The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-30
INSTALLS FINLEY
Princeton Professor Has Been
4 Elected to New York
ROOSEVELT WRITES LETTER
Grover Cleveland Tells of the
Uses of Colleges
ROOSEVELT WR!TESLETTER

New York, Sept. 29.-Dr. John Hunston
Finley, who left the faculty of Princeton
TO accept the presidency Of the College of
the City OF New York, was today in
stalled in that office, q notable gathering
of college presidents and other men of
prominence participating in the installa-
ton ceremony. Seventy universities and
colleges were represented and Governor
OdeIl, Senator Depew, Grover Cleveland
and Presidents Handley of Yale Schur-
man Of Cornell and Butler of Columbia
delivered addresses.
A letter of congratulation was received
from President Roosevelt II was in part
as follows:
My Dear President Finley: You are
now called to preside over an educa-
tional institution which is the crown of
the public school system Of the greatest
state in cur union, an institution whose
existence shows how definite has been the
decision of our people thhat the state
should aid, not only in elementary but in
higher education. Nothing is more dis
tinctive OF cur American republic than
the peculiar fostering care which. through
their representatives. the people have
assumed over the education of all the
citizens in primary matters and of all
those who care to go beyond primary
matters In those additional branches nee
essary as prerequisites for the attain
ment of leadership in the great profess
sions.
Next to the home is the school, the
college, the university. which do most
to determine the efficiency of the indi-
viduaI as a citizen in this great self
governing republic of ours, and therefore
those who are TO shape our citizenship
of the future put the nation in a special
sense under obligations to them.
Senator Depew spoke and was followed
by Presidents Arthur T. Hadley of Yale,
Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia,
Jacob G. Schurman of Cornell and Ira
Remsen of John Hopkins, in brief con-
gratulatory addresses Grover Cleye-
land then spoke. making special refer
ence to the Importance and value of free
education.
President Finleys inaugural address
dwelt on the Importance of locating col
leges in cities.
MI Cleveland in his address said in
part:
Il cannot rid myself at this moment
of the thought that education is a selfish,
useless thing if it is to be hid in nap
kin or if IL is to be Rugged to the breast
by its pGssessor as d mere individual
prize and it seems to me that the exist
ence of schools and colleges in this land
of ours can scarcely be deemed import
ant except as they are the sources from
which education may be distributed
through many channels, for the enrich
ment of the body polite and the stimu-
lation of patriotic thoughtfulness among
our people.
I'VE contemplate today the great ser
vice of usefulness which embellishes the
history of the College of the City of New
3 ork and we see for its future vastly
increased facilities and opportunities, but
sour most inspiring thought should be
that the advanced education it imparts
Is freely bestowed upon rich and poor
alike. without price or cost.
IF we have outgrown the simplicity
of our early national life; if with the
growth of abnormal enterprises and a
mad struggle for wealth, a constant and
acute solicitation for the country wealth
has been somewhat subordinated; and
If in our social and business-like life we
can see signs OF a cleavage that may
divide our people into distinct and UNI
sympathetic classes, we should be watch
fui If with these things, We also dis
discover q movement toward a more
general collegiate education, we ought
to regard it as another unfavorable
symptom of increasing learning is TO be
made only a mere ornamental accompa-
niment TO the unwholesome and pitiable
ostentation Of riches and pride.
ut should be the prayer of every pa
triotic citizen that American education
NAV never be so degraded; that it may
always remain true to its mission. a
steadying force against all untoward
conditions: that higher education as 1t
becomes more accessible and widespread
NAV reinforce the firmness OF our ma
tional foundations, as they are made TO
bear the increased weight of our coun-
try's healthful development and that In
the democracy of education our people
may ever be gathered together under the
sanction of enlightened and strong
American citizenship.