New-York tribune., 1908-06-19
POLITICAL IDEALS.
1hefr Need Set Forth By President
Schurman-658 Degrees at Cornell.

iehaca- N Y. June 1s.-Six hundred and nifty
eish' degrees were conferred Cornell seniors
ana graduates at the fortieth commencement OF
Corneh University this morning Sixty-six ad-
Fahceo degrees were conferred. and 5e2 first de-
srees' which are divided among the colleges.
iohows Arts and sciences I3; lay. Al; agriculture,
81; veterinary medicine. is; architecture. s. civil
engineering. So: mechanical engineering. 22s.
The comforting of the degrees took place imma-
diately after the Offering of the prayer by the
Rev. Charles Meen Tyler. The address TO the
class OF 1905 then made by President Jacob
Gould Schurman
In beginning he said: IF would
nation from the danger of fate similar to that
which befeI the Hellenic republics more than two
thousand years ago. must have a fresh baptism
OF political idealism' Leadership in that reform
he said he regarded the greatest political desid-
eratum of the times.
President Schurrnan reviewed briefly the political
changes which have taken place In the Republic
since the founding of Cornell, and declared that
the tendencies if not resisted. would menace the
integrity of Republican institutions He Went oh'
In forty years our nation has grown strong and and
done. And. If l not mistaken. there has de-
ye9Red ar amonsst US OF our nation in
disparasement of the politiGaI @ -sated
through which it has been nourished and vitalized
and by means Of which alone It mas conIriptosu rit
Of mankind Along with this qn-repubican wo1-
gard Of the Constitution and the laws when they
stand in the way of forcefuI men oohng 4heS fni
lows the disposition TO concentrate in single hands
the powers which the ;5 to frferent
and independent departments OF government. are
despotsm? Is our constitutional government CIV
ing way 10 au1ocracy? IT,, - -,,.
have, and her experience is valuable Tor our IN
TeoTd 9ha and nnonndd by he greatest intel
lect Of the ancient world If not OF a ceaf tlae' Dd
an equal good fortune has preserved t4I I f the
history and philosophy OF the tTansuta'oh u ''''
In the Hellenic republics over two thousano yeas
riches and poverty was a frebrand in the hand OF
reckless demagogue Aristotle knew Wnat .eoH eeH-
Hagratons il had kndled in ancient societies ftSN
caused bX the intemperance of denagogues, who
either in their private capacity lay information
against rich men or. coming forward III pup.ItS .I
they stir up the people against them" Thus the
CsaTean yEant The rights OF is dP
regarded, and. in the end life itself becomes pie g.
the bane and ruin of any state II we wouia @ Keep Keep
our Republic on immovabe foundations. we mus /,
ideals and render our share OF public service l
believe the heart and mind Of our people to be be
sentiments which they passively entertain need
to be vitalized and aroused TO active expression.
We all need fresh baptism Of political idealism,
a conservation 10 the old-fashioned republican
fsra4d Te Gf as t the geate pecal W desideraum c
our time. And to it looks as II that leadership
has already been begun by one whom we honor as
Cornell man and who has Just vindicated d in our
Empire state al once the inViolaolly OF Ihe CoiI-
stitution and the supremacy of the moral law
While ] desire TO see the worl. which the uni
versity is doing along agricultural and technical
lines extended, and while would also like TO see
the work which colleges Of agriculture ana
engineering doing here on this campus greatly
strengthened and improved; l am far from re- re,
garding this the be-all and end,al OF the
. higher education. Education is more than prep
aration for professions and vocations. however
fully the Importance of this professional and
technical education be recognized. Minds may be
trained without reference to any future calling.
And. indeed. this is the highest species OF educa-
I tion which college university can undertake
The sole motive is disnterested love OF truth
and knowledge. a devotion 10 culture for the love
Of it I know this conception Of liberal education
is now under eclipse But shall come in time
that liberal culture is nourished by all the
best intellectual and aesthetic creations of our
that, while these remain. II cannot pass
aEay. I. therefore. regard II the high duty Of
university which is active in the field OF SCI
entiic. technical, and agricultural education to
proclaim the supreme Importance Of liberal edu-
cation. II is curious that after forty years It
should be necessary for Cornell University. after
successfully vindfcating the claims of practical
and technical education. to assert the abiding
rights and the ineffable value OF liberal culture