theincumbenthadnodistinguishingmarkseitherasateacherorasascholar,andneithersciencenorletterswillbefoundinhisdebt。Itisperhapsneedlesstoaddthatforreasonsofinvidiousdistinction,nonamescanbementionedinthisconnection。Itshouldbeaddedinilluminationoftheinstancecited,thatinthesameuniversity,byconsistentselectionanddisciplineofthepersonnel,ithadcomeaboutthat,intheapprehensionofthestaffaswellasoftheexecutive,theacceptedtestofefficiencywastheworkdoneontheadministrativecommittees——ratherthanthatoftheclassroomsorlaboratories。
5。Withinthepastfewyearsanacademicexecutiveofgreatnotehasbeenheardrepeatedlytoexpresshimselfinfacetiousdoubtofthispenchantforscholarlyinquiryonthepartofuniversitymen,whetheras\"rese醨ch\"oras\"r閟earch\";andthereisdoubtlessgroundforscepticismastoitspermeatingtheacademicbodywiththatstingofubiquitythatisimpliedinmanyexpressionsonthishead。Anditshouldalsobesaid,perhapsinextenuationoftheexpressioncitedabove,thatthepresidentwasaddressingdelegationsofhisownfaculty,andpresumablydirectinghisremarkstotheirspecialbenefit;andthatwhileheprofessed(nodoubtingenuously)aprofoundzealforthecauseofscienceatlarge,ithadcomeabout,selectively,throughalongcourseofsedulousattentiononhisownparttoallotherqualificationsthanthemainfact,thathisfacultyatthetimeofspeakingwasinthemainanaggregationofslack—twistedschoolmastersandmenabouttown。Suchacharacterization,however,doesnotcarryanygravelyinvidiousdiscrimination,norwillitpresumablyserveinanydegreetoidentifytheseatoflearningtowhichitrefers。
6。Theshareandvalueofthe\"facultywives\"inallthisroutineofresoluteconvivialityisalargetopic,anintelligentandveraciousaccountofwhichcouldonlybeaworkofnaivebrutality:
\"Butthegrim,grimLadies,Oh,mybrothers!
Theyareladlingbitterly。
Theyareladlinginthework—timeoftheothers,Inthecountryofthefree。\"
(Mrs。ElizabretHarteBrowning,inTheCryoftheHeathenChinee。)
7。Whattakesplacewithoutexecutivesanctionneedtroublenoone。
CHAPTERVI
ThePortionoftheScientistTheprinciplesofbusinessenterprisetouchthelifeandworkoftheacademicstaffatdiverspointsandwithvariouseffect。
Undertheirrule,andinsofarastheyrule,theremunerationshiftsfromthebasisofastipenddesignedtofurtherthepursuitofknowledge,tothatofawagebargain,partakingofthenatureofapiece—workscheme,designedtoprocureclass—roominstructionatthelowestpracticablecost。Abusinesslikesystemofaccountancystandardizesandmeasuresthisinstructionbymechanicallygaugedunitsofdurationandnumber,amplitudeandfrequency,andsodiscountenancesworkthatrisesaboveastaplegradeofmediocrity。Usageandtheurgentneedofareputablenotorietyimposeonuniversitymenanextraneousandexcessivelyhighstandardoflivingexpenses,whichconstrainsthemtotakeonsupernumeraryworkinexcessofwhattheycancarryinanefficientmanner。Theneedofuniversityprestigeenforcesthishighscaleofexpenses,andalsopushesthemembersofthestaffintoaroutineofpolitedissipation,ceremonialdisplay,exhibitionsofquasi—scholarlyproficiencyandpropagandistintrigue。
Ifthesebusinessprincipleswerequitefreetoworkouttheirlogicalconsequences,untroubledbyanydisturbingfactorsofanunbusinesslikenature,theoutcomeshouldbetoputthepursuitofknowledgedefinitivelyinabeyancewithintheuniversity,andtosubstituteforthatobjectivesomethingforwhichthelanguagehithertolacksadesignation。
