The evening times., 1900-07-12

admit that people can be properly educated
by wrong methods is 10 concede. almost.
that il makes no difference whether a man
goes to college or not; and if he does not
go to college-if that is not the sole reposl-
tory OF wisdom-the professor occupation
will be gone. That gentleman is therefore
loath to admit that there can be any radi-
cal defect in his methods or ideas The
colleges. generally speaking. are away be
hind independent thinkers and investiga-
tors outside educational circles.
There are few great universities where
thought is independent, but as a rule, in
this country. the teacher is not the ad-
vance guard Of progressive thought How
can he be? He is expected tc suit the
parents of his pupils and the trustees Of
the school. all Of whom wish him TO do
nothing that can be contrary 10 their ideas
OF learning and education. which are gen.
orally crude. So the college comes to be
little world within itself. in which auto
cratic government too often takes the
place Of free thought. and preconceiyed
opinions forbid independent investigation.
The world outside is viewed only in the
three months OF summer vacation. and even
then the educator is apt to regard il as a
pupil waiting for him to teach it some
thing. instead OF as a great living. think
ing. struggling mass OF humanity which
lives and learns without any OF his help.
1t is hard 10 convince the average college
professor that any man can be really well
educated without having some sort of di-
pIoma. or that the rough and tumble of
the outside world may teach a young fellow
infinitely more Of real life during the
years between eighteen and twenty-five
than any possible cloistsred existence in
a library or a laboratory could teach him.
Such master cannot prepare any man for
life How can he. when he does not know
himself what lie is?
The suggestion of President Tucker. that
young men should be prepared in college
10 earn their living in the profession OF
politics simply shows either that he does
not know much about modern politics, or
that be understands them tCo we'll. II
would be exceedingly convenient for SONS
people II a large body of young men. pol
ished, cultivated. intelligent. and eloquent.
NONtI ht ttdaAtl " btLtfc Win dli lutlI
hearts that the trust system was a good
and benefcent thing: If they would so into
politics and take their welI-disciplined con-
sciences with them, duly 10 impress the
great. unthinkirg. respsctability-lOvin
education worshiping element of our pop
ulatiOn with their carefully-grOWn ideas.
\ young man Of this type could make ar
guments in favor OF almost any system
OF iniquitcus government which would
sound attractive in the ears Of people who
like scphistry and long words. Many col
lege graduates. OF good family and some
fortune. are now bringing all the force OF
their fresh young minds to bear on the
condition of politics in this country. and
trying 10 improve it in radical ways. \
young fellow who is full of enthusiasm.
who knows his English constitutional his
tory and his political economy thoroughly.
and believes in reform CT one kind or en-
other. cannot make much Of a living at
politics. but he can make considerable
trouble for the supporters of the trust sys-
tenn. In Mr.. Rockefeller's Chicago univer-
sity pains is taken to keep the chair Of po-
litcial economy One-sided, so that the
young me2 there trained shall not imbibe
any dangerous radical notions. Does Presi-
dent Tucker mean that this kind Of train
ing for politics would be good?