Hencethepeculiarly,nottosayexuberantly,inanecharacterofthisbranchoforatory,coupledwithanindefatigableoptimismandgood—nature。Thisoutcomeisdueneithertoalackofapplicationnorofreflectiononthepartofthespeakers;itis,indeed,afinishedproductofthehomileticalartandmakesupsomethingofaclassofitsownamongtheartisticachievementsoftherace。Atthesametimeitisameanstoanend。(8*)
However,theclaystickstothesculptor’sthumb,asthemeal—dustpowdersthemiller’shairandthecobblercarriessensibletracesofthepitchthatgoesintohisday’swork,andastheable—bodiedseaman\"walkswitharollinggait。\"Soalsotheuniversityexecutive,whobypressureofcompetitiveenterprisecomestobeallthingstoallaudiences,willcomealsototakeonthecolourofhisownphilandropicpronouncements;tobelieve,moreorlessconveniently,inhisownblamelessutterances。Theynecessarilycommithimtoaproformaobservanceoftheirtenor;theymay,ofcourse,bedesiredasperfunctoryconciliation,simply,butincarryingconvictiontotheaudiencethespeaker’seloquenceunavoidablybendshisownconvictionsinsomedegree。Andnotonlydoesthetemperoftheaudiencesympatheticallyaffectthatofthespeaker,asdoesalsohisfamiliarcontactwiththesamerangeofpersons,suchasgoeswithandtakesachiefplaceinthisitinerantedification;butthereisalsotheopportunitywhichallthiswide—rangingitineraryofpublicaddressesaffordsforfeelingoutthestateofpopularsentiment,astowhatendstheuniversityisexpectedtoserveandhowitisexpectedbesttoservethem。Particularlydothesolemnamenitiesofsocialintercourseassociatedwiththispromulgationoflaysermonslendthemselvesfelicitouslytosuchapurpose;andthiscontactwiththepublicanditsspokesmendoubtlessexercisesapowerfulcontroloverthepoliciespursuedbytheseacademicexecutives,inthatitaffordsthemthereadiest,andatthesametimethemosthabitual,indicationastowhatlineofpolicyandwhatdetailsofconductwillmeetwithpopularapproval,andwhatwillnot。
Since,then,itisnecessarilytheendeavourofthecompetitiveexecutivestomeetthedesiresoftheirpublicasbesttheycan,consistentlywiththedemandsofmagnitudeand閏latimposedbytheirpositionaschiefsofthesecompetitiveconcerns,itbecomesaquestionofsomemomentwhatthecharacterofthisselectpublicopinionmaybe,towhichtheirperegrinationsexposethem;andhowfarandwithwhatlimitationsthepublicopinionthatsohabituallyimpingesontheirsensibilitiesandshapestheircanonsofproceduremaybetakenasreflectingthesentimentsofthepublicatlarge,orofanygivenclassofthepopulation。
Thepublicthatsocontributestothehabitualbentoftheacademicexecutivesisnecessarilyaselectfractionofthelaity,ofcourse,——self—selectedbyvirtueofmembershipinthevariousclubs,churchesandotherlikeorganizationsunderwhoseauspicestheedificationandamenitiesinquestionarecommonlybroughtintobearing,orbyvirtueofvoluntaryattendanceattheseoccasionsofquasi—cultureandgentility。Itissomewhatexclusivefragmentofthepublic,pecuniarilyofamiddlinggrade,asisindeedalsoitscaseinotherthanthepecuniaryrespect。Apartfromthe(veryconsequential)convivialgatheringswherebusinessmenwillnowandagaincometogetherandlendagenialeartotheseexecutivespokesmenofphilandropism,itwillbefoundthatattheaudiences,andattheirattendantsolemnitiesofhospitality,theassemblyismadeupofverymuchthesameelementsasmakeuptheeffectiveconstituencyofthemoderatelywell—to—dochurches。(9*)Neitherthesmallminorityofthewhollyidlerich,northegreatmajoritywhoworkwiththeirhands,arepresentinappreciableforce;particularlynotthelatter,whoarebusyelsewhere;nordothelearnedclasscomeinevidenceinthisconnection,——except,ofcourse,the\"scholarsbyappointment,\"withinwhoseofficialcompetencyliepreciselysuchoccasionsofpublicevidence。
Doubtless,thelargest,tone—givingandeffective,constituentinthisself—selectedpubliconwhosetempertheuniversitypresidenttypicallyleans,andfromwhosebenthiscanonsofcircumspectionaredrawn,istheclassofmoderatelywell—to—doandserious—mindedwomenwhohaveoutlivedthedistractionsofmaternity,andsohavecometoturntheirparentalsolicitudetothecommongood,conceivedasasterilizationoftheproprieties。Thecontrollingidealsofefficiencyandexpediencyintheaffairsofthehigherlearningaccordingly,insofarastheyarenotaprecipitateofcompetitivebusinessprinciplessimply,willbechieflyofthisderivation。Notthatthecaptainsoferuditionneedintimatelyharbourpreciselythosenotionsofscholarshipwhichthisconstituencywouldenjoinuponthem,andforwhichtheydutifullyspeakintheirconciliatorysermonsbeforetheseaudiences;butjustashappensinallcompetitiveretailbusinessthathastodealwithalargeandcriticalconstituency,sohere,——thecaptainsfindthemselvesconstrainedintheirmanagementoftheaffairsoflearningtowalkblamelesslyinthesightofthisquasi—publicspiritedwingofthelaitythathasbyforceofcircumstancescometoconstitutethepublic,asseenintheperspectiveoftheitinerantphilandropist。
Theexecutiveandallhisworksandwordsmustavoidblamefromanysourcefromwhichcriticismmightconceivablyaffectthetrafficwithwhichheisoccupied,suchisthefirstofthosepoliticprinciplesthatgoverntheconductofcompetitivebusiness。Theuniversitymustaccordinglybemanagedwithafirstviewtoacreditableratinginthoseextraneousrespects,touchingwhichthatselectlaitythatmakeuptheexecutive’seffectivepublicarecompetenttoholdconvictions。Theresultingcanonsofmanagementwillbechieflyofthenatureoftabus,sinceblameisbestavoidedbyacodeofavoidance。andsincetheforuminwhichthesetabusareauditedisaforuminwhichthematronlynegationsofpiety,proprietyandgenteelusagetakeprecedenceofwork,whetherscholarlyorotherwise,amisdirectedcowardicenotinfrequentlycomestorulethecounselsofthecaptainsoferudition,——misdirectednotonlyinthemoreobvioussensethatitsguidanceisdisserviceabletothehigherlearning,butalso(whatismoretotheimmediatepoint)inthesensethatitdiscreditstheexecutiveandhistacticsintheesteemofthatworkdaypublicthatdoesnothabituallygivetongueoverthecupsatfive—o’clock。(10*)
Itisperhapsunnecessary,asitwouldassuredlybeungraceful,topursuethisquasi—personalinquiryintothecircumstancesthatsodeterminethathabitualattitudeoftheexecutive。Thedifficultiesofsuchanambiguouspositionshouldbesufficientlyevident,andthecharacterofthedemandswhichthispositionmakesontheincumbentshouldbesimilarlyevident,sofarasregardsconducivenesstocleanandhonestlivingwithinthepremisesofthisexecutiveoffice。Itmay,however,notbeoutofplacetocalltomindoneortwosignificant,andperhapsextenuating,traitsamongthoseconventionsthatgotomakeupthesituation。Unlikewhatoccursintheconductofordinarybusinessandintheprofessions,therehashithertobeenworkedoutnocodeofprofessionalethicsfortheguidanceofmenemployedinthisvocation,——withthesoleexceptionofthatmandatoryinter—presidentialcourtesythatbindsallmembersofthecrafttoastrictenforcementoftheacademicblack—list,——
allofwhichleavesanexceptionallybroadfieldforcasuistry。