Fordiversreasonsofanunbusinesslikekind,suchaconsummate(\"sweat—shop\")schemehasneverfullybeenachieved,particularlynotinestablishmentsthatare,properlyspeaking,ofanythinglikeuniversitygrade。Thisperfectschemeoflow—costperfunctoryinstruction,high—coststagepropertiesandpress—agents,publicsonganddance,expensivebanquets,speech—makingandprocessions,isneverfullyroundedout。Thisamountstoadmittingapartialdefeatforthegildofbusinesslike\"educators。\"While,asamatterofspeculativepredilection,theymaynotaimtoleavethehigherlearningoutoftheuniversity,theruleofcompetitivebusinessprinciplesconsistentlypushestheiradministrationtowardthatend;whichtheyarecontinuallypreventedfromattaining,bythenecessaryconditionsunderwhichtheircompetitiveenterpriseiscarriedon。
Forbetterorworse,therearealwaysandnecessarilypresentamongtheacademiccorpsacertainnumberofmenwhosesenseofthegenteelpropertiesistoovagueandmeagre,whosegraspoftheprinciplesofofficialprefermentistooweakandinconsequential,whoseaddictiontothepursuitofknowledgeistooingrained,topermittheirconformingwhollytothecompetitiveexigenciesofthecase。Byforceoftheexigenciesofcompetitiveprestigethereis,ofcourse,alimitoftolerancethatsetsdecentboundsbothtothenumberofsuchsupererogatoryscholarsharbouredbytheuniversity,andthelatitudeallowedthemintheirintemperatepursuitofknowledge;buttheirpresenceintheacademicbodyis,afterall,neitheranirrelevantaccidentnoratransientembarrassment。Itis,inonesenseoftheexpression,fortheuseofsuchmen,andfortheusewhichsuchmenfindforit,thattheuniversityexistsatall;insomesuchsense,indeed,asagovernment,apoliticalmachine,arailwaycorporationoratoll—road,maybesaidtoexistfortheuseofthecommunityfromwhichtheygettheirliving。Itistrueinthesensethatthisostensibleusecannotbeleftoutofaccountinthelongrun。Butevenfromdaytodaythisscholarlypurposeisneverquitelostsightof。Thehabitofcountingitin,asamatterofcourse,affectsallconcerned,insomedegree;
andcomplacentprofessionsoffaithtothateffectcrossoneanotherfromallquarters。Itmayfrequentlyhappenthattheenterprisingmeninwhomacademicdiscretioncentreswillhavenoclearconceptionofwhatisimpliedinthisscholarlypurposetowhichtheygiveaperfunctorymatter—of—courseendorsement,andmuchoftheirprofessionsonthatheadmaybeadcaptandum;butthatitneedbeamatterofcoursearguesthatitmustbecountedwith。
Still,inthedegreeinwhichbusinessprinciplesrulethecasetheoutcomewillbeofmuchthesamecomplexionasitmightbeintheabsenceofanysuchprepossession,intelligentorotherwise,infavourofthehigherlearningonthepartofthedirectorate;forcompetitionhasthesameeffecthereaselsewhere,inthatitpermitsnoneofthecompetitorstoforegoanyexpedientthathasbeenfoundadvantageousbyanyoneofthem。Sothat,whatevercoursemightbedictatedbythesentimentsofthedirectorate,thecourseenjoinedbytheprinciplesofcompetitivebusinesssetstowardthesuppressionoreliminationofallsuchscholarlyorscientificworkfromtheuniversityasdoesnotcontributeimmediatelytoitsprestige,——
exceptsofarastheconditionsalludedtomakesuchacourseimpracticable。
