Newark post., 1912-11-20

| by its ability. The future, therefore, will
concern itself with adjusting these public
institutions to the immediate and pros
, pective needs of all the people.
Fourth, the Land Grant Colleges, not
exclusively to be sure, but efficiently have
influenced the practical aims of higher
education by insisting upon larger lib
erty in the programs of education and
/ in the contents of the course of study.
| The fact that these institutions are sup
ported by the people has given cogency to
| the appeal that the institutions ought, in
return for this support, to provide such
means of education as are best adapted
to the progress in efficiency of the youth.
From necessity, therefore, these nstitu
tions have been compelled to recognize
the legitimate place of many subjects of
study not formerly recognized.
Ne cannot sneer at the bog being edit
cdtcd whife rearing his oucrdlis. The
chemistry laboratory cannot say to the
stock Judging room, ''I have no need of
thee -; nor may the dairy laboratory sav
to the physics laboratory, II have no
reed of YOU. The comradeship of dem
orracy must recognize the equality of stu
dents before the opportunities of the col
!egc, and the final test of education will
be found not in the respectability of the
subject studied but in the character and
efficiency Of the student.
Fifth. these institutions have stimulat-
ell investigation ana research in many
fields. | shall not assume that the only
Investigations in applied science are to
Re found within the walls OF the Land
Grant Colleges but it is safe to say that
these same colleges have stimulated other
institutions to carry their investigations
into fields that might have been neglect
ed but for the sympathetic interest
aroused in agricultural colleges and eX-
pertinent stations. We may be modest in
prOclaimng their services to higher edu-
cation but we cannot be blind to the fact
that very much of the investgational and
research work of American higher educa-
ton to-day finds inspiration in the
achievements of these institutions
Sixth, while not specifically related to
the topic of this paper, | cannot refrain
from suggesting that the influence of
these colleges upon the government it
self has had something to do with the
cause of higher education. Every one
recognizes that for a hundred years We
have had a progressive Interpretation of
the constitution under which we live and
that the Interpretation has tended stead
lily tended toward enlargement of the
powers Of government. This enlargement
has chiefly been in the interest of the
people. The Old theory of limiting the
government to police powers only has
been fOund inadequate to the needs Of a
great People.
The Public Welfare Clause Of our CON
stitHtion and other portions, have been
generously interpreted in order to Justify
the government 5 participation in many
activities looking to the development Of
the people amt the maintenance Of our
resources. The fact that government hae
Become more humane. more bcucGccnt.
AMI almost phiIanthrGpic in many OF its
activities, i, probably due to the human.
izing Influences Of the c.ilratinnaI artiy.
tiles supported ami stimulated hv the
government. This il true | think not
only Of the Federal govrrum1ut hut of
the state government as we'll.
In other Worts, the henciirpmt results
Of higher education cannot he confined
10 the objects or the persons uuon which
they are expended. There is an overflow
Of goodness, an oyortlO" Of benefits. an
overflow OF retiuemcnts, AMI these come
. back upon the government Itself as Il
generous and kindly return current that
SOftens and ameliorates the harshness 50
often associated with strong governments
Thegrowth and strength therefore, of
our government is not a thing to be fear.
eel but rather to be welcomed. This will
always be true so long as the institutions
foStered and supported by the govern
ment may react, through their representa-
tlveS, upon the sources of authority
! am disposed, therefore, to believe that
the government s entrance into the cause
of education has resulted in making il
more humane, more just, less to be feared
and more to be loved. ! know of nc
agency that has done more to unite the
North an dthe South, the East and the
West in a bond of common patriotism
than the activities of the government
arising out of the organization of the
Department of Agriculture, the Land
Grant Colleges, and the Experiment
Stations.
The smei-centennial and the auarto
centennial of these institutions seems
therefore, an appropriate time to express
our appreciation of what these institu.
tionS have been, of what they are becom.
ing, of what they have done, and to renew
our patriotic devotion to the agencies that
have done so much for the uplifting and
inspiration Of the common people.