Ifi-t
HD1T0HIAI.S.
VOI-. V1I1,
of neud, its prospects for timely success
will be brightened, ami its discouraged
friends willing to build anew the reputa
tion that has fallen.
THE M'UDY OK CIVIL GOVKKNMKNT.
From those institutions which arc in
debted for their existence to a direct tax,
the State in return naturally expects some
profit. If that investment be made in a
state university, she demands in return
lor the annual expenditure for instruction,
sutlicient knowledge of statesmanship to
guarantee the perpetuity of her social
and political liberty. Unless she receives
the enhanced profit, her investment be
comes a poor speculation.
Whether our University can withstand
this test for its utility, or not, will depend
upon the facilities thai it affords for train
ing tne student in those branches of
knowledge which lit h:m for the position
of a true citizen. With one term devoted
to the Constitution of the United States
and another to the study of Political
Economy and the student is launched into
society to become, perhaps, the leader in
political circles. Willi such limited dis
cipliuc in those branches of knowledge
as the State so urgently demands, we fear,
that if the safety of the body politic were
to depend upon the investment, it would
indeed be a poor speculation.
The education of an American, by ne
cessity, differs widely from that of an ori-
cntal subject. For the one it is, to com
mand, to direct and to obey. For the
other, obedience to 103 al mandate is his
highest duty. But while we ucituowlcugc
that the sovereign, to reign wisely, must
reign intelligently, we forget that our sov
ereign resides in every town and in every
hamlet. We forget that that knowledge
of statesmanship which destiuguishes the
Sultan and the Czar above the subject, is
as essential to distinguish the private citi
zen in political and social ranks.
That more attention, then, should be
given to those brauches of learning which
have for their aim the cultivation of civil
government, is highly necessary. And
from no other source than a state univer
sity is such instruction expected. The
State requires it, and the student to be
come a unit in his government, needs it.
And had the general Government in its
endowment to the State demanded it, in
stead of intimating the study of military
tactics, it would have realized more in
trinsic worth in the possession of able cit
izens, than it will protection from all the
discipline of her military departments.
The study f civil government so essen
tial to the intelligence of a commonwealth
should be allowed a prominent position
in the curricula of the University. Aside
from political philosophy, let historical
knowledge be the ground work; and if
text-books be lacking, let lectures take
their places. Under such management
that which ought to be the characteristic
of a state institution, may be made to as
sume its true position.
"PUFFING."
We do not feel that we are guilty, to
any great degree at least, of the custom
above leferred to. Perhaps a reader of
the Studbnt might llml some instances
where it would be hard for us to free our
selves from such a charge; but such cases
arc rare, and custom alone made us in
dulge as much as we have. We hope our
successors may have the ability, and may
exercise the judgment to estimate every
future performer at his real worth. The
great trouble in "writing up" exhibitions
and Commencement is tiiat no discrimi
nation is made between one who does
cell, and another who barely gets through
without tne stigma of failure. Com
mencement and college society exhibi
tions are generally so thoroughly "puffed"
that no dependence is placed in the re
port of their proceedings by the public.
The finest scholarship, the most finished
production, and the host delivery receive
no higher commendation than their op-
PCTglifrOTHHM'ffWM
I
r
