is aristocratic and
questionable. The thought may not be that OF a
dcmagogie but Il surely tends to demagogism and
mischief truer democracy was taught by that
ene product Of the New-York common school sys-
tenn who in founding one OF the largest universities
IN this State said: Il would found institution
where any person can ind instruction IN
ANY, study" The spirit that animated Ezra
Cornell would never breed antagonism be-
AN11 .y,4 . ~ 11f1ao
that that is an aristocratc feature Of our educa-
.,onaI system which encourages and aids the poor
est lad in the land to get the best education he is
cansble Of receiving Nor would the spirit Of the
,orsAeing and ver-to- aforementioned Congress Of
1890 which in the very midst Of the Civil War
,,ade nrinceIy provision throughout the continent
o., colleges where the leading object shall be.
rr,,bou, excluding other scientific and classical
studies and including military tactics 10 teach
sucb branches Of learning as are related 10 agri-
culture and the mechanic arts. in order to promote
the liberal and practical educa ton OF the industrial
olessea in the several pursuits and professions in
life"
roruesd nv these noble words and inspired by
,bes. hiyb and benehcent examples. 7 venture to
dsclare that he is a poor democrat and poor citi-
zen of a democratic government who believes that
a system OF education providing for advances be
vond the three Rs is undemocratic. There Is
absolutely no safety for popular rule save in the
b,shest possible average OF popular intelligence.
and that is derivable only from an education freely
omen 10 ALL and carried Just "a far. in each indi-
yidual case as natural sptitudes draw and circum-
stances allow.
The basis Of this education must always remain
the same But the world is moving. and the men or
the countries that keep up must move with It. Rest
ing on the primary common school foundation the
further development Of a true and useful popular
educational system must change with the times.
what the high schools. academies and colleges
range than a hundred wears Studies for the
professions still hold their old and important
Mace: nut provision must also be made for the
mulutudes who will never ind time or need for
these but do demand instead scientific or technical
studies In fact the most hopeful Developments in
recent years lie in the direction OF technical schools
and he would be strange reasoner who doubted
their advantage for the community et large The
very laborers on our streets have need now for
knowledge OF electricity beside which what we our