Sothat,unlikewhathappensinthebusinesscommunityatlarge,nostandardizationhasheredeterminedthelimitsoflegitimateprevarication;norcansuchastandardizationandlimitbeworkedoutsolongastheexecutiveisrequired,ineffect,tofunctionasthediscretionaryemployerofhisacademicstaffandholdthemtoaccountasagentsforwhomheisresponsible,atthesametimethathemust,inappearance,betheirconfidentialspokesmanandtheircolleagueinthecorporationoflearning。Anditisimpossibletoforegoeitheroftheserequirements,sincethediscretionarypowerofuseandabuseisindispensabletothebusinesslikeconductoftheenterprise,whiletheappearanceofscholarlyco—partnerywiththestaffisindispensabletothatprestigeonwhichreststhecontinuedexerciseofthispower。Andsoalsoithassimilarlyprovedunavoidable(perhapsasanissueofhumaninfirmity)thattheexecutivebeguidedineffectbyameretricioussubserviencetoextra—scholasticconventions,allthewhilethathemustprofessanunbiassedpursuitof\"theincreaseanddiffusionofknowledgeamongmen。\"
IV
Withalldueendeavourtoavoidtheappearanceofastudyintotaldepravity,theforegoinganalysishascome,afterall,toconvergeonthegrowthandderivationofthosepeculiarambiguitiesandobliquitiesthatgivecharactertothetypicalacademicexecutive。Notthatallacademicexecutives,withoutexception,are(inthehistoricalpresent)tobefoundfullyabreastofthatmaturephaseofthetypethatwouldsobereflectedbytheexigenciesoftheirofficeasoutlinedabove。
Norneeditbebelievedorarguedthatnomanmayenteronthesedutiesofofficebutsuchasarespeciallyfitted,bynativegiftandprevioustraining,forjustsuchanenterpriseinmeretriciousnotorietyastheseofficialdutiesenjoin。Theexceptionstosucharulearenotaltogetherrare,andtheincumbentmaywellhaveenteredonthedutiesofofficewithpreconceptionsandaimssomewhatatvariancewithwhatitsdisciplineinculcates。But,itshouldbecalledtomind,thetrainingthatmakesatypicalexecutivecomeswiththemostfelicitousandindefeasibleeffectnotinthepredisposingdisciplineofcandidaturebutintheworkdayconductofoffice。
Andsoconsistentandunremittingisthisdriftofthedutiesofoffice,overtandcovert,that,humanlyspeaking,anyonewhosubmitstoitsdisciplinethroughanappreciableperiodofyearsmustunavoidablycometoconformtotype。Menofunmanageablyrefractorytemperament,suchascannotbyhabituationbeinduedwiththerequisitedeviationandself—sufficiency,willofnecessitypresentlybethrownout,asbeingincompetentforthisvocation。Instancesofsuchrejectionaftertrialwillcometomind,butsuchinstancesare,afterall,notsofrequentorsostrikingastothrowdoubtonthegeneralrule。Thedisciplineofexecutiveofficewillcommonlyshapetheincumbenttoitsuses。
Itshouldseembeyondreasontoexpectthatadecadeofexposuretotheexigenciesofthishighofficewillleavetheincumbentstillamenabletothedictatesofcommonplacetoleranceandcommonhonesty。
Asintimatedabove,menwithingrainedscholarlyidealsandaconsistentaimtoservetheendsoflearningwillstilloccasionallybedrawnintotheexecutiveofficebyforceofcircumstances——particularlybyforceoftheslow—dyingpreconceptionthatthepreferencesoftheacademicstaffshouldcountforsomethinginthechoiceoftheirseniormember;andthiswillhappeninspiteoftheubiquitouscandidatureofaspirantswhohavepreparedthemselvesforthisenterprisebyseduloustraininginalltheartsofpopularityandbyawellorganizedbackingofinfluential\"friends。\"Thelikehappenedmorefrequentlyaquarterofacenturyago,atthetimewhenthecurrentsituationwastakingshapeundertheincipientincursionofbusinessprinciplesintouniversitypolicy。Butitdoesnotappearthatthoseincumbentswhosoenterontheseduties,willfarenotablyotherwiseintheendthandotheotherswhoseprevioustraininghasalreadybentthemtothetypicalpolicyofdeviation,fromtheoutset。