Itisnotaneasyoragracefulmatterforabusinesslikeexecutivetogetridofanyundecorativeorindecorousscientist,whoseonlyfaultisanundulypertinaciouspursuitoftheworkforwhichalonetheuniversityclaimstoexist,whosefailureconsistsinlivinguptotheprofessionsoftheexecutiveinsteadofprofessingtoliveuptothem。Academictraditiongivesabroad,thoughperhapsuncertain,sanctiontothescientificspiritthatmovesthisobscureelementintheacademicbody。Andthen,theirmorehappilygifted,moreworldly—wisecolleagueshavealsoadegreeofrespectforsuchasingle—mindedpursuitofknowledge,evenwhiletheymayviewthesenaivechildrenofimpulsewithsomethingofanamusedcompassion;forthegeneralbodyoftheacademicstaffisstillmadeuplargelyofmenwhohavestartedoutwithscholarlyideals,eventhoughtheseidealsmayhavesomewhatfallenawayfromthemundertherubofexpediency。Atleastinagenial,speculativesenseofthephrase,scholarshipstilloutranksofficialprefermentintheesteemofthegeneralityofacademicmen,particularlysolongasthequestiondoesnotbecomepersonalandtouchtheirownpreferment。Ingreatparttheacademiccorpsstillunderstandsandappreciatesthescholarlyanimus,andlooks,onthewhole,kindlyandsympathetically——indeed,withatouchofenvy——onthoseamongthemwhoaresodriventofollowtheirownscientificbent,totheneglectofexpedientgentilityandpublicity。
Thelikecan,ofcourse,notbesofreelysaidofthatbodyofbusinessmeninwhomisvestedthefinalcontrol;yetthissentimentofgenialapprovalthatpervadestheacademicbodyfindssomevagueresponseevenamongthese;andinanyeventitisalwaystobereckonedwithandisnottobeoutraged,unlessforagoodandvaluableconsideration。Itcannotaltogetherbesetaside,although,itistrue,theconductofcertainexecutiveheads,grownoldinautocraticruleandself—complacency,mayattimesappeartoarguethecontrary。Sothat,byandlarge,thereresultsanunstablecompromisebetweentherequirementsofscholarlyfitnessandthoseofcompetitiveenterprise,withadoubtfulandshiftingissue。Justatpresent,underthefirmhandofanenterprisingandautocraticexecutive,theprinciplesofcompetitivebusinessareapparentlygaininggroundinthegreateruniversities,wherethevolumeoftraffichelpstocloudthedetailsofsuppression,andthecultoflearningisgraduallyfallingintoamoreprecariousposition。
Inacuriousway,too,thefullswingofbusinessprinciplesinacademiclifeishinderedbythenecessarywaysandmeansthroughwhichtheseprinciplesareworkedout;somuchso,indeed,astothrowaseriousdoubtontheirultimatelyachievinganundivideddominion。Takenasabusinessconcern,theuniversityisinaverysingularposition。Thereasonforitsbeing,atall,istheeducationalaspirationthatbesetsmodernmankind。Itsonlyostensiblereasonforbeing,andsoforitsbeinggovernedandmanaged,competitivelyorotherwise,istheadvancementoflearning。Andthisadvancementoflearningisinnodegreeabusinessproposition;andyetitmust,forthepresentatleast,remainthesoleostensiblepurposeofthebusinesslikeuniversity。Inthemain,therefore,allthecompetitiveendeavoursandmanoeuvresofthecaptainsoferuditioninchargemustbemadeundercoverofanostensibleendeavourtofurtherthisnon—competitiveadvancementoflearning,atallcosts。Sincelearningisnotacompetitivematter;since,indeed,competitioninanyguiseorbearinginthisfieldisdetrimentaltolearning;thecompetitivemanoeuvresoftheacademicexecutivemustbecarriedonsurreptitiously,inasense,cloakedasanon—competitivecampaignfortheincreaseofknowledgewithoutfearorfavour。
