Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26

their lives to escape despotism, they
promptly and voluntarily imposed upon
themselves discipline far more rigorous
than that which they had found unen-
durable The passion for liberty has been
the greatest force in the development
of humankind and ought never to be i'm
paired or discouraged. The sole need is
to temper It with the reflection that al
liberty with law be the fire on the hearth,
liberty without law is fire on the foo"
OURS AN AGE OF ACTION.
After all, is IL not probable that this
straining at the bonds of lawful restraint
which we vaguely term unrest is only an
essential part of the growing-pans Of
quick and mighty national expansion?
ours is an age of action, not Of thought
During the past two decades of amazing
material advancement, in particular, our
glory has been in deeds, in positive and
obvious accomplishment not only in bust
ness, but in politics. In view of the re-
suits, the happening is not one to be re-
GREETED; but the tendency is one to be
considered and probably checked. Truth
Is the chief object of mans search. and
found in reflection, not in action: in soil
tude. not IN the forum. The Most pro-
found minds, the widest visions, seem
to be blinded by lime-light Pythagoras
lived in n cave. Plato In the groves of
Acadcmus, kriar Bacon In his tower. nd
Newton. as has been said. "in an intense
severity Of meditation Common sense
makes it plain that he who spends his
time in dispensing his existing knowledge
cannot possess the leisure and energy t.
| acquire new.
! Tho attributes essential TO the render.
ing Of the highest public service are prl-
MARTY. of course, the divine qualities
which inhere in men but they are MOI
necessarily gifts az Of genius; they ar,
more likely to be talents, susceptible
cultivation. And here enters the unlver
/ sity,
! Whatever may be our attitude toward
! the doctrine OF utility" whether W,
stand with Oxford or with Edinburgh
We may rect assured that not ever
T.ockc would deny the need to the mod
crn statesman OF liberal education. =
the very tnple and conclusive reason
/ that universal knowledge Is his require
mont. And where can he obtain it if no
from the university?
Where. II not to the university may
/ Nc look for the maintenance of the dis
cipline aud the forming Of habits essen
tial TO the training of the intellect to s,
fine point that, in subsequent publ
service discrimination between the tru
and the false shall require so little effor
n tn -,
HIGH STANDARD OF COLLEGE MEN
Intellect, Independence. Each is re
quisite and each can be fostered. Blu
there are other Qualities no less essentia
to the entire composition. Chief amonj
these is sense of personal honor Th
trait can be acquired only through cult
walton, which in turn is most natural,
and readily realized through the tradition
and associations afforded by the univer
sty. The motives which enEender it ar
various ana not inevitably, in the nices
Sense, wholly worthy The primar
teaching, for example, that honesty Shout
be practced simply for the sake of pol
LEY, does not seem to conform with tn
spirit of -mindedncss. and yet it i
too often the sum of tho reasons derive
Ing Of pride or even Of the form of vanit
which impcls the wish to stand high il
the estimation of ones fellows is far NOR
meritorious, and it is this impulse which
stirs within a man from the day on whicI
he comes into contact with the standard
which have become fixed by practice with
in the university. To the moral atmos
'rhere of the gridron and the baseball
field, hardly loss than to the shame of re
lccting discredit upon ones Alma Mater
may safely be attributed the keen sense o
personal honor to-day found almost in
Nariahly In the college graduate. And II /
he conceded as it must be, that univer
sity life produces nohleness Of mind. it
but a step to the conclusion that II mus
also refine the conscience. and thus make
the perfect blend which we call characte
tho first and indispensable requisite c
true public service
We hear much in these days of ovo,
ton and Of revolution. Each undeniabl
possesses great power. Science pronounce
the one irresistible. History declares tn
othcr TO be occasionally necessary Ther
Is yet another force. more potent tina
both combined whose DEVELOPMENT is y,
Culiarly the province of the university
That is !nVolution-the building of the r
diVidual from within, the making of tn
man.
Upon this all dei- uds, We may an
should urge the common good but it
contrary to all of our beliefs theological
political, personal to assume that we ca
; achieve the common good except throug
the eXertions Of the individual unit pr
marlly for individual ends II was M
. the mass, but the man, whom God create
in His Image. II was not collective. bit
personal responsibility. that was impose
T. upon the people by the Pilgrim father
Not numbers, but brains, have triumnhe
: in recent wars 1t has been said and
) probably true, that any existing natio
/ would be atrophled by the withdrawal
ten thousand of It's best minds WHY
Because the great majority Of men sti
. lead automatic lives and contribute onl
force, which serves no Setter than an id
engine unless directed The notion of a
members OF the hnnan race participa
ing share and share alike in its totf
I, products is pleasing, no doubt. but it
the theory Of mcdiocritv, which instin,
lively hates ability. resents competition
and Invariably socks undue advantag
That is why socialism IS not an ide:
state, but a morass Of concealed inferior
ity' resting place for sloth, a huri,
place for aspiration.
BASIS or ORR HOPES AS 4 NATION
But it is no part of my intent to depc
the merits OF indvidualism. There is n
hoed 10 do that in addressing a body q