Modern Eloquence: Vol II | Page 5

and in different trainings, though with the same end. [Applause.]
Holding this view, I have been somewhat concerned to see of late that
the original differences between Harvard and Yale seem to be rapidly
disappearing. For example, a good many years ago, Harvard set out on
what is called the "elective" system, and now I read in the Yale
catalogue a long list of studies called "optional," which strikes me as
bearing a strong resemblance to our elective courses. [Laughter.] Again,
my friend the Secretary of State has done me the honor of alluding to
the reasons which induced his father, I suppose, rather than himself, to
send him on that journey, which we Harvard men all deplore.
[Laughter.]
Now, it is unquestioned, that about the year 1700 a certain number of
Congregationalist clergymen, who belonged to the Established Church

(for we are too apt to forget that Congregationalism was the
"Established Church" of that time, and none other was allowed),
thought that Harvard was getting altogether too latitudinarian, and
though they were every one of them graduates of Harvard, they went
off and set up another college in Connecticut, where a stricter doctrine
should be taught. Harvard men have rather nursed the hope that this
distinction between Harvard and Yale might be permanent. [Laughter.]
But I regret to say that I have lately observed many strong indications
that it is wholly likely to disappear. For example, to come at once to the
foundations, I read in the papers the other day, and I am credibly
informed it is true, that the head of Yale College voted to install a
minister whose opinions upon the vital, pivotal, fundamental doctrine
of eternal damnation are unsound. [Laughter.] Then, again, I look at the
annual reports of the Bureau of Education on this department at
Washington, and I read there for some years that Harvard College was
unsectarian; and I knew that it was right, because I made the return
myself. [Laughter.] I read also that Yale College was a
Congregationalist College; and I had no doubt that that was right,
because I supposed Dr. Porter had made the report. But now we read in
that same report that Yale College is unsectarian. That is a great
progress. The fact is, both these universities have found out that in a
country which has no established church and no dominant sect you
cannot build a university on a sect at all--you must build it upon the
nation. [Applause.]
But, gentlemen, there are some other points, I think, of national
education on which we shall find these two early founded universities
to agree. For example, we have lately read, in the Message of the Chief
Magistrate, that a national university would be a good thing. [Applause.]
Harvard and Yale are of one mind upon that subject, but they want to
have a national university defined. [Laughter.] If it means a university
of national resort, we say amen. If it means a university where the
youth of this land are taught to love their country and to serve her, we
say amen [applause]; and we point, both of us, to our past in proof that
we are national in that sense. [Applause.] But if it means that the
national university is to be a university administered and managed by
the wise Congress of the United States, then we should agree in taking

some slight exceptions. [Laughter.] We should not question for a
moment the capacity of Congress to pick out and appoint the professors
of Latin and Greek, and the ancient languages, because we find that
there is an astonishing number of classical orators in Congress, and
there is manifested there a singular acquaintance with the legislation of
all the Latin races. [Laughter.] But when it should come to some other
humbler professorships we might perhaps entertain a doubt. For
example, we have not entire faith in the trust that Congress has in the
unchangeableness of the laws of arithmetic. [Laughter.] We might think
that their competency to select a professor of history might be doubted.
They seem to have an impression that there is such a thing as
"American" political economy, which can no more be than "American"
chemistry or "American" physics. [Applause.] Finally, gentlemen, we
should a little distrust the selection by Congress of a professor of ethics.
[Laughter.] Of course, we should feel no doubt in regard to the tenure
of office of the professors being entirely suitable, it being the
well-known practice of both branches of Congress to select men solely
for fitness, without regard to locality, and to keep them in office as long
as they are competent and faithful. [Laughter and applause.]
But, gentlemen, I think we ought to recur for a moment, perhaps, to the
Pilgrim Fathers [laughter], and I desire