The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-15

CONSISTENT view or the World on q
scientific basis. And then he has to
realize that all scientific research
never yields any but fragmentary
knowledge, and that even these frag-
ments of knowledge always remain
subject to Doubt" But such men are
relatively few. Most men are~ft, and
better fitted by education to their en-
Vironment. This condition does not
apply. however. to the new America
as it did apply to old Germany.
Boys Lacking in Moral
Strength Should Not Go
(5) Are there too many students in
relation to another element of the
student character and life? This ele-
ment concerns the problem of the
moral upbuilding of the individual
Are men going to college in consider
able number who cannot stand the
trials and endure the moral testings of
the college years? Some men Of this
type are entering the college The
close OF the four years proves that
boys who cannot stand alone, boys
who cannot bear up against moral
temptations, boys whose appetites are
stronger than their wills, boys who
cannot overcome the ridicule OF con-
tempt of their fellows because of their
own moral uprightness. should not
pass through the academic gateway.
Such boys should consider well, and
their parents should consider even bet
ter, whether they should come to col
lege. Too many such boys are now in
college, and their numbers should be
rather diminished than increased. OF
course the question springs to the
parents lips, what shall do. what
can I do with my boy? For. alas. he
has too many of these weaknesses
which you namel" If one could only
heed such petitions and answer such
agonizing criesl
Co Another form of our question
Is, Is the number Of students too many
for absorption in or usefulness to
American life? What are the demands
Of American life? To one demand
only do I now refer. But 1t, is de-
mand broad, insistent. compelling. II
is the demand for leadership.
Ono might possibly run the risk OF
saying that democracy, as now con-
stituted in the world. gives small hope
Of creating proper leadership. For II
feels that the only leadership 1t needs
to have, says the political optimist, is
itself, and at the same time the po-
iitical pessimist affirms that the only
leadership it has or deserves to have
is also itself, which is liable to be
l.. l.. a.. -. - H.,
Representative government repre-
sents the lowest and the middle part
as well as the highest. The lowest an6
the middle part form more numerous
force than does the highest, as the
basess of mountains are broader than
are their peaks. Democracy does not
normally call its ablest men to shoulder
and to bear forward its heaviest re-
sponsibilties or to do it's most arduous
duties. Often it does ask those who
are not its ablest men to accept its
richest honors. 1t prefers to govern
itself poorly to having an autocrat
who may be an aristocrat, govern il
well. Unconsciously it interprets the
process Of government as more impor-
tantl than the product.
! But all that the college gives fol
fostering, for promoting, for constitute
| ing education, trains leadership. Lore
Bryce has a moving paragraph in his
book, Modern Democracies," upor
universities and colleges as training
for political leadership. He says:
"Here there are students of high in.
telligence, some OF whom will in after
life be leaders, helping to form ant
guide public opinion. AS they already
possess q knowledge of the concrete
facts of politics they can use books
and can follow abstract reasonings
They discuss the questions of the hour
with one another. The living voice OF
the teacher who can treat of large
principles and answer questions out
Of his stores of knowledge can war;
against the fallacies, that Turk ir
words, can explain the value of critica
methods. and above all, can try to
form the open and truth loving mind
Is OF inestimable value. In times wher
class strife is threatened there is 6
special need for thinkers and speaker;
able to rise above class interests and
class prejudices., Men can best acquire
wide and impartial views in the years
of youth, before they become entan