首页 >出版文学> The Higher Learning in America>第16章
  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。