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NO. 111.
EDITOMAI.8.
4
first election under the amendment, Mr.
Slrntton and Mr. Morion were chosen to
represent their respective societies. Mr.
Morton graduated In the class of '71); and
is spending his first year after graduation
in showing the young ideas of Dakota
Counts' how to make a systematica
growth. C. E. Stratton still holds his po
sition with H. W. Caldwell as associate
from the PalWdian Society, as may be
!ecn by referring to the head of these col
umes. Thus we have traced our short history.
Many interesting times might be called up
by those who have gone before us, which
would lend much interest and attrac
tiveness to the paper. We hope this sug,
gestion may be acted upon by some of
those whose names appear above.
The Student pays its best respects to
those who have guided it in the past; and
bids a hearty welcome to those who are
just read' to take the helm.
THE INKLUENC1AL STATESMAN.
A rapid revolution lias brought upon so
cioty a decidedly modern phase of charac
ter. An age of inquiry has been ushered in
that marks the progressive tendency of the
ago. Amid the glowing activity of the
present era the sepulchro of antiquity
has lost its charms for the sago and the
philosopher. He, who seeks to bettor hu
manity, seeks to find the evil tendencies
now in operation. We may comment
upon the past, and with pride point to
the scenes of glorious victory ; but this is
the work of the timid and the weak. The
future, full or the struggles and convul
sions of humanity, lies before us. Coinpc
tent and trustworthy guide's in our wand
erings is the demand of the times. To
what agency shall we trust for this guid
once and protection? Shall we repose
confidence in that agency, inspired by the
awe of antiquity, when the institutions of
antiquity are abandoned? Or shall we
adhere rather to an agency teeming with
vitality aud trained to manipulate the
complicated machinery of more recent in
volition? Humanity aware of its wants
and necessities finds no difficulty in mak
ing its choice decidedly the latter.
He, then, who watches the coura of
present events, and divines from polit
ical developments, the institutions of the
commonwealth, is the influential states
man of the day. Not from the dregs of
politics must he seek his knowledge, but
from a philosophical view of the conflicts
of social and political institutions. Such
is the statesman who is called upon to
facilitate the movements of the body poli
tic, and to render prosperity certuin un
der rapid changes. Nor is he without re
ward for his labors. For he who remains
in the current of social and political
thought is ever borne onward, and at every
instance rushes by a competitor, clinging
to the past for the solution of national
problems.
If, then, a knowledge of the wants and
tendencies of tlio present times becomes
so important, why not turn the channels
of education in this direction? Though
little by little this result is being accomp
lished, still the ofibrt is far behind public
demands. What, however, our colleges
have failed to do in rendering a know
ledge of the practical duties and experien
cos of a public life, our newspapers have un
dertaken to accomplish. But the unscrup
ulous warfare of demagogues defeats
the aim of the press.unless our reviewers
and commentators come to the rescue.
Gradually this element of journalism may
restore confidence in the comments of the
press, as a leader and a guide. But even
here it will lack in efficiency, from the
fact that the knowledge reudcred meets
the citizen, busy with the affairs of life,
rather than the critical student, confined
to text-books and lectures
Lot us look ,thcn, more to the dotnands
of the times. Let not education, which
should be an incontivc to our develop,
ment, fall below public expectations, be-
f cause of inofilcioncy.
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