The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26

6uANS 10 enlargement
Grover CIeveIand's Address.
Former President of the United States
Grover Cleveland followed President Pat
ten in an address for the board of trustees.
He spoke as follows:
II hope I may be allowed to refer at the
outset TO the manner In which am moved
by the stately dignity OF present surround
ings, and thus give a hint of the impressive
erect which such exercises as these are apt
10 produce on those who lack personal init
macy with university experiences and in
cidents. This thought leads me to suggest
the great Importance and desirabillty or
people OF our land in favor of higher educa-
ton. IL is largely from their ranks that
recruits are to be enlisted for Studentship
in our universities and colleges; and surely
neither attenuated refinement in educated
circles, nor a self-satisfied aristocraCy
among educated men. should misinterpret
to the unlearned the mission of these insti-
tuttonS. ManifeStly they cannot, and even
If they could, they should not live for them
selves. nor for their professors and teach
ers. nor for their graduates, nor yet for the
educated whoever and wherever they may
be. On the contrary. it should never be
forgotten that our colleges and universities
cannot, without loss of their most useful
opportunities disregard any means of COM
mending the substantial advantages they
are able to offer to those less fortunate in
educational condition. This conception of
close interest and reciprocal benefit which
should exist between the agencies or
higher education and the unlearned masses
of our people is not new at Princeton Uni
versity.
I'VE have fallen upon days of rush and
change-when old ideas and processes are
deemed too slow to meet the demands or
what is called modern progress, and when
novel and accelerated notions have In
Vaded the business, the politics, the social
life, and even the religion of our people
How can we be certain that old and here
tofore approved theories of higher educa-
ton are in no danger OF being caught IN
this furry? Already there seems TO be an
inclination abroad to adjust the methods Of
university and college instruction to the
apparent needs of advanced conditions ana
new exigencies We hear much said in IA
vor of but slight restriction upon the cleo
ton by students of the branches OF study
they will pursue; 1T is often asserted that
the old course of college study is too long,
and that students are thus belated in their
entrance upon life's activities; and consid-
cradle discussion prevails In university ana
college circles concerning the extent and
quality of instruction that should be at
forded in preparatory schools.
"Princetons conservatism is one OF her
chief virtues. but Ii Is not of the stubborn
sort that refuses consideration of changes
which promise through their inherent and
independent merit better educational re-
suits and better prospects in life for those
intruSted to her care 1t should not, how
ever, be expected that she will so far dis
regard the law of her origin and become so
unmindful of her revered traditions and
splendid achievements as to depart from
her habitual course for the sake of acting
in sympathy with importunate restlessnesS
and doubtful innovation. We of Princeton
are still willing to declare our belief that
We are better able to determine than those
coming TO us for education what is their
most advantageous course of instruction,
and surely every phase of our history justi-
fies this belief. We are. however, by no
means unwilling TO so shape our curriculum
without surrender of clear convictions as to
expedite our graduates subsequent prepare
ton for professional life. We are not yet
convinced that the time required for our
ordinary term Of undergraduate study is
too long or that Ii unnecessarily and I'M
profitably retards the useful service ex-
pected of genuinely educated man.
IF new born impatience should ever de-
| mand swifter educational current and be
content with it's shallower depth, and If the
should ever be diScredited as unnecessarily
| irksome Princeton will remember that men
| educated long ago in accordance with her
methods are still teachers OF the present
generation, and that the lives they led, the
students they fitted for instructors and the
records they left of their wisdom are to this
| day dutifully acknowledged as undiminished
| forces in higher education wherever it has a
| standing place. We will not be convinced
| that the human mind has in these latter
/ days become SO fundamentally enlarged
| that broad and useful education can by
| some pleasant process be easily gained nor
| that the acuteness of the human intellect
has so kept pace with the eager hurry OF
| the time that with no toll or patient wooing
| an education worth having can be bought
| or seized and forced to do service in a vain
| glorious and trifiing pretense of erudition
| If false educational notions should prevail
| Princeton will bide her time until they are
/ spent and until saner judgment shall
| recognize her conscientious obedience to the
| demands of her charter compact and CRATE
| fully appreciate her devotion to the bright
/ standard which for more than a century
and half she has held aloft on the field
| where higher education has been coura-
| geous and triumphant. While Princeton's
/ trustees concede that a liberal amount OF
| recreation should be allowed and that ath-
| letics to a reasonable degree should be en-
| couraged. they believe these things should
be kept in strict subordination to the bust.
| ness OF education, which both teachers and
| students have in hand, and that when eX.
| tensive demerit or a large percentage OF
absolute failure in examinations prevail
! among those devoting much time and atten
! ton to athletics suspicion should bt
aroused that the business of study has beer
| thus interrupted"