The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14

racy to be served, with it's dreams nm
realized its ideals changed, its point
of view advanced. The Democracy
of the young century was theory
of politics and philosophy. The De-
mocracy of today is society fused by
the divine energy of the Master, seek
ing unity and development com
mon heart and conscience. II some
of its early dreams have faded in the
light OF common day, it is because
economic and social questions strike
deeper than issues formal and pollti-
cal and for their solution make de-
mand less upon emotions and i'm
pulses and more upon sound knoWl-
edge, ordered thinking and construc-
tive imagination. The craving Of its
present mood is for opportunity to
share i'm the fulness of life, to break
up its masses into units, to sifr its
units for hidden treasures and to ell
ter into the finer inheritanceS of the
civilization which it has helped to
build. The great-grandsons of the
men who fancied the suffrage would
bring Utopia now set their hearts
more upon the wages of labor, the
nature of capital. good country roads,
the enrichment of rural life, the vii
lage library, the comely school house,
the unimpeded path to some such
spot as this.
'"There is still the republic to be
served. venerable now, for all its bril-
liancy, ard literally made over in out.
ward form, in spiritual purpose, and
in Industrial capacity since 1850. Who
shall leaVen this tumult of peoples
with soberness and simplicity and
Americanism What is Americanism
coming to signify spiritually to the
world? Shall ii be alone pride of
power, passion for achievement
genius for self-indulgence, made waste
of energy, as in the ant-hill, or shall
it mean steadfast justice, respect for
law, sober discipline, responsible citi-
zenship and moral sturdiness.?
Humanism produced the man of
culture and his peril was self-suffic-
iency and conception of culture as
ornament. Applied science and the
imperious demands of commerce have
produced the man of efficiency and
his peril is personal barrenness and
instructive greed. Our country needs
the idealism of the one and the lord
ship over things, of the other, and
such a blend will be the great citizen
whose advent an industrial Democracy
has so long foreshadowed The kind
of work he shall do in the world
is immaterial. He shall be an upward
striving man who wants the truth and
dares to utter it, who knows his own
need and the need of his age, who
counts adaptability and liberation
among his virtues, who insists on /
little leisure for his souls sake and
who has a care whether amid The
warfare of trade, or in the quiet and
still air of study, for the building Of
things ever better and better about
him. Fashioned by the sweep of ge-
MUS through experience, great citizens
may come who have never seen a uni
versity, but universities ere tho or
ganiZed efforts OF mona CI.4Ds ana De-
mocraoies to produce such types ana
our duty is to perfect the organism
and to work and hope.
Holding fast to all of good that we
have. let us discern four new paths of
service for the University of Virginia.
First of English speaking statesmen,
Mr.. Jefferson perceived the meaning
of education as an influence upon ma
tional as distinct from individual de-
VeIopment and for forty years his
mind played constantly around three
lines of institutional reform in Vir-
Iginia-elementary instruction for
every child, i'm order to guarantee citi-
zenSiip, to elevate economic desire,
and to increase Industrial capacity;
secondary education, or more educa-
ton for those fit for it; university edu-
cation, or training for leadership.
'"The largest social task of this uni
Nersity, cooperating with dill educl-
tIonal forces, is to strive for the ac
complishment of these nnrealizeG
ideals.
1--WE should cherish the hope that
the time will come when ;h2 higher
institutions of the State will be united
in organic union. since local pride and
enthusiasm have denied Us physical
unity Nor should the reciprocal OBJ
loot hn
tween the State and the private and
UNCONVENTIONAL colleges. chartered by
the State, protected by it's laws. edu-
eating one-third of it's youth. We
should welcome the establishment
here of halls and dormitorieS con-
trolled by them, availing themselves
of the opportunities of the university,
and if this be impracticable, we should
at least strive without ceasing to BAN
ish from our life any semblance of in
tercollegiate hostility.
Universities that have clear ira
dition are rare and fortunate. Our
clearest tradition is the tradition of
culture and fellowship with beauty
and poetic understanding. 1t is not a
tradition to lose in world where bus
mess is king. 1t is a morning spirit not
yet numbered by sordid or cynical inn
pulses-still lit with spiritual charm
and lifted above excavation and self
seeking-a stubborn negation of
Wordsworth's fear:
" The world is too much with us. soon
and late,
Getting and spending. we lay waste
our power
ST would give this tradition added
richness by putting it to work through
the establishment here of nobly
planned school of English writing. In
such an air as this. rich in life ana
hope and ample manhood, there is
room for a school which would bring
men together more in the spirit of
practical artists than of critics or all-
alysts; a school of scholars and mas
ters working together like good crafts
men, learning from each other; COM
peting with each other producing. Of
ferlng their products to the thought of
the world, and giving the training
which men of creative instinct get by
working together under the sharp
spur of life and the just pride of ac-
mplishment. The power to use ones
language clearly and persuasively is
practical gain. alone worth the time
spent in college. The power to use it
as an expression of life and emotion
&c fI.o - TOW lcch I'm ar