Show r. r The Student Student and Politics I WE have mentioned before the low J estimate the student is apt to put puta a upon uRon the practical side of life especially especially especially ally if he has formed a high opinion of his own attainments When on one has reached a position of scornful conI condemnation condemnation con con- I of all that does not come up r v to his idea of what should be politics tf are e sure to come in for a large share of g 2 this condemnation It is well of course to have high id ideals als and fro from the standpoint of ri r those hose ideals to judge all that seem at at va variance with right and justice but ut t there ere is always immediately mediately present the danger of assuming a merely negative nega nega- f tive i e attