The San Francisco call., 1899-03-24

men of the greatest genius, equipment of
the highest order and absolute freedom
from interference of any kind, civic or &c
ClesiastiCal- The state has no more right
than the church 10 interfere with the
search of truth, or with its PRONUNCIATION,
when found
The university touches life, every
phase of life. at every point. 1t enters
into every field of thought TO which the
fixed abode far away from man; for il
goes 10 those who cannot come to IT. 1t
is shut in behind no lofty batuement. for
Il has no enemy which It would ward on.
Strangely enough. IL vanquishes its enc
mics by inviting them into close assocla-
ton with itself. The university is Of the
people, and for the people whether con-
sidered individually or collectively.
Democracy means in general the su-
premacy Of the people. Its essential prln-
ciples are equality and responsibility to
the public viii. But the public will must
be an educated one, capable OF intelligent
and educated judgment. Education, IN
deed. must be the first and foremost pol
ICY Of democracy. It is the foundation
which underlies all else.
The question I am asked TO answer is
this: What relation does the university
sustain to democracy? l beg the privilege
OF drawing my answer from the terms or
Hebrew history. Now the university is
the prOphet-that is, the spokesman or
democracy. Democracy. If II continue,
must include the masses and MAINTAIN
their sympathy in interest. 1t has not
been unified. for il has hardly begun TO
understand Itself. AS a principle 1t seems
10 be in the ascendency, but there are
still great battles for 1t 10 night. NO Won
der that il sometimes grows despondent.
No wonder that 1t IS sometimes corrupt-
But vet Ii has a mission, surely, and, II so,
that mission in a word is righteousness.
Democracy as an institution needs in
terpretatfon The past must be interpre-
ted in order that its lessons may be
learned IT'S mistakes avoided. The great
est danger is that there shall be ta1iure
TO maintain the closest connection with
the past. The present itself must be
known and Interpreted and the 1uture
must be considered.
wherefore I contend that the university
is the prophet Of democracy; the agency
esta blished by heaven itself to proclaim
democracy's principles. It is in the uni
versity that the best opportunity is al
forded TO investigate the movements OF
the past and TO present the tacts and
principles involved before the public. The
University is the prophetic school out OF
which come the teachers who are TO lead
university that must guide democracy
into the new fields Of arts and literature
and science. 1t is the university that
fights the battles Of democracy, Its war
cry being Come let us reason together
II is the university that in these latter
days goes forth with buoyant spirit 10
downcast. taking UP its dwelling IN the
very midst of squalor and distress Inc
university, maintain. is the prophetc
Interpreter of democracy, the prophet of
her mast in ali its vicissttudes; the pro-
nhet of her present IN all it's complexity;
The prophet of her future in all its posi-
The university, in the sphere of reli
gion. is a priest established TO act as
mediator. II is established to lead the
sOtIs of men and nations into closer com
roruion with the common soul of all hu-
n1anitv; established TO stand apart from
other Institutions and at the same time
to rningle closely with the constituent ell
ennents of the people; established to in
trod11ce whoever will into all the mys-
teries of the past and present, whether
solved or still unsolved.
ut is also democracy's philosopher. The
situation in which democracy finds her
self to-day makes serious demands for
severe thinking. BY severe thinking l
mean the honest and unbiased considera-
tion of all the facts which relate to de-
mocracy The prophet might be called
the preacher; the priest the teacher; but
the philosopher or sage is the thinker
and investigator.
You ask what questions must be inves
tigated I answer: Socialism is threaten
ing to deprive democracy of some of her
mocracy is able to cope with the problem
of municipal government. How can 1t
govern the hundreds of millions of people
gradually coming under its sway? What
Is to be said Of the relation of accumu-
lated wealth to democratic institutions?
What shall democracy do with corpora
tions? How is IL to do with its legislative
bodies? How can it place in Office only
those who are fit TO rule? How shall it
restore a fast decaying church to which
the masses of people are hostile?
Education is the basis of all democrat
ic progress; the problems Of democracy
are therefore the problems OF the uniYer-