New-York tribune., 1907-06-30
WHITE LIES.
Points That President Hadley
4voided IN His Sermon at Yale.

President HadIey. in his baccalaureate sermon
at Yale University on Sunday last discoursed
with much eloquence on the subject of TRUTH
which was. indeed. the main theme Of his adj
dress, but declined TO discuss what he described
as the unselhsh considerations which may in ex-
treme cases justify man in departing from
verbal truthfulness. Now, It is precisely on that
particular point that the young starting
out into the world on the completion Of their
studies require the guidance of mentor en-
joying such worldwide experience and SO much
universal respect as the eminent president of
Yale. The Importance OF this subject is great.
and has on more than one occasion led Henry
Labouchere when in the House of Commons to
ask that royal commission should be appointed
bv the Crown to consider the question of white
lies IN Parliament. He was serious in this
In England as IN all the constitutional coun-
tries OF Europe where the Cabinet officers occu-
py seats In Parliament, the legislators enjoy the
right of interrogating the government with re-
gard to its policy and its administration or the
affairs OF the nation Frequently these inquiries
are of an extremely indiscreet and awkward
character and If addressed by the Opposition
are usually intended either to embarrass the
ministers or to entangie them into making state
rnents Of a compromising and boomerang nature.
The result is that those representatives, OF the
government who constitute its mouthpieces in
Parliament devote a considerable amount OF
labor as well ingenuity TO answering t'ese
questions In such q manner as TO mislead those
nv whom they are made and misrepresent what
Is the truth. Indeed, the promotion or parma
rnentary under secretaries. junior lords OF one
or another OF the great departments OF Sta'e'
and of other budding statesmen, depends IN d
GREAT measure upon the cleVerness which they
display in answering questions" IN the House
and thus an official premium is pracucaiiy sI
nv the highest authorities in the lana upon
eouivocation and distortion or the truth-
p oopnot b. denied that this is inevitably con-
,rfhuting 10 the decline OF that lofty regard Ior
yeracity which in ancient times consutuleu one
of the most renowned qualities or the hhsiiS-i t..
sneaking races True. their frankness was oI.eli
brutal sometimes even cruel; yet 1t formed d
,-oa n. strength and although foreigners
night sneer at boorishness they respected can
dor like the Chinese, we We're reputed us
agreeable what the French so picturesqueiy ue
scribe as ''mauvais coucheurs' CAnghce' uh-
pleasant bedfellows), but, as In the case Vi 'li
chinese our word was accepted as being as S"ou
os our bond and the distinction between amer
,can diplornats such as Benjamin Franklin ana
English statesmen such as Pitt on the one MANU-
and those of foreign countries on the otnei "dS
that IT was possible to credit imphcluy 'Ae a
surances of the former, while in the case OF the
latter IL was generally advisable 10 pelieHe Iu0'
tbe contrary Of what they asserted
No one realized this to greater extent Hof
,ooi- advantage thereof IN a more amusing man
ner than the great Prince Bismarck Chlhe
Machiayeln of DID, he made point OF invarlaply
hurting out the truth, even when he mlght nave
remained silent, thereby successfully nlsleaulNs
dinloroats reputed the shrewdest OF their day.
For they could not realize that he reany NledH'
what he said and persisted in acting on inc iS
taken theory that, ike themselves, ne useu the
gift of speech merely TO conceal MS thouehIs
and plans and usually placed an Interpretation
upon his utterances directly opposed to their