Allthisplacestheexecutiveinaverydelicateposition。Ontheonehandtheprinciplesofcompetitivebusiness,embodiedinaplenaryboardofcontrolandinacriticalscrutinyfromthesideofthebusinesscommunityatlarge,demandthatallappointments,promotions,dismissals,ceremonials,pronouncementsandexpenditures,mustbemadewithaconstantviewtotheirhighestadvertisingeffect;whereasthenotionscurrentastowhatisfittinginaseminaryofthehigherlearning,ontheotherhand,somewhatincongruouslydemandthatallthesedeedsofcommissionandomissionbedonewithaneyesingletotheincreaseofknowledge,regardlessofappearances。Andthisdoubleresponsibilityfalls,ofnecessity,ontheexecutiveheadoftheuniversity,underthepresentr間imeofcentralizedautocraticrule。Anyethicalcodethatshallpermittheexecutiveheadtoaccomplishwhatisexpectedofhiminthewayofacompetitiveenterpriseunderthesecircumstances,willnecessarilybevagueandshifty,nottoandmenwhohavetriedtodosaytenuousandshadowy;theirwholedutyinthesepremisesarereadytoadmitthattheyhavebeencalledontofacemanydistastefulsituations,wherehonestywouldnotapproveitselfasthebestpolicy。(1*)
Whateverexpedientsofdecorativereal—estate,spectacularpageantry,bureaucraticmagnificence,elusivestatistics,vocationaltraining,genteelsolemnitiesandsweat—shopinstruction,maybeimposedbytheexigenciesofacompetitivebusinesspolicy,theuniversityisafterallaseatoflearning,devotedtothecultoftheidlecuriosity,——otherwisecalledthescientificspirit。Andstultification,broadandfinal,waitsonanyuniversitydirectoratethatshalldaretoavowanyotherendasitsobjective。Sotheappearanceofanunwaveringdevotiontothepursuitofknowledgemustbekeptup。Hencethepresenceofscholarsandscientistsofacceptedstandingisindispensabletotheuniversity,asameansofkeepingupitsprestige。Theneedofthemmaybeaneedoftheircountenanceratherthanoftheirwork,buttheyareindispensable,andtheybringwiththemthedefectsoftheirqualities。Whenamanachievessuchnotorietyforscientificattainmentsastogivehimahighvalueasanarticleofparade,thechancesarethatheisendowedwithsomeshareofthescientificanimus,andheislikelytohavefallenintothehabitofratingthetriumphsofscienceabovethoseofthemarketplace。Suchapersonwillalmostunavoidablyaffectthespiritofanyacademiccorpsintowhichheisintruded。Hewillalso,inameasure,bendtheforcesoftheestablishmenttoalong—termefficiencyinthepursuitofknowledge,ratherthantothepursuitofareputablenotorietyfromdaytoday。Totheenterprisingcaptainoferuditionheislikelytoprovecostlyandinconvenient,butheisunavoidable。
Thiswillholdtrueinageneralway,andwithdueexceptions,formenprominentinthosematerialsciencesthathavetodowithdataofsuchatangiblecharacter,andgivetheirresultsinsuchtermsofmechanicalfact,astopermitapassablycloseappreciationoftheirworthbythelaity。Itappliesonlymoreloosely,withlargerexceptionsandawidermarginoferror,inthehumanitiesandtheso—calledmoralandsocialsciences。Inthislatterfieldaclamorousconformitytocurrentprepossessions,particularlytheconventionalprepossessionsofrespectability,oranedifyingandincisiverehearsalofcommonplaces,willcommonlypassinpopularesteemforscholarlyandscientificmerit。Atruculentquietismisoftenacceptedasamarkofscientificmaturity。Thereasonforthiswillappearpresently。Butsofaraspopularesteemisatruthfulindexofscientificachievement。thepropositionholds,thatscientistswhohavedonegreatthingshaveabusinessvaluetothecaptainoferuditionasameansofadvancingtheuniversity’sprestige;