Anillustrativeinstanceortwomaywellbetothepoint。Andthesameillustrationswillperhapsalsoservetoenforcetheviewthatanythinglikeaneffectualuniversity——aseminaryofthehigherlearning,asdistinctfromanassemblageofvocationalschools——isnotapracticablepropositioninAmericaundercurrentconditions。Suchseemstobetheconclusionvouchedforbythetwomostnotableattemptsofthekindduringthepastquarter—century。Thetwoinstancesinquestionshouldappeartoaffordclearexperimentalevidencetothateffect,thoughitisalwayspossibletoallegethatpersonalorlocalconditionsmaysofarhaveaffectedtheseexperimentalinstancesasstilltoleavethecaseindoubt。
Inthesetwoinstances,intheMiddleWestandintheFarWest,thematterhasbeentriedoutunderconditionsasfavourabletothecauseoflearningastheAmericancommunitymayhopetooffer,barringonlythepossibleinhibitionduetoanuntowardlocalcolourofsentiment。Eachofthesetwogreatestablishmentshasbeenfavouredwithanendowmentofsuchmagnitudeaswouldbeadequatetothefoundationofaneffectualuniversity,sufficienttothesingle—mindedpursuitofthehigherlearning,withallthe\"modernappliances\"requisitetoscientificandscholarlywork,ifonlytheirresourceshadbeenhusbandedwithasinglemindtothatend;andineithercasethetermsoftheendowmenthavebeensufficientlytoleranttoadmitsuchpursuitofknowledgewithoutarri鑢epens閑。Thedirectivehands,too,underwhosediscretionarycontroleachoftheseestablishmentsenteredonitsadventuresandattaineditsdistinctivecharacter,weremenwho,atonepointoranotherintheiradministrationofacademicpolicy,entertainedasincerelyconceivedscholarlyambitiontocreateasubstantialuniversity,aninstitutionoflearning。(11*)And,inageneralway,thetwoattemptshaveequallyfailedoftheiravowedinitialpurpose。
Inthepersonsoftheirdiscretionaryheads,thetwoenterpriseswerefromtheoutsetanimatedwithwidelydivergentidealsandaspirationsinmattersofscholarship,andwithsingularlydissimilaranddistinctivetraitsofcharacter,resemblingoneanotherinlittleelsethanasinceredevotiontothecauseofscholarshipandanunhampereddiscretionintheirautocraticmanagementofaffairs;butitisanilluminatingcommentontheforceofcircumstancesgoverningthesematters,thatthesetwoestablishmentshavegonedowntosubstantiallythesamekindanddegreeofdefeat,——adefeatnotextremebuttypical,bothinkindanddegree。Intheonecase,themorenotorious,theinitialaim(wellknowntopersonsintimatelyintouchwiththerelevantfactsatthetime)wasthepursuitofscholarship,somewhatblatantperhaps,butnonethelesssincereandthoughtful;inthecompanion—pieceitwasinalikedegreethepursuitofscientificknowledgeandserviceability,though,itistrue,unschooledandpuzzle—headedtoadegree。Inbothenterprisesalikethediscretionaryheadssoplacedincontrolhadbeenselectedbyindividualbusinessmenoftheuntutoredsort,andwerevestedwithplenarypowers。Underpressureofcircumstances,inbothcasesalike,thepolicyofforcefulinitiativeandinnovation,withwhichbothalikeenteredontheenterprise,presentlyyieldedtotheubiquitouscravingforstatisticalmagnitudeandtheconsequentfeltneedofconciliatorypublicity;untilpresentlytheulteriorobjectofbothwaslostintheshadowoftheseimmediateandurgentmanoeuvresofexpediency,anditbecametheruleofpolicytostickatnothingbutappearances。
