The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-08
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

+ ttIliOh SluC vi pOlANi10A CNOAOAAS oO
taught, and when the Democrats are
in control will the professors lecture
on the simple beauty and justice of
free trade? When the Republicans are
bossing the Federal machine will the
Constitution of the United States be
kept locked up in the University safe,
and when the Democrats are in power
will the Constitution be displayed in
the lecture hall and be construed af-
ter the manner OF Jefferson. Cal
houn. Tilden, Thurman, Cleveland and
Bryan? We fear that a national
University wound be confronted by
many obstacles. Not even an exten-
sion of the civil service rules to take
in the professors would save it from
entanglements with the contending
ideas of the politicians.
We DO not share the fears of the
learned DR.. Won Stradonitz, rector of
the University of Berlin, who is re-
ported to be gravely afraid that the
American people are in danger of be-
coming over-educated. DR.. Won Stra-
donitz evidently is not pleased with
conditions In Germany, which country
he hints in telegraphed interview is
. "burdened with an unproductive class
who look with inherited scorn on
those whose education has been mere
ly in the art of bread winning" The
fear is expressed that the prize ot
scholarship may be purchased at the
expense of our practical intelligence
and common sense, which the learn
ed professor believes to be more valu-
able for a nation than the knowledge
at the disposal OF University.
However much We might indorse the
views of DR.. Won Stradonitz as far as
they concern his own country. We 40
not share his fears for the United
States. Even il the proposed national
university were ten times the proper
tions suggested. 1t could not be a
source of danger to the American peo-
Pile The same common sense which
the German professor fears would be
imperiled would assert itself as
check to the growth and establishment
Of an educated proletariat
The danger from education in Ger.
many. America or any other coun
try. for that matter. is not SO much
from its quantity as from it's char
acter. If the University ideal is in
spired by the needs of the country. if
it keeps in touch with the industrial
business and social elements of our
national life, We can never regard
education as a possible menace. There
will be no danger that our native
spirit will be stified by a plethora OF
knowledge of the right sort. tor the
demand will soon regulate the supply.
Education in Germany has un-
doubtedly withdrawn from labor and
industrial pursuits thousands whose
duDltlO1S are W WlitC a Oh
paleozoic silt. treatise on the Alpha
privative, and so forth, all of which
give, a man standing in the gymna-
sium or real-schule. although they
confer little benefit on the public at
large. Specalism has attained micro
scopical character in Germany which
it cannot reach in this country fo-
century to come. If such a system is
found to be hal mful we have plenty of
We can see nothing but good in the
proposed national university, pro-
vid,ng every effort is made 10 main
tain close relations between the in
stitution and the needs of the country,
always making sure that it does not
become the football OF politicians, and
mat its policy is not changed with
every change of administration. Ger
tainly free traders will object to the
teaching of a tariff for protection, and
those of us who believe that govern
ment obtains its just powers from the
consent of the governed will not take
kindly to adulation Oh the colonial
system, or the maintainence of serfs
in the Philippines and freemen in
this country. all under the same flag.
The specialist idea might be developed
to secure practical results. Many fields
are yet almost untouched; others will
be created as the constantly increas
ing wants of civilization arise. The
demand for trained men will be al
most illimitable, and the national
university could justify its existence
by supplying them.
Keeping before it high humanitarian
ideals. actuated by common sense and
wholesome patriotism We see no
reason why such an institution as that