New-York tribune., 1901-04-21
HARVARD And TIE PRESIDENT.

II probably makes very little difference TO
President Mckinley whether or not Harvard
University makes him a Doctor of Laws at
the coming commencement. 4 degree from that
Institution would be compliment that any man
might properly appreciate. But il cannot be
said that II would add especially 10 the fame of
William Mckinley or that the lack Of it would
consign his name TO oblivion. 1t may be
doubted if the student OF fifty years hence in
estimating Mr.. McKinley's character and
achievements would attach the slightest impor
tance TO the fact that Harvard University in
1901 gave him the degree neglected 10 give it.
A man who has been twice elected President of
the United States who served for many years
in Congress, who has received honorary degrees
from universities not less eminent than Har
ward, is neither 10 be made nor marred by n
question Of three letters after his name Har-
ward is perfectly free TO grant or withhold its
degree without giving anybody. least of all the
President reason TO be sorrowful or even hurt
and the controversy which has sprung up is
chiefly interesting, not as it concerns the Presi-
dent, but as it reveals the spirit of certain Har
ward men toward those with whom they do not
politically agree.
1t ts said that the Harvard degree Is "essen-
'ttally a mark Of scholarship TO be conferred
upon scholars and should not be conferred
upon, officials. and that since the custom Of
making the Governor of Massachusetts Doctor
OF Laws was abandoned. it has become prize
ito be conferred only upon recognized leaders in
science and art-great scholars in the broadest
Sense" As 10 the Harvard doctorare being the
boast of great scholars only. the question may
be asked. What had George Washington done in
l776 TO cause Harvard TO give him the degree
OF Doctor of Laws. a degree it had conferred
only once before in all ITS history: Similar
honors were conferred en- Horatio Gates after
the capture Of Burgoyne not exactly a scholarly
Achievement Charles Cotesworth Pinckney,
Timothy Pickering. Henry Clay. Lewis Cass and
Hamilton Fish were men of affairs rather than
scholars. Andrew Jackson an ignorant
man. but when he WAS President Harvard made
him Doctor Of Laws. 1t did the same to L. s.
Grant. though he was not in the least learned
man; and to President Hayes whose scholar
ship, like Mr.. McKinleys. was that Of q success
full lawyer who had been to college Winfield
Scott was also n Harvard doctor not because
OF bis eminent scientific attainments-fo he
hnd none-but because Of his office as COM
mander Of the army. But these degrees were
conferred before the emancipation from bad
habits which came with the passing over of
Ben Butler and the declination Of President
Cleveland of fhe honor Harvard was about TO
confer upon him as President. notwithstanding
his lack OF pretens,cn 10 scholarship. The lists
since that day. however. show that Harvard
gave its doctorate 10 Richard Olney when he
became Aftorney-General. In 1893. though he
was not recognized leader in science and
art" 1t conferred similar honors on General
Miles in 1895 ana on General Leonard Wood in
1890 Neither Of these men is a great scholar
in the broadest sense" The former had just
become the major general commanding the
army. the latter had been a gallant oficer in