Sothatbothestablishmentshavecomesubstantiallytosurrendertheuniversityideal,throughlossofeffectualinitiativeandcourage,andsohavefoundthemselvesrunningsubstantiallythesamecourseofinsidiouscompromisewith\"vocational\"aims,undergraduatemethods,andthecounselsofthePhilistines。Thelife—historyofeach,whiledifferingwidelyindetailofwaysandmethods,isafterallmacleup,forthegreaterpart,offutileextensions,expansions,annexations,ramifications,affiliationsandpronunciamentos,inmattersthatarenomoregermanetothecauseoflearningthanisthestateoftheweather。Intheonecase,thechaseafterasufficientnotorietytookthedirectionofaravenousmegalomania,thebusiestconcernofwhichpresentlycametobehowmostconspicuouslytoprolongashoutintopolysyllables;andthefurtherfactthatthisclamorousraidonthesensibilitiesofthegallerywaspresently,onachangeofexecutivepersonnel,succeededbyagenialsurrendertotimeandtide,anaimlessgum—shodpusillanimity,hasapparentlychangedthedriftofthingsinnoveryappreciabledegree。(12*)
Inthecompanion—piece,theenterprisehasbeenbroughttothelikemanneranddegreeofstultificationunderthesimpleguidanceofanhystericallymeticulousdeferencetoallelsethanthemainfacts。Inbothcasesaliketheexecutivesolicitudehascometoconvergeonaself—centredandirresponsiblegovernmentofintolerance,differingchieflyinthedegreeofitsefficiency。Ofcourse,throughallthisdriftofstultificationtherehasalwaysremained——decusetsolamen——somethingofanamiablyinefficientandoptimisticsolicitudefortheadvancementoflearningatlarge,insomeunspecifiedmannerandbearing,sometime,butnottointerferewiththebusinessinhand。
Itisnotthateitherofthesetwogreatschoolsistoberatedasuselessforwhatevereachisgoodfor,butonlythatthatpursuitoflearningonwhichbothsetoutinthebeginninghasfallenintoabeyance,byforceofcircumstancesastheyimpingeonthesensibilitiesofadiscretionaryexecutive。Asvocationalschoolsandasestablishmentsforthediffusionofsalutaryadviceonthestateofmankindatlarge,botharedoubtlessallthatmightbedesired;particularlyinrespectoftheirstatisticalshowing。Itisonlythattheaffairsofthehigherlearninghavecomedefinitivelytotakeasubsidiary,orputative,place。Intheseestablishments;andtoallappearanceirretrievablyso,becausebotharenowcommittedtosolargeandexactingavolumeofobligationsandliabilities,legalandcustomary,extraneousandalientotheirlegitimateinterest,thatthereisnolongerareasonablechanceoftheircomingtoanythingofseriousimportinthewayofthehigherlearning,even,conceivably,underthemostenlightenedmanagementinthecalculablefuture。Intheirbootlesschaseafterablamelesspublicity,bothhavesunktheirendowmentinconspicuousrealestate,vocational,technicalandaccessoryschools,andthelikeacademicside—issues,tosuchanextentastoleavethemwithoutmeanstopursuetheirlegitimateendinanyadequatemanner,eveniftheyshouldharbouraneffectualinclinationtopursueit。(13*)
Theseremarksonthetypicaltraitsoftheacademicexecutivehaveunavoidablytakenthecolourofpersonalities。Thatsuchisthecaseshouldbynomeansbetakenasintentionallyreflectinganythinglikedispraiseonthosepersonswhohavethis(unavoidable)workofstultificationinhand。Rather,itisdispassionatelytobegatheredfromtherunofthefactsassetoutabovethatthosepersonsonwhomtheseexigenciesimpingewill,byforceofhabituation,necessarilycometotakethebentwhichthesecurrentconditionsenforce,andwithoutwhichthisworkcouldnotwellbedone;allonthesupposition——anditisbynomeansanextravagantassumption——thatthesepersonssoexposedtotheseagenciesofspiritualdisintegrationarebynativegiftendowedwiththecommonplacetraitsofhumannature,nomoreandnoless。Itisthedutiesoftheoffice,notarunofinfirmitiespeculiartotheincumbentsofoffice,thatmaketheoutcome。Verymuchlikethatofthemedicine—man,theofficeisonewhichwillnotabideatolerantandingenuousincumbent。(14*)
V
