New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-27
11r NEW PRESIDENT OF YALE.

The members Of the Yale Corporation, upon
whom the unexpected resignation OF fresiueh.
Dwight last November imposed the du'! Vi
clectins his successor. have maintained a hrh'
and sklIful reticence concerning their dehper"-
t,ous but toward the last they did not succeed
in conceallng from the public interested I'D the
matter the fact that the process OF excursion
WINS steadily strengthening the candidacy oi
Professor Hadley His election on Ihursua!'
therefore caused no surprise; ana thouen ID
couId not fail TO cause disappointment in some
ouarters there Is no doubt of its general accept
ability. or OF cheerful acquiescence on the part
of those who favored other candidates IN the ue
cision of the electors. Indeed. there IS no eVi-
dcnce that their final choice. made AFTER an op-
vjously careful and open-minded canvass VIII
nnt n serious strain upon the loyalty or any
croun of Yale men or any considerable NUMBER
~ ,ndividuals The president-elect can safely
rcly upon the cordial and faithful support OF MS
associates In the corporation and the faculty,
and of the graduates and undergraduates OF the
university. That he accepts the office with
serene assurance of such support his singularly
neat RESPONSE TO the enthusiastic greeting OF the
students on Thursday evening would seem to
indicate.
divnlped than the question arose whether the
cornoratIon would wish or venture to violate an
unbroken tradition and elect president VINO
was not clergyman, and there was some ex-
recitation that the discussion of that point would
develop considerable warmth OF feeling we
have no knowledge Of the inside history Of the
case but 1t is undoubtedly true that among the
alumni there has been a rather surprising alb
frnn
throughout the long informal debate when mas
been carried on. The fact, we think. is credit
able to all concerned, for 1t has testified 10
general conviction among the alumni that the
corporation would not convert precedent INTO u
principle Of action. and permit itself to be con-
trolled by considerations which were superficial
rather than fundamental. We said Immediately
after Dr. Dwghts resignation: 1T Is TO DC
"hoped, and it is probable, that the members OF
"the Yale CORPORATE on in their search for sue
"cessor to the wise and able man whose rule IS
'by his own choice near its end. will consider
that n theological degree is neither proof nor
| "disproof of fitness for the place they have 10
| fill" In the light of events it is safe TO con-
clude that this rational spirit has governed their
| deliberations and their choice. Professor Had
lev is not clergyman, but there is every reason
to believe that II he had been clergyman he
would nevertheless be the presdentelect or
Yale.
| it is said, not unnaturally but rather care
lessly that Professor Hadleys election marks
wide departure from the old order of things.
In reality it is essentially conservative. The
new president was born and reared in the at
mosphere of Yale. No one Of its graduates has
ever been more completely identified with the
university by inheritance, sympathy and asso-
citation He Is the embodiment Of its traditions,
its teachings and its living spirit. In sense
every change of administration is experimental,
and this succession to great post in the educa-
tlonal world must inevitably be regarded with
an interest not wholly free from anxiety. But
Professor 1Iadley has an ample title to the con-
fidence Of those to whom the welfare and the
honor Of Yale are most dear The university will
be expected to make great and perhaps rapid
| progress under his supervision, but the develop
ment will be along established lines and the
continuity Of purposes and in the main, OF
| processes, will be preserved.