New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17

The magnificent building standing At the
entrance Of Schenlcy Park, Pittsburg. which viii
BE- dedicated on April II. 1901, is not only gift.
the epigraph the building declares, TO
"the people Of Pittsburg," it is indeed. gift to
the American nation. ahd the extraordinary
amount Of attention which the approaching cere-
fnonials have attracted throughout the world
is the best evidence that, in the worlds opinion
it is the creation Of institutions like this which
gives real elevation and dignity to any peop'e.
1t is expected that this approaching dedication
will bc the most distinguished platform ceIehra-
zion which has ever occurred in America. The
trustees have been assured OF the ATTENDANCE of
tnoE who have Won distinction in almost every
avenue of the worlds work in art. in letters in
music. in scientific achievement. in educpt'on.
in geographical exploration and in the service
Of the state and among these men viii come at
FEAST thirty who have won high reuown i'm
Europe. including representatives, from the most
venerable institutions Cf learning in the world
At the moment Of the dedication of the irIsli-
tptc. embracing the five great departments 81
',ne arts. museum. library. school Of music ana
technical schools urdcr one administration the
financial outlay for COST. equipment and endow-
D -ent az all the main and branch buildings VIII
amount TO $25tE00GO. 4 sum st.cccrinc TO the
mi2d even in this age of great fortunes and stu
-7endous gifts In Europe. under the slow
growth Of royal patronage and state aid such
an institution could not reach 50 great a cost in
less than five hundred years. In Pittshurg the
loving kindness OF single :aan has created in
The short space Of ten years an institution
unique in its comrrenensiy eness
When the building is completed it will not be
the finish but only the beginning Of it's real
usefuIn,ss. A community which has until now
been held down to hard facts will ,hen launch
into the pursuit of ideas. Every man who has
an interest in the welfare of his country should
perceive the increasing value of Il higher e,luca-
ton not only for his own children. but for the
masses Of the people. and this higher education
should while embracing The modern essentials
of engineering and mechanical courses. at the
same time De guided back into some of the o'd
channels Of literature ana art
We only the threshold Of a .ooiaI
movement which is surely changing the ga
order of things and if the nation is not taught
10 think logically and equitably on these sub
tects We shall have chaos where Their. is nov.
tranquility. Corporations are going To do more
and more Of the worlds work until they do prac-
ticay all of it, and We shouIl not forget that
corporations are only groups of individuals act
ing together in the mass t. do llrg. things
which mere individuals cannot afford to und.r-
take.
Now, while it is highly necessary that cor
poratons must be controlled they must be con-
trolIed 10y wise and just laws. conceived in thu.
righteous spirit i'm which l believe President
Roosevelt has protested his own statesmanIike
views into the statutes of our country
The trend of the worlds opinion is calling for
still more general diffusion of wealth among
the people; for fewer hours of labor and a cor
responding extension of leisure to those who
now scarcely know the meaning of recreation;
for the limitation Of large fortunes by an in
come tax and an inheritance tax: for the pro-
vision for insurance for the sick and the in
1ured and pensions for the aged in short, for
equalizng the benefits Of civilization among all
the people to limit extreme wealth on
tie one hand and lessen extreme poverty on the
other.
AS time goes on this social alteration will
gain Roadway because of its public justice and
what is not granted by voluntary concessions
will be eXacted by essential laws. And here
comes the necessity of an educated public con-
science in order that every man may continue