Inalltheaboveargumentandexposition,touchingtheexecutiveofficeanditsadministrativeduties,thepointofthediscussionis,ofcourse,notthepersonalcharacteristicsofthetypicalexecutive,noreventhespiritualfortunesofthepersonsexposedtothewearandtearofexecutiveoffice;althoughthesemattersmightwellengagetheattentionofanyonegiventomoralizing。Thepointis,ofcourse,thatprecarioussituationinwhichtheuniversity,consideredasacorporationofthehigherlearning,isplacedunderthesecurrentconditions,andthemannerinwhichthesecurrentconditionsgiverisetothissituation。Seenfromthepointofviewofthehigherlearning,anddisregardingconsiderationsextraneoustothatinterest,itisevidentthatthisrunofevents,andtheconditionswhichdeterminethem,arewhollyuntoward,nottosaydisastrous。
Now,thisinquiryisnowiseconcernedtoreform,deflectorremedythiscurrentdriftofthingsacademicawayfromtheancientholdinggroundofthehigherlearning;partlybecausesuchanenterpriseinreformandrehabilitationliesbeyonditscompetence;andpartly,again,becauseinallthiscurrentmovetodisplacethehigherlearningtheremayconceivablybeotherendsinvolved,whichmaybeworthwhileinsomeotherbearingthatisalientothehigherlearningbutofgraverconsequenceforthefortunesoftherace,——urgentneedswhichcanonlybeservedbysodivertingeffortandattentionfromthispursuit。
Yet,partlyoutofareasonabledeferencetothecurrentprejudicethatanymerenegativecriticismandcitationofgrievancesisnothingbetterthananunworthyexperimentinirritation;andmoreparticularlyasameanstoamoreadequateappreciationoftherigorousdifficultiesinherentinthiscurrentstateanddriftofthings;itmaynotbeoutofplacetooffersomeconsiderationofremedialmeasuresthathavebeenattemptedorprojected,orthatmaybeconceivedtopromiseawayout。
Asiswellknown,diversandvariousremedialmeasureshavebeenadvocatedbycriticsofcurrentuniversityaffairs,fromtimetotime;anditisequallyevidentonreflectionthattheseproposedremedialmeasuresarewithfairuniformitydirectedtothetreatmentofsymptoms,——torelieveagitationandinduceinsensibility。However,thereisatleastonelineofaggressivelyremedialactionthatisbeingtried,thoughnotavowedlyasameasuretobringtheuniversitiesintolinewiththeirlegitimateduties,butratherwithaviewtorelievingthemofthisworkwhichtheyarenolongerfittotakecareof。Itisamovedesignedtoshifttheseatofthehigherlearningoutoftheprecinctsoftheschools。Andthedesperatecaseoftheuniversities,consideredasseminariesofscienceandscholarship,isperhapsmoreforciblybroughtinevidencebywhatisinthiswaytakingplaceintheaffairsoflearningoutsidetheschoolsthanbytheirvisiblefailuretotakecareoftheirownwork。Thisevidencegoestosaythatthedifficultiesoftheacademicsituationareinsurmountable;anyrehabilitationoftheuniversitiesisnotcontemplatedinthislatterdaymovement。Anditissocomingtoberecognized,ineffectthoughtacitly,thatforalltheirprofessionsofasingle—mindedaddictiontothepursuitoflearning,theacademicestablishments,oldandnew,arenolongercompetenttotakethedirectionofaffairsinthisdomain。
Soitisthat,withasanguinehopebornofacademicdefeat,therehavelatterlybeenfoundedcertainlargeestablishments,ofthenatureofretreatsorsheltersfortheprosecutionofscientificandscholarlyinquiryinsomesortofacademicquarantine,detachedfromallacademicaffiliationandrenouncingallshareintheworkofinstruction。Inpointofformthemovementisnotaltogethernew。Foundationsofasimilaraimhavebeenhadbefore。Butthemagnitudeandcomprehensiveaimsofthenewestablishmentsaresuchastotakethemoutofthecategoryofauxiliariesandthrowthemintothelead。Theyareassumingtotakeovertheadvanceinscienceandscholarship,whichhasbytraditionbelongedunderthetutelageoftheacademiccommunity。
