Year: 1875




The Grafton or rather address. delivered
by Hon. Charles Francis Adans before
the literary societies of Colby University
was essentially the same that he gave to
the Social Union OF Amherst College July
7tn. In commencing, Mr.. Adams said that
AT his age he hoped To shine. He had
pas ed that period in life. so that whatev-
er he had TO say on the present occasion
was IN the hope that from its practical
character some good might result. The
present is s season devoted TO survey OF
the state of higher education-an occasion
when we may Inquire into its defects as
well a. note the progress made. IL IS not
e season Tor speaking the language of "op-
tmism" but rather for words OF straight
forward application into the requirements
of the period in which we live. What the
speaker meant by optimism IL that spe-
cies of self-congratulation for which our
people are censured abroad and to which
he thought We had tendency. Ii appeared
early in the history of the nation, even
before the formation ef the federal consti-
tuition. In the first Congresses orators de-
clared that the United States ais the ireest
and most enlightened nation In she world"
THIS was at a time when We hsa but two
or three colleges. and when Bepjaman
Franklin was the embodiment of ne arly all
our stock OF original genius. II however,
the test was confined simply 10 the relative
number Of persons In the country able 10
read and write compared with other ma
tions at the time the claim would not have
been extravagant, although In the fields
OF philosophy, science and craftsmanship,
We could make little show.


WHAT TIE COUNTRY MOST NEEDS.


Assuming this view to be substantially
correct, there seems TO be little cause left
for uneasiness on this side of the question
of general education. The case is altered
when turn my eyes In direction diamet-
ricaly opposite, and look for a cores
| ponding deyelop ment there. Where are
the men TO come from, potent TO leaven
these growing multitudes with the very es-
sence of all elevation IN life. Ii is not so
much the object of an average education
| that is in question. as of the infusion Of :he
highest elements Of power which effect the
advance of enlarged public opinion and
! public action in great communities. This
seems to be the great want Of the country
/ at the present moment. Faithful. energet-
[ &c and effective as am ready to maintain
the great body Of teachers TO be in our
/ highest institutions of learning, l regret to
| say that have not found such as | meet
| so mnch impressed as am with the mag
/ nitude of their responsibilities In certain
/ directions where the call seems to me TO
/ be the most imperative. That call in my
view is not so much for the greater accu-
mutations of learning in The abstract, as
for the capacity 10 make a quicker and
| broader application of it TO the ever-recur-
| ring emergencies OF the times.


Ny object. then, in consenting to address
| you. is to explain the reason of the faith
that is in me. 1t does not relate SO much
TO promise as to performance-not SO much
/ TO theory as TO action In the career TO
which you may respectively look forward.
| A condition of things is impending here
and elsewhere, which bids fair materially
to change the relative influence Of the
agencies that effect the civilized world.
Force can no longer be depended upon as
permanent adjunct to political power.
The pen works more subtly, to eject
more durable results. Power il gathered
more steadily through the human voice
than the material muscle. While the ma.
| terial impulse OF the many is still aud will
probsbly long continue to be, TO crowd
around the person of n military hero, and
set him up as an object of idolatry the sta.
bllity OF the influence created, is no longer
exactly what it was years ago. The press
is n greaCer power Ia the long run than the
sword. One consequence inevitably fol.
lows. The men who. through the marve-
lous sympathies which they can direct
toward the formation Of public opinion, can
shake even thrones, should be persons no,
picked up at random by season Of an acei'
dental faculty or grace of style, or acci.
dent of voice, but rather those richly stored
by education with intellectual and mora
resources, and practiced in the art Of plsc
ing them attractively as well Is convinc.
ingly before the world,-in other words,
who shall prove the very elect OF the
agonste Of our colleges. So, too, another
class who may feel In themselves capac'
ity as well Is an honorable ambition tG
supply . growing demand for better lead


ers in the platform or in the forum thar
such as come up by chance, ought not long
er to be made to trust the uncertain guid
ance of theoretieal spectators without


confidence In themselves, or faith in theiI
occupation, but should raise up new bod