Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-17
UNIVERSITIES AND WARSHIPS.
A Fine Relative Showing Which is
Only Favorable to Both.

From the Detroit Free Press.
President Angel made some very impress
sve statements and asked some very per-
tinent questions during his brief talk at the
Russell House to the alumni of the Univer-
sity of Michigan. He could not be tread
Ing safer ground than when inquiring
whether 1t had been worth while to sup
port the university from which 10000 men
and women have received their final edu-
cation preparatory to entering upon the
practical activities of life. They have been
competent and jealous leaders in the up
building of the nation, exerting an inf1u-
ence for good that cannot be valued in
dollars and cents. The total cost Of edu-
eating these men and women, according to
President Angel, has been less than the
governments expends in the construction Of
a single battle ship.
For a period of sixty-f1ve years marked
by many improvements and an almost phe-
nomenal development, the institution at
Ann Arbor has cost the taxpayers of Mich
1gan less than the price of one Of our big
fighting ships.
We have no idea that DR.. Angel meant
this comparison to be invidous although
1t happened to appear in the same issue
of the Free Press that reported the meet
ing of the naval architects in New York
One Of these architects insisted many OF
these older cruisers, so far as their use
fulness in the event Of war is concerned
belong In the junk pile. The foundations
Of knowledge are eternal while the great
naval fighting machines yield to the in
roads OF time. become antiuuated be-
cause of new inventions that improve arm
ament or construction.
1t is difficult to consider Jointly two such
fnstrumentalitfes as warships and univer-
stiles. One is built for destruction and the
other for the uplifting Of the race One is
to compass death, the other to make life
better. cleaner and more useful. Yet both
seem necessary under the existing order Of
things. If the era Of universal peace ever
be reached we can do without a navy and
save the expense 1t entails upon the gov
eminent. But during the uncertain interval
there is nothing to do but to maintain our
showing OF power upon the high seas. If
1t tend to the preservation Of peace we
cannot make an impression too strong OF
forbiddlng. The same is true should war
be forced upon US. The law of self-preser-
walton cannot be amended and 1t cannot
count cost so closely al to inlperil results.
"A good many years ago We discovered the
sacred spell of the invtEclbility of the Brit
ish navy and the prestige then secured has
since been maintained by a policy OF lib
crafty toward our navy The spirit of
compromise In other powers has been slim
ulated and more than once the horrors and
the enormous expenses Of war have been
saved to us through the comma rsftively
small outlay required for our proper. naval
equipment. a,
President Angel is too profound diplo-
mat and statesman not to recoRntzes these
facts. Hence the conclusion that he did
not wish to complain because the govern
ment builds battle ships, but made the fa:
miliar comparison to emphasizes thesecon-
omy with which the affairs of the great
university have been conducted.