Thismovelookslikeadesperatesurrenderoftheuniversityideal。Thereasonforitappearstobetheproveninabilityoftheschools,undercompetitivemanagement,totakecareofthepursuitofknowledge。
Seenfromthepointofviewofthehigherlearning,thisnewdeparture,aswellastheapparentneedofit,istoberatedasuntoward;anditreflectsgravelyenoughontheuntowardconditionintowhichtheruleofbusinessprinciplesisleadingtheAmericanschools。Suchestablishmentsofresearcharecapable,inanycompetentmanner,ofservingonlyoneofthetwojointpurposesnecessarytobeservedbyanyeffectiveseminaryofthehigherlearning;norcantheyatalladequatelyservethisonepurposetothebestadvantagewhensodisjoinedfromitsindispensablecorrelate。Byandlarge,thesenewestablishmentsaregoodforresearchonly,notforinstruction;oratthebesttheycanservethislatterpurposeonlyasamoreorlessSurreptitiousorsupererogatorysideinterest。Shouldthey,underpressureofinstantneed,turntheirforcestoinstructionaswellastoinquiry,theywouldincontinentlyfindthemselvesdriftingintothesameequivocalpositionastheuniversities,andthedry—rotofbusinessprinciplesandcompetitivegentilitywouldpresentlyconsumetheirtissuesafterthesamefashion。
Itis,toallappearance,impracticableandinadvisabletolettheseinstitutionsofresearchtakeoveranyappreciableshareofthatworkofscientificandscholarlyinstructionthatisslippingoutofthepalsiedhandsoftheuniversities,soastoincludesomeconsistentapplicationtoteachingwithinthescopeoftheireverydaywork。Andthiscutsoutoftheircomplementofwaysandmeansoneofthechiefaidstoaneffectualpursuitofscientificinquiry。Onlyinthemostexceptional,nottosayerratic,caseswillgood,consistent,saneandalertscientificworkbecarriedforwardthroughacourseofyearsbyanyscientistwithoutstudents,withoutlossorbluntingofthatintellectualinitiativethatmakesthecreativescientist。Theworkthatcanbedonewellintheabsenceofthatstimulusandsafe—guardingthatcomesofthegiveandtakebetweenteacherandstudentiscommonlysuchonlyascanwithoutdeteriorationbereducedtoamechanicallysystematizedtask—work,——thatistosay,suchascan,withoutlossorgain,becarriedonundertheauspicesofabusinesslikeacademicgovernment。
This,imperativelyunavoidable,absenceofprovisionforsystematicinstructioninthesenew—foundestablishmentsofresearchmeansalsothattheyandtheworkwhichtheyhaveinhandarenotself—perpetuating,whetherindividuallyandindetailortakeninthelarge;sincetheirworkbreedsnogenerationofsuccessorstothecurrentbodyofscientistsonwhichtheydraw。Asthematterstandsnow,theydependfortheirpersonnelonthepastoutputofscholarsandscientistsfromtheschools,andsotheypickupandturntoaccountwhatthereisreadytohandinthatway——notinfrequentlymenforwhomtheuniversitiesfindlittleuse,asbeingrefractorymaterialnotaltogethersuitablefortheacademicpurposesofnotoriety。Whenthisacademicsourcefails,asitpresentlymust,withtheincreasinglyefficientapplicationofbusinessprinciplesintheuniversities,thereshouldseemtobesmallrecourseforestablishmentsofthisclassexcepttorunintothesandsofintellectualquietismwheretheuniversitieshavegonebefore。
Inthisconnectionitwillbeinterestingtonote,bywayofparenthesis,thatevennowalargeproportionofthenamesthatappearamongthestaffoftheseinstitutionsofresearcharenotAmerican,andthateventheAmerican—bornamongthemarefrequentlynotAmerican—bredinrespectoftheirscientifictraining。Forthiswork,recourseisnecessarilyhadtotheoutputofmentrainedelsewherethaninthevocationalandathleticestablishmentsoftheAmericanuniversities,ortothattaperingfileofacademicmenwhoarestillimbuedwithtraditionssoalientothecurrentschemeofconventionsastoleavethemnotamenabletothedictatesofbusinessprinciples。