andsofartheindicatedconsequencesfollow。Insomemeasurethescientificmensointrudedintotheacademicbodyareinapositiontogiveadirectiontoaffairswithintheirfieldandwithintheframeworkofthegeneralpolicy。Theyareabletoclaimrankanddiscretion,andtheirchoice,oratleasttheirassent,mustbeconsultedintheselectionoftheirsubalterns,andinadegreealsointheorganizationofthedepartment’swork。Itistrue,menwhosetalent,interestandexperiencerunchieflywithinthelinesofscientificinquiry,arecommonlyneitherskillednorshrewdmanagersinthatgiveandtakeofsubtletiesandambiguitiesbywhichtheinternalmachineryoftheuniversityiskeptinlineandrunningunderabusinesslikeadministration;butevenso,theiraimsandprepossessionswillinameasureaffecttheanimusandshapetheworkoftheacademicbody。Allthisappliesparticularlyonthehigherlevelsofresearch,ascontrastedwiththecommonplace(undergraduate)workofinstruction。Butatthispoint,therefore,theprinciplesofcompetitivepublicitycarrywiththemapartialneutralizationoftheirowntendency。
Thisnecessityofemployingscientistsofacommandingforceandrankraisesapointofsomedelicacyintheadministrationofthecompetitiveuniversity。Itisnecessarytoassignthesemenarelativelyhighrankintheacademichierarchy;bothbecausetheywillacceptnosubordinateplaceandbecausetheadvertisingvalueoftheirprestigewillbecurtailedbyreducingthemtoaninconspicuousposition。Andwithhighrankisnecessarilyassociatedarelativelylargediscretionandawideinfluenceinacademicaffairs,atleastonthefaceofthings。Suchmen,soplaced,areapttobeexactinginmatterswhichtheyconceivetobearontheworkintheirownsciences,andtheirexactionsmaynotbeguidedchieflybytheconspicuousnessoftheequipmentwhichtheyrequireoroftheresultsatwhichtheyaim。Theyarealsonotcommonlyadroitmenofaffairs,inthebusinesssenseoftheterm;notgiventoconciliatorycompromisesandanexhibitionofcomplaisantstatistics。Theframingofshrewdlinesofcompetitivestrategy,andthebureaucraticpunctiliosofuniversityadministration,donotcommonlyengagetheirbestinterest,evenifitdoesnotstirthemtoanindecorousimpatience。(2*)
Shouldsuchamanbecomeundulyinsistentinhisadvocacyofscholarship,soasseriouslytotraversethestatisticalaspirationsoftheexecutive,orinanywaytoendangertheimmediatepopularprestigeoftheuniversity,thenitmaybecomeanopenquestionwhetherhispersonalprestigehasnotbeenboughtattoohighacost。Asabusinessproposition,itmayevenbecomeexpedienttoretirehim。Buthisretirementmaynotbeaneasymattertoarrange。Thebusinesslikegroundsofitcannotwellbeavowed,sinceitisinvolvedintheschemeofacademicdecorum,aswellasintheschemeofpublicity,thatmotivesofnotorietymustnotbeavowed。Colourablegroundsofanotherkindmustbefound,suchaswilldivertthepopularimaginationfromthepointatissue。Byajudiciouscourseofvexationandequivocations,anobnoxiousscientistmaybemanoeuvredintosuchapositionthathispridewillforcea\"voluntary\"resignation。
Failingthis,itmaybecomenecessary,howeverdistasteful,delicatelytodefamehisdomesticlife,orhisracial,religiousorpoliticalstatus。InAmericasuchanappealtothebasersentimentswillcommonlycloudtheissuesufficientlyforthepurposeinhand,eventhoughitallhasnothingtodowiththeman’sfitnessforuniversitywork。Suchastep,however,isnottobetakenunlessthecaseisurgent;ifthereisdangerofestrangingtheaffectionsofpotentialdonors,orifitinvolvesanythinglikeovertdisloyaltytotheexecutivehead。
Thisisoneofthepointsatwhichitisnecessarytorecallthefactthatnosettledcodeofbusinessethicshasyetbeenworkedoutfortheguidanceofcompetitiveuniversitymanagement;
