The evening times., 1900-02-06
College Presidents.

The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune
in dealing with the affairs of a oertala
university in the Middle West, expresses,
frankly and forcibly, a view of the n gher
education which ought to be UNIVERSAL.
The president of this university has mad
some trouble with his subordinates, and
removed some Of them for alleged incom-
petence. Il is claimed that the manner OF
this removal was not fair, kind, or gen.
tlemanly With this particular case tie
general public has no especial concern
but the remarks which the 'Commerc al
Tribune" makes on the subject ought TO
be quoted in every paper in the county
II says:
..V7st - university profited if it make its
sf5,deutS able crafty. skilltul. and Yet does
NOT make them high-strung, honorable men OF
women. And how can a university nope 10
make fearless gentlemen OF ITS boys. and con
firm In fearless wonanhood it, girls, If its oWli
official acts do not breathe OF the ldealE A UNI
yersity can pull through and he great iolCe
for good in spite Of a poor equipment IN spite
Of interior mentality in its teachers, IN slhie
,.t a thousand purely intellectual failings. But
il can never. noi even II At have AL the equip
merlt in the world and all the genius upon
earth ha truly great and good force unless
It's intellectual influence be JransceRded 10y lls
moral one The president Of a university may
fail in mentality. and yet, 10y reason OF nome
and inspiring character do good 10 his ihsti-
tuition Bnt il he fan in character, II ne De
harsh sliperciliolIs OF brutal. his mental qua1-
fcafions count for nothing. In a word, lle
prime function Of a university Il the uPbuiId-
ing ot character All other considerations no
matter how momcntous. are secondary!
our forefathers dimly perceived this
truth-some of them. indeed, saw it clear
ly-and as a result of such convictions,
clergymen were often appointed as presl-
dents Of colleges in the early days of the
Republic There was reason for this in
the fact that. educated men were fewer in
proportion 10 the whole population than
they are today, and the clergymen who
came from England to take charge of
pioneer parishes were apt tC be men Of
rather superior qualifications in their day
SRut at the bottom of such selections lay
the feeling that the influence of college
/ ought 10 be moral influence; and in those
/ DAYS morality and the church were so
/ closely associated in the popular mind
that one practically involved the other
I Nowadays we know that not only are there
! inrumerable good, conscientious. and able
men who are not churchmen, but the hori-
/ zon of thought has so broadened, investi-
] CATION so ieepened that the man who can
! do the best work in a college i generally
/ the man unhampered by the necessity Of
preaching any definite doctrine. But tear
: does not change the fact that in the choice
OF a man to fill the position OF president OF
4 a college. or head OF school, character
is above all the important thing. The
president. il he be gifted in the manage
ment of men. and able to recognize ability.
( can secure any number of specialists 10
instruct the students in mathematics, nat
ural science. the languages; his position
demands rather a broad and liberal culture
than great special knowledge in one or
/ more than one department. He must be
alert. progressive. appreciative OF the fo:ce
and value of every new movement; he
must not be prejudiced in favor of old
methods. nor too eager to adopt new ones:
! ne must be we'll balanced and well-in-
formed But it can be stated without the
! slightest reservation that il he is net up
right. and Just and honest in his dealings
with those about him; if he lacks av-
ery truthfulneSs, generosity. all the cul-
ture that he may have will go for Meth
ing The great college presidents are not
/ Remembered for their books or their ser
mons. but for their influence on the stu
dents College boys are more sensitive
4 to injustice, more quick TO detect sham,
more loval to their real friends, than any
/ other class of people in the community;
/ and when the boys cheer their president.
/ and flock to his lectures, and speak OF him
with enthusiasm. be is reasonably sure TO
/ be man worth respecting. 1t sometimes
occurs. when the president of college
/ is mere figurehead, as too often hap
pens. that the reputation of the place is
/ kept I'D by the inspiring personality OF
/ two or three professors; but their in
/ Huence cannot mold the life of the insti-
tuition as can that of the recognized head.
1t is time to- recognize the fact that
! something is wrong with a college preSi-
dent who is not popular with the students
Their, feeling is the touchstone of his
1 character He may be msnterpIeted by
! older people: he canpot escape the srutiny
! of these quick eyed. keen witted boys; he
cannot compel their loyalty, nor can he
pass off on them a counterfeit. They are
not bound by law or self-interest, but by
the influence of personality; they are at
an age when humanity cares little for per-
sonal ends. and does not take kindly to
roundabout methods. The boy who cur
ries favor with the professors loses the
good opinion of his fellows; he may have
an honest friendship, but not a polite
and seryile acquaintance. College boys
will sometimes speak with hearty liking
of professor who is unduly strict and
harsh: they never respect or willingly
obey one who is insncere.' If insincerity
in any form is allowed to creep into the
spirit of college, that college is doomed
1 10 90 TO the wall sooner or later.