Meantime,thatwhichiseatingtheheartoutoftheAmericanseminariesofthehigherlearningshouldinduecoursealsoworkoutthelikesterilizationintheuniversitiesofEurope,asfastandasfarastheseothercountriesalsocomefullyintolinewiththesamepecuniaryidealsthataremakingtheoutcomeinAmerica。AndevidenceisnotwhollywantingthatthelikeproclivitytopragmaticandpopulartrafficisalreadymakingthewayoftheacademicscientistorscholardifficultanddistastefulinthegreaterschoolsoftheOldWorld。Americaisbynomeansinauniquepositioninthismatter,exceptonlyinrespectoftheeminentdegreeinwhichthiscommunityispervadedbybusinessprinciples,anditsconsequentfaithinbusinesslikemethods,anditsintoleranceofanyotherthanpecuniarystandardsofvalue。Itisonlythatthiscountryisinthelead;
theotherpeoplesofChristendomarefollowingthesameleadasfastastheirincumbranceofarchaicusagesandtraditionswilladmit;andthegeneralityoftheirhigherschoolsarealreadybeginningtoshowtheeffectsofthesamebusinesslikeaspirations,decorativelycolouredwithfeudalisticarchaismsofpatrioticbuncombe。
Aswillbeseenfromtheaboveexplicationofdetailsandcircumstances,suchpracticablemeasuresashavehithertobeenofferedasacorrectivetothissterilizationoftheuniversitiesbybusinessprinciples,amounttoasurrenderoftheseinstitutionstotheenemiesoflearning,andaproposaltoreplacethemwithanimperfectsubstitute。Thatitshouldsobenecessarytorelinquishtheuniversities,asameanstothepursuitofknowledge,andtoreplacethemwithasecond—best,isdue,ashasalsoappearedfromtheaboveanalysis,tothecourseofpolicy(necessarily)pursuedbytheexecutiveofficersplacedincontrolofacademicaffairs;andthecharacterofthepolicysopursuedfollowsunavoidablyfromthedependenceoftheexecutiveonabusinesslikegoverningboard,backedbyabusinesslikepopularclamour,ontheonehand,andfromhisbeing(necessarily)vested,ineffect,witharbitrarypowerofuseandabusewithintheacademiccommunity,ontheotherhand。Itfollows,therefore,alsothatnoremedyorcorrectivecanbecontrivedthatwillhaveanythingmorethanatransientpalliativeeffect,solongastheseconditionsthatcreatethedifficultyareallowedtoremaininforce。
Allofwhichpointsunambiguouslytotheonlylineofremedialmeasuresthatcanbeworthseriousconsideration;andatthesametimeitcarriesthebroadimplicationthatinthepresentstateofpopularsentiment,touchingthesemattersofcontrolandadministration,anyeffortthatlookstoreinstatetheuniversitiesaseffectualseminariesoflearningwillnecessarilybenugatory;inasmuchasthepopularsentimentrunsplainlytotheeffectthatmagnitude,arbitrarycontrol,andbusinesslikeadministrationistheonlysaneruletobefollowedinanyhumanenterprise。Sothat,whilethemeasurescalledforaresimple,obvious,andeffectual,theyarealsosuretobeimpracticable,andfornonebutextraneousreasons。
Whileitstillremainstruethatthelong—termcommonsensejudgmentofcivilizedmankindplacesknowledgeabovebusinesstraffic,asanendtobesought,yetworkdayhabituationunderthestressofcompetitivebusinesshasinducedaframeofmindthatwilltoleratenoothermethodofprocedure,andnoruleoflifethatdoesnotapproveitselfasafaithfultravestyofcompetitiveenterprise。Andsincethequestoflearningcannotbecarriedonbythemethodsorwiththeapparatusandincidentsofcompetitivebusiness,itfollowsthattheonlyremedialmeasuresthatholdanypromiseofrehabilitationforthehigherlearningintheuniversitiescannotbeattemptedinthepresentstateofpublicsentiment。