Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-28
Madison, June %.

Preceding the impressive formaiity
of tne comforting of university degrees,
academic and honorary, IN the armory
Thursday morning, when some hun
dreds of students concluded courses at
the state university and went hopefully
forth into the world of endeavor, there
was seprling address by Carl Schurz,
TO which a great audience gave most
respectful attention. The distin-
guished New Yorker was welcomed
with hearty applause. In the audience
were many German-Americans, who
must have experienced special pleas
ure in the presence and in the remarks
of him who unquestionably stands To-
day as the most notable representative
of their honored class in this country,
Mr.. Schurz's address was a general
treatment of the evils of too much
wealth, and some national issues.
1t is true saying that education
should not only supply the mind with
knowledge, but also build up char
actcr. This is especially important
in a democracy in which the char
acter OF the people determines the
character of the government If this
applies to education in general, it ap-
plies with greatest force to the highest
agencies Of education among which
the university stands foremost-for
it is to serve the noblest purposes OF
civilization, TO hold aloft the highest
standards in morals as well as il
science, to maintAin the truest ideals
and to stand as the stoutest bulwarl1
against vicious currents of opinion or
sentiment,-which currents, whether
set in flow by selfish interest or
emotional impulse, ay tend to I'M
balance the Judgment or obscure the
moral sense OF the people. In my long
life OF varied experiences l have
never seen the day when the en-
tightening and steady influence OF
education in this sense was more
needed than it is now.
One of the most striking features
of this period,-so we are warned on
all hands,-is the inOrdinate pursuit
and the INSCRIPTIONS use of wealth,
and the worship of success { such.
never lldc tUG ClldI III VI Nt-dl T. DtG1
more seductive to the Imagination.
Never has the use OF wealth in the
promotion of selfisn-and sometimes
ubiquitous ends been more unprinci
pied, crafty. and daring. And the
power of wealth in subjugating to its
sch hes by corrupt means, public
authorities, political organizations,
offi ~ inf oil
pretentiOus responsibility, has never
been farther reaching. Indeed the
revelations caused by recent scandals
have not only disclosed startling in
stances of individual rascality, but
nave opened vistas of rapacity with
out bound, and of so wide spread a
decentralization, and so Ut-er an
absence of the most elementary sense
of honor and duty among some mem
bers of the highest class of business
men claiming COZ fdence, that we
fairly stare with amazement.
And beyond this, throughout the
world, We observe a rushing tendency
toward the ruthless assertion and the
rude enforcement of arbitrary power
of the strong over the weak, of might
over right, and that tendency is up
held and stimulated by an artful ar
ray of casuistic sophistry which
laughs moral principle to scofn and
sets up success as such, to whatever
end devoted, and by whatever means
achieved, as the supreme goal to be
striven for, and as the idol to be
adored.
What have the universities to DO
with all this? Are they constantly to
NEEDLE with current events in politics
Or in the social or the business world?
Certainly not But they can firmly
impiant in those under their care the
principles which are to guide their
conduct, the ideals which are to in.
spire their endeavors, and the points
of view from which to estimate the
values Of things in human life. First
and foremost they should cultivate in
their students that inteilectuai
honesty which seeks the truth without
prejudice and speaks the truta with
9ut fear; that civic courage which I'M
fortunately is far more uncommon
than bravery on the battlefield, of
which there is always a plentiful
SUPPLY mean the moral courage to
dc ones own thinking and to stand
alone against the world for ones con,
yictions of truth, justice. right, and
duty; and that sturdy rectitude, that
true pride of manhood hich scorns
hypocracy and will not compromise
with falsehOOd and wrong.
Sending the young characters thus
formed aud inspired into the society
to watch they will in large measure
give its tone, the universities will
thus powerfully aid in developing a
public sentiment in the light ct which
wealth will find its true level. In the
atmosphere thus created the seductive
glamour Of mere riches will be apt to
fade. When wealth unfairly acquired
or unfairly used is more generally re
earded and treated in society as a
marx Of dishonerab.e distinction. bust
ness men will more generally take
erea ler pride in their reputation for
honesty ;han in the size Of their
profits. and satisF themselves that
they VIII be happier leaving behind
them al untain-ed name than ever so
many tainre millions Such public
sentiment viii finally be apt to en-
force that naca wanted equal justice
which viii keep the peui-eutiaries
ef7rsl5v omen 10 all rhs euuaEv deseFy-