norisiteasytoseehowsuchacodecanbeworkedout,solongastheuniversityremainsostensiblyaseatoflearning,unabletoavowanyothergroundofactionthanasingle—mindedpursuitofknowledge。Ithasbeenalleged——indeeditisfastbecomingatradition——thattheexecutivesofthegreatcompetitiveuniversitieshabituallyallowsomepeculiarlatitudeastouchesthecanonsoftruthandfairdealing。Ifthisdescribesthefacts,itshouldnotbecountedagainstthesediscreetmenwhosohavetotaxtheiringenuity,butagainstthesituationinwhichtheyareplaced,whichmakesitimpracticabletoobserveanicediscriminationinmattersofveracity。Statementsoffact,undersuchconditions,willingreatpartbecontrolledbytheendtobeaccomplished,ratherthanbyantecedentcircumstances;suchstatementsarenecessarilyofateleologicalorder。Asinothercompetitivebusiness,factshaveinthisconnectiononlyastrategicvalue;buttheexigenciesofstrategyherearepeculiarlyexacting,andoftenrigorous。
Academictraditionandcurrentcommonsenseuniteinimposingontheuniversitiestheemploymentofprominentscholarsandscientists,inthatmenofnoteinthisclasshaveahighprestigevalueforpurposesofpublicity;anditwassuggestedabovethatareservationofsomebreadthmustbemadeonthishead。Commonnotorietyistheduetestofeminencewhichthecompetitiveuniversitymustapplyintheselectionofitsnotables。Butinthesciencesthatdealwiththelesstangibleandmeasureabledata,theso—calledmoralorsocialsciences,commonnotorietyisnotevenanapproximatelyaccurateindexofscientificcapacityorattainments;andstillitis,ofcourse,thestandingoftheincumbentsinpointofcommonnotorietythatmustchieflybehadinviewinanystrictvaluationofthemforpurposesofacademicprestige。Theyareneededfortheadvertisingvaluewhichtheybring,andforthispurposetheyarevaluablesomewhatinproportiontotherankawardedthembycommonreportamongthatunlearnedelement,whosegoodopinionthecompetitiveuniversitymustconciliate。Butinthenatureofthecase,withintherangeofsciencesnamed,theestimateoftheunlearnedisnecessarilyinthewrong。
Withtheexceptionofarchaeologicalinquiriesandthestudyoflaw,ascommonlypursued,thesemoralorsocialsciencesareoccupiedwithinquiryintothenatureoftheconventionsunderwhichmenlive,theinstitutionsofsociety——customs,usages,traditions,conventions,canonsofconduct,standardsoflife,oftaste,ofmoralityandreligion,lawandorder。Nofaithfulinquiryintothesematterscanavoidanairofscepticismastothestabilityorfinalityofsomeoneorotheramongthereceivedarticlesofinstitutionalfurniture。Aninquiryintothenatureandcauses,theworkingandtheoutcome,ofthisinstitutionalapparatus,willdisturbthehabitualconvictionsandpreconceptionsonwhichtheyrest,eveniftheoutcomeoftheinquiryshouldbearnocolouroficonoclasm;unless,indeed,theinquirerweresofortunateastostartwithaninalienablepresumptionthatthereceivedconvictionsonthesemattersneednoinquiryandareeternallyrightandgood;inwhichcasehedoesbesttorestcontentathispointofdeparture。Scepticismisthebeginningofscience。Hereinliesthedifferencebetweenhomileticalexpositionandscientificinquiry。
Now,onthesemattersofhabitandconvention,moralityandreligion,lawandorder——matterswhichintimatelytouchthecommunity’sacceptedschemeoflife——allmenhaveconvictions;
