Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-26

would take the place of fierce factions,
and abolish the causes of its distress and
ineffectiveness From the twelfth TO the
twentieth centuries these famous re-
treats of scholarship have been faithful
In good works. A procession of sons and
daughters whose name is legion has con-
tinuously streamed from their portals
Much of present civilization can be clear
~ traced to their services and sacrifices.
Through them the colleges and universe
ties OF Europe and America have given
fun proof of universal ministry; their
graduates have discharged duties OF SUI
| perlative Importance, and laid the major
nations under an incalculable obligation.
subtly interpenctratcd by the atmosphere
OF nm indeflnablc culture. adequately in
| spired by proud md lofty traditions. obe
dent to the geniu5 which had shaped
their chief characteristics, these innum-
cradle children have demonstrated in
every field of activity their worthy rela-
tion to 50 great u motherhood. However
var.ously we may Judge the spirit that
has animated university life at different
intervals in It's past, none can speak Of
that past inteligenly without admiration
or read it's story without thrill of
pride.
To-day. as we shall presently see, ciu-
zens of other lands are pondering these
things. They begin 20 understand afresh
the function of history which Is meant to
show us the throbbing life of the past
IL the throbbing life of the present.
, Scholarly men and women do not regard
the growth OF learning, either past or
present, as advcndtioue but as strictly
scientific progress whose means were
uited to its ends, and whose parts were
fitted into the whole. The university de-
fined as the largest instrument of that
progress, and the definition verified by ac-
tual results, has always been and Is now
a center OF civic union, union vital for
the future welfare not only of munich
! paities and commemorative, but also Of
our rapidly converging world. The Hon
| orablc Elihu Root recently declared that
| the severance OF the American people into
| mutually antaHonistic sections filed him
J with forebodings. ne probed tho core Of
much dlstrust, restlessness and extension
| OF the leases OF hate and anarchy. 1t Is
an age of political materlalisn, of con-
| fused purposes and perplexed intelligence,
that aspres only to wealth because It has
|
men rife cargoes on the verge of ship
wreck The organic difficulty is the
lack of an enlightened public will
and purpose that the State shall
become the image of our best selves ana
not remain a bureaucratic mechanism
| feared by the people. Culture is ono
of the chief enemies of this chaos which
so many. vainly attempt to navigate pre-
-,
| the great hopes and designs of a higher
unincation OF rich and poor, Of employer
and employee OF representative and con-
stituent. 1t presents an ideal OF the ut
most significance and even splendor for
lovers of genuine democracy. 1t inspires
and directs the conceptions of q common
spirit and an organized and systematic
method, both being directed toward the
largest possible good for all and sundry
It's rarnifications touch human lives on
every side The welfare of the physical
machinery of the body, the betterment OF
deplorable conditions of existence, the
raising Of the burden from tie backs OF
the weak and fallen to the shoulders OF
} tho strong, to say nothing of more posi-
tive reforms. depend on our intellectual
} approach to their poblems. In tn,
s, IL
bly, leads to false confidence in things as
they are; the higher ways of that same
) process inevitably conduct you to thing!
as they must and ought to be.
The weapons with which the medaeva
p, university struck a death blow at the pre-
tensions of caste in the fourteenth cen
fury We're not carnal, but spiritual; they
still await the grasp OF the scholar anC
they are as effeCtual to-day as they were
four hundred years ago. Trained mel
and women are the social assets whicl
contribute to the discipline and well belns
OF the aggregate Without their prepon
derance in numbers and influence rca
son Is 1ettsoned and democracy found
ers among judgments that are confused
dogmatic and narrowly emotional
The real motives of popular forces
are too frequently hayward impulses
) These take the place OF orderly in
quiry and legitimate change, and re-
sent the questionings of saner out
look. No calculus can integrate the
innumerable pulses of Knowledge and
reflection which have hitherto saved
this republic from disaster. Its ethics
and politics have sprung from those
leaders whose education gave them ar
Irresistible sway and whose best eff
forts have had enormous range anG
benefit The recognition of this fact
has prompted the benefactions fol-
college endowments which, generous
though they are do not keep pace
with the needs of the situation. II
that situation were more clearly un.
derstood every patriotic and demo.
cratically minded citizen would haster
to Its relief. The relation between
culture and the commonwealth Is n,
that of soul and body. Man does no
live by bread alone; science. philos
ophy, literature and art are also hi,
meat. They are not only the servants
OF reasonable religious faith, bu
the fountains whence issue the idea
which sanitate the rule of the PEG
pie. BY their agencies the mora
worth and intellectual clearness of thu
Individual are secured and the gen
eral welfare is advanced. Unless W,
welcome and develop the elect rem
nant which can receive and diffus,
these necessities the republic will be
come recreant and denled. At presen
J., the candidates for the business ar,
more numerous than the provisions
are sufficient. They crave an en-
trance thereto which cannot alwayi
be granted solely for lack OF mean,
and appliances. Britain has recent,
redeemed her backwardness In highe
education. Her scholars, merchant
7 ana statesmen, urged forward b,
9 Germany's example and unparalleled