Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-24

III combination Will ever take the
place of tps first hand or original
work whether in science, in art, in
literature. The greatest special
function of a college, as distin,
suished from its general function o:
producing good citizenship, should
be so to shape conditions as TO put
premium upon the development Of
productive scholarship of the crea.
tive mind, In any form OF intellect
ual work. The men whose chief
concern les with the work of theI
student in study. should bear this
face ever before tNem.
To All College Men.
$50 much for what | have to say
to YOU purely ms Harvard men. Now
word which applies TO YOU merely
as 1t applies to all college men. to
all men In this country who have
received TIE benefits of college
education; and what have to say
on chis topic can properly ibe said
under the auspices of your political
club. You here when YOU graduate
VIII take up many different kinds OF
work; but there is one work In
which all of you should take part
simply as good American citizens
ment. Remember in The first place
that TO take part in the work of
government does not mean OF nee.
ess!ty To hold Office. Ii means 10
taken an intelligent. disinteres,ed
and practical part in the everyday
duties OF the average citizen. of
the citizen who is not a faddist or
a doctrinaire, but who abhors cor
rurtion ana dislikcs inefic!ency;
WHO wishes TO see decent govern
ment prevail at home, with gen
uine equality of opportunity for all
men so far as 1t can be brought
about: and who wishes, as far IT'S
foreign matters arc concerned To
see this nation treat all nations,
great and small, with respect. aud
If need be with generosity. and NJ
the same time sl5w herself able to
protect herself by her own might
from any wrong at the hands OF any
outside power.
AZ to Education.
Like most other things Of value,
education Is good only in so far
as 1t Is used Alright. and If it is
misused or If it causes the owner TO
be so Duffed up with pride as t.,
mako him msestimate the relative
values of things it becomes a harm
and not benefit. There are few
things less desirable than the arid
cultivation, the learning and refine.
ment which lead merely to that in.
tellectual conceit which makes Il
man in democratic community like
ours held himself aloof from his
fellows and pride himself upon TIE
weakness which he mistakes for sup
ercilious strength. Small il the use
of those educated men who in after
life meet none but themselves
and gather in parlors to discuss wrong
conditions which they do not under
stand and to advocate remedies
which nave the prime defect of be-
Ing unworkable. The Judgment on
practical affairs political and social
of educated men WHO keep aloof
from tie conditions OF practical life
Is apt to be valueiess to those 9th
er men who do reali wage effective
war against the forces OF baseness
and of evil. From the political
standpoint education is harm and
not . 'be%efit to the men whom it
serves as an excuse for refusing to
minsle with ti5r fellows and for
standing aloof from the broad sweep
VI bui Hditohdl ne III Il CullOuSiy
impotent spirit of fancied superiority.
the political wronghaadedness OF
such men Is quite as great as that
OF wholly nneducated men; and no
people could be less trustworthy
as critics and advisors. The edu-
Gated man w:o seeks to console
himself for his own lack OF the
robust qualities necessary to bring
success in American politics by
moaning over the degeneracy of the
times instead of trying to better
them, by railing at the men who do
the actual work of political life in
stead Of trying himself TO do the
work, Is a poor creature, and so
far as his feeble powers avail, is
q damage and not help to the
country. You may come far short
lsof this disagreeable standard and
still be rather useless member
of society. Your education. your