sentimentalconvictionstowhichtheyadherewithaninstinctivetenacity,andanydisturbanceofwhichtheyresentasaviolationoffundamentaltruth。Theseinstitutionsofsocietyaremadeupofthehabitsofthoughtofthepeoplewholiveunderthem。Theconsensusoftheunlearned,orunscientific,asregardsthescientificvalidityofinquirieswhichtouchthesemattersmeanslittleelsethanthecollectiveexpressionsofajealousorthodoxywithrespecttothearticlesofthecurrentsocialcreed。Onewhopurportstobeascientistinthisfieldcangainpopularapprovalofhisscientificcapacity,particularlythebusinessmen’sapproval,onlybyacceptingandconfirmingcurrentconvictionsregardingthoseelementsoftheacceptedschemeoflifewithwhichhisscienceisoccupied。Anyinquirywhichdoesnotleadtocorroborationoftheopinionsinvogueamongtheunlearnediscondemnedasbeingspuriousanddangerouslywrong—headed;whereasanunbiassedinquiryintothesethings,ofcourse,neitherconfirmsnordisputestheschemeofthingsintowhichitinquires。Andso,atthebest,itfallsintothesameclasswiththefabledAlexandrinebooksthateitheragreedwiththeKoranordisagreedwithit,andwerethereforeeitheridleorsacrilegious。
Withinthisfield,vulgarsentimentwilltolerateascepticalornon—committalattitudetowardvulgarconvictionsonlyasregardsthedecorativefurnishings,notasregardsthesubstanceoftheviewsarrivedat。Someslightplayofhazardousphrasesaboutthefringeoftheinstitutionalfabricmaybetoleratedbythepopulartaste,asanelementofspice,andasindicatingagenerousandunbiassedmind;butinsuchcasestheconclusivetestofscientificcompetencyandleadership,inthepopularapprehension,isasereneandmagniloquentreturntotheorthodoxcommonplaces,afterallsuchplayfulexcursions。Infact,substantiallynothingbuthomileticsandwoolgatheringwillpasspopularmusterasscienceinthisconnection。
Soitcomesaboutthatthemenwhoarebycommonnotorietyheldtobetheleadersinthisfieldoflearning,andwhothereforearelikelytobethrownupbyofficialpreferment,aresuchasenlargeonthecommonplaceandaphoristicwisdomofthelaity。Notthattheofficialsanctionfallsunfailinglyontheparagonsofmediocrity;therearemanyandillustriousexceptions,afairproportionofwhomwouldbeillustriousevenwithouttheofficialsanction;andinthisconnectionitisinplacetorecallthatbusinessprincipleshavenothithertoheldundividedandsovereigndominioninthisprovince,andthatthereisevenreasontobelievethattheyarenotyetcomingfullyintotheirown。
Theseputativeleadersofsciencereferredtoare,inthecommonrunofcases,notmenwithwhomthesciencewillhavetocount;butbyvirtueoftheireligibilityasacademicspokesmenofthescience,theyaremenwithwhomtheircontemporariesinthesciencewillhavetocount。Asisshownbytheexperienceofthepast,theyarelikelytobewellforgottenbythegenerationthatfollowsthem,buttheyare,perforce,equallywellrememberedbytheircontemporaries。Itisnotthelong—termserviceabilityoftheseofficialscientiststhatcountstowardtheiravailabilityforacademicleadership,buttheirpopularprestige。Theymaynotbesuchleadersasthescienceneeds,buttheyaresuchexponentsofopinionasarebelievedtocommendthemselvestothetastesofthewell—to—dolaity。Acitationofinstanceswouldseeminvidious,nor,presumably,isitcalledfor。Theanecdotalhistoryofcontemporaryeventsisparticularlyfullatthisjuncture;whiletooutsiderswhoarenotinapositiontoappreciateeithertheurgencyorthesubtletyofthemotivesofacademicexpediencyinthisbearing,arecitalofillustrativeinstancesmightseemeitherlibellousorfarcical。
Theexigenciesofcompetitiveacademicenterprise,especiallyinitsrelationtothemaintenanceandincreaseofendowment,placetheexecutiveinaverydelicatepositioninthismatterandleavelittleroomforsqueamishdeliberation。
