New-York tribune., 1899-06-12
A NEU-YORK INFLUENCE.

The Influences Of q great city are many.
Whether purposely or not. it continually exerts
forces making for good or for evil, not only
upon its inhabitants, but upon the whole coun-
try round and all that dwell therein. One that,
like New-York is the unchallenged metropolis
of a nation sends out its influences upon the
whole nation. NewYork does so. Some of
those influences are undoubtedly evil. The po-
ltical corruption. the social vices the selfish
ness and greed that here find their chief centre
poison TO some extent every municipality and
community in the land. But antidote swiftly
follows indeed accompanies. bane. Every blow
struck for reform here is recchoed elsewhere
Every effort for purer life, every deed of gen.
eroSity, Is an example and q stimulus to all
other communities And could the balance be
struck we doubt not that it would show that
on the whole the influence Of the metropolis
is for good and not for harm.
The last week has brought an impressive re-
minder Of one potent influence Of New-Iorl
not always esteemed at It's full worth. The two
great universities which here have their seats
held their commencement exercises. They
graduated nearly onc-fifth Of their army OF
students About nine hundred young men and
Young women were sent forth to their work in
the wsrld, not merely labelled with university
degrees but endowed with university culture.
More than that. They are endowed with metro
pOlltan culture as well. and that Is no unimpor-
tant thing They have studied for years In
two Of the best scholastic institutions on the
continent, and they have also, whether con-
sclously or unconsclousy, studied in the
school OF metropolitan life and industry and
enterprise. In few other seats Of learning do
| thought and action come into so close and
mutually influential contact. These graduates
have the inestlmabe advantage Of being at
| once scholars and. in the best sense, men and
women of the world They have received the
university spirit and they have received as
we'll the metropolitan spirit.
II Is no small thing for this city to have
within Its limits these two institutions. con-
tanning together some five thousand students,
and graduating nearly thousand each year.
To send each year a regiment OF troops to the
! National service would be a fine thing It Is
better TO send each year this regiment Of schol-
ars to do service for the Nation, not on some
circumscribed battlefield. but In every part OF
the whole lsnd For they come hither from
every State and Territory and from the newly
acquired islands Of the sea. They return
thither bearing not only their diplomas but
the culture for which those diplomas stand
They bear 10 all parts Of the land the infu
ence. the spirit, the genius. not only of Colum
bia University and NewYork University, bu
OF the city OF New-York Itself OF such work
Of such influence the city may well be proud
Emerson reminded us that the true test O'
greatness is not the census nor the crops
but the kind of man the country turns ont
We may reckon the city's greatness b,
It's size, its population. its wealth. its com
merce, It's manufactures its social splen
doris, Its charities But we shall do Ill II W.
do not also take into account the regiment o
university graduates which 1t contributes ever!
year TO the forces Of light and leading. which
more and more dominate the land
There Is other indication OF the city
greatness more honorable. And there is u
other source OF metropolitan influence NOR,
worthy Of the regard and support OF the peopl
. Of the metropolis 1t Is given TO few iarg
. cities to have within their limits 80 copiou