The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-29
Keep the Colleges Free

In the week In this country
made two gifts of $4,000 600 each The most
counselor of Impossible Projections. Andrew
Carnegie. undertook to purchase permanent
peace in tn" world at an exceedingly low ad-
vertising rate
His professed purpose is most laudabe. 80
far as tangible results are concerned praeti-
cal men who know history and the nature of
humankind and nations already have dismissed
from mind this latest Of the steel mans In
Vulnerable Barnumisma the ambitions OF Ger
many. Great Britain and Japan not being quot
ed lust now at the market price of two battle
shis>s
The other $4,000. oeo gift was another mat
ter II has a meaning to a nation of nearly Il
hundred millions of people. II has message
that carries across the seas, For lees than five
years age that ancient and honorable seat or
learning and fountain head OF reaction. priyi-
lege and Hristocratic Toryism. Oxford Eniyer-
sity, begged in vain ~ the entire British En-
pire a subscription of 5,o0n 900 meet press
ing needs.
1t not, however the transfer Of Slo.-
o1o, 900 by John -. Rockefeller to ta-t.niv ty
Of Chicago. to which no bad previously given
s26. 100000. that consider important in
trast with Carnegie and in comparison with
oxford,
1t the fact that the endoN ment the
final gift OF Rockefeller to his foundation and
was accompanied BY a statement marking for
the frst time the sensing OF the spirit of the
twentieth century by that strange individual
survival OF the ages or piracy and parasitsm.
1t is Of real national nay, international. sig
niticance when the protaEonist of the doctrine
Of the irresistible might of money is forced by
his thoughts and not by any pressure to
tho concession that there is ono thing that Big
business must not pollute-the education OF
young Americans,
We always have regarded the richest men
in the world as an anaehronisr -~never
hyppcrite. We have looked upon him with
the mingled feelings Of dread repuision. pity
and admiration that would be elected by
highly sophisticated diposaur stalking among
moderns for his daily good hunting
Yet IL is Rockefeller forced by ii power ont
side him. above him and uncompreh ended by
him into real service It. ntiHltflkinds VINO
compa niles his slo.000,o00 gift with the with
resentatives from the universities board of trus-
tees and gives his his permanent
conviction that this great institution, being The
property of tho people. should be controlled.
conducted and supported by the people, in
whose generous efforts for its upbuildiug ] have
been permitted simply to cooperate.
SO far 8 that university ~ concerned.
we do not consider the formal act OF emaHci-
patton of any real importance than the
minutes OF the trustees declaring that Mr.
Rockefeller has never suggested the appoint
ment or removal OF any professor. and has
never "interfered, directly or indirectly. with
that freedom OF opinion and expression which
is the vital breath of university.
Indirect influence, silent intellectual black
mail ia the most potent and vicious form of
control OF schools and colleges. whether mask
ed In the guise OF gratitude to founder or
crinRinH for political money favork
II Is the recognition by Rockefeller that even
he had no right to impose the bondage OF mem
tai scrfdofn upon our boys that tells every Am
erican II will be his fault II we do not Keep
orr city and State OWED, endowed and con
rolled schools colleges and universities free
Philadelphia North American