Attheriskoftedium,itisnecessarytopushtheanalysisofbusinesslikemotivesandtheirbearingastepfartheratthispoint。Itisnotsimplythevulgar,commonplaceconvictionsofthepopulacethatmustreceiveconsiderationinthisfieldofthemoralandsocialsciences,——includingsuchmattersasreligion,sociology,economics,andpoliticalscience,so—called。Whatisespeciallytobeconciliatedbytheofficialscientistsisthecurrentrangeofconvictionsonalltheseheadsamongthosewell—to—doclassesfromwhomtheinstitutionhopestodrawcontributionstoitsendowment,ontheonehand,andthemorereputablepartofitsundergraduateclient鑜e,ontheotherhand。
Whichcomes,broadly,tosayingthatajealouseyemustbehadtotheviewsandprepossessionsprevalentamongtherespectable,conservativemiddleclass;withaparticularregardtothatmoreselectbodyofsubstantialcitizenswhohavethedisposalofaccumulatedwealth。Thisselectandsubstantialelementareonthewholemoreconservative,moreold—fashionedintheirviewsofwhatisright,goodandtrue,andholdtheirviewsonmorearchaicgroundsofconviction,thanthegeneralityofthevulgar。
Andwithinthisconservativebody,again,itistheelderlyrepresentativesoftheoldorderthatarechieflytobeconsidered,——sinceitisthehonourablecustomamongmenoflargemeansnottogivelargelytoinstitutionsoflearninguntillateinlife。
Itistobeaccountedoneofthemeritoriouscustomsofthegreaterbusinessmenthat,onewithanother,theyeventuallyconvertashareoftheirtakingstotheinstallationofschoolsandsimilarestablishmentsdesignedtoserveandtoconservetheamenitiesofcivilizedlife。Usuallyitisinlaterlife,orasanactofleave—taking,thatthismunificenceisexercised。
Usually,too,thegreatmenwhoputforththislargemunificencedonothampertheirbountywithmanyrestrictionsonthecharacteroftheenlightenmentwhichitistoserve。Indeed,thereisinthisrespectacertainlargemodestyandcontinencecustomarilyassociatedwiththelargedonations。Butlikeothermenofforceandthoughtfulness,thelargeandelderlybusinessmenhavewell—assuredconvictionsandpreferences;andasisthecasewithothermenofthepassinggeneration,sowiththesuperannuatedbusinessmen,theirconvictionsandpreferencesfalloutonthesideoftheoldorderratherthancontrariwise。Awiseacademicpolicy,conductedbyanexecutivelookingtothefiscalinterestsoftheuniversity,willaimnottoalienatetheaffectionsofthelargebusinessmenofaripeage,byharbouringspecialistswhoseinquiresarelikelytotraversetheseold—settledconvictionsinthesocial,economic,political,orreligiousdomain。Itisbadbusinesspolicytocreateunnecessaryannoyance。Soitcomesaboutthatthehabitualmunificenceofthecaptainsofindustrywhohavereachedtheirtermwillhavegraveconsequencesforthatrangeofacademicsciencethatisoccupiedwithmattersonwhichtheyholdconvictions。(3*)
Thereresultsagenialendeavourtokeepstepwiththemoribundcaptainsofindustryandtherelicsofthewealthydead。
Remotelybyforceofaworldly—wiseappointingpower,proximatelybyforceofthegoodtasteandsobersenseofwell—chosenincumbents,somethingoffilialpietycomestopervadetheacademichandlingofthoseinstitutionalphenomenathattouchthesentimentsofthepassinggeneration。Henceitcomesthatcurrentacademicworkintheprovinceofthesocial,political,andeconomicsciences,aswellasinthesciencesthattouchthereligiousinterest,hasalargerreputationforassuranceanddignitythanforanincisivecanvassingoftheavailablematerial。