love with college when I was a lad. That love
has never weakened. I was a college boy early,
I am a college boy now, and I hope to remain at
heart a college boy until I die. I never feel so
happy, so much at home, I never feel it so easy to
break down the barriers between us and the out
side world, and to forget differences of occupation,
of position, of wealth, of politics ; and to feel
in touch with all around us, as when I am in a
college audience where we are all thinking of col
lege education and what it is doing and may do
for the people, and the enormous importance to
all of us that this cause of higher education shall
be strengthened and promoted in our midst.
Many of us, Mr. President, remember that
marvelous oration of Pericles over the dead who
had fallen in the Peloponnesian war. According
to the custom a public funeral was awarded to
them and Pericles was appointed to pronounce
the oration. He spoke of the life of Athens and
the way Athens was different from and higher than
other countries. Through it all ran that thought of
higher education, of how the whole city of Ath
ens was a school for Greece ; that she knew
nothing that was not free to anyone who would
come and share it ; that she spent her public
funds freely on everything that would elevate and
beautify the city and the lives of the citizens ;
that by thus rendering life richer and more pre
cious, a just pride was raised in all for the mainte
nance and protection of the city. Strangers from
all parts of the world were drawn there to share
in the enlightening life. The philosopher heard
his.open classes in her porticos, and his classes were
thronged with those who sought to learn the lessson,
of philosophy and the lofty purposes which life
might hold. The Athenian lived cheerfully, and
would not . refuse to battle and to die
willingly, if need be, for this country because he
died a citizen of a free and glorious republic.
These words of Pericles have rung in my ears ever
since I first read them. It taught what the life of
a republic may be when that life is raised to its
highest level, and On all labor fg.r 444§ion
THE FREE LANCE.
of knowledge and truth and for the enlighten
ment of all classes, believing that in so doing they
lay deeper and stronger the foundations of the Re
public,— stronger against foes Without, stronger
against dissensions within, stronger in every way
through that free and liberal course than in any
other way that were possible.
Is this the time to advocate, in this audience of
thoughtful men and women who know how hard
it is to create taxable value—is this the proper
time to advocate larger—far larger—appropria
tions by the State of Pennsylvania to the cause of
higher education ? My friends, it is the most fit
ting moment in the history of this Republic to ad
vocate that. I have lived through the time when
there was hostility to college education ; when it
seemed useless to try to advance the claims of col
lege graduates; when business men said they did
not want college-bred lads and girls in their offices,.
because they had been spoiled for any use and
had been taught only tint which was idle and
profitless. That time has gone by never to return.
I say it has gone never to return, because if there
is one thing that is coming to 'be recognized in
this state, and in every state in this union, it is
the truth that higher and broader education,
and this as free and general as it can be made, is
the very best thing for our young men and young
women. This truth is indisputable, confirmed by
the success of our college men and college women
in every department of life. It seems to me a fur
ther and more convincing proof when we
note the fatally erroneous doctrines that are
being diffused through this country ; when we see
the masses led to their loss and their ruin ; when
we see the very fabric of our government men
aced by the prevalence of anarchical and
communistic doctrines. Unless we can educate
a great body of men and women in the methods
of sober sound thinking, and teach them to be
true teachers of the people upOn the great ques
tions of socialism, how , can we, stem the flood of
ignorance and the tides of passion, which will sweep
over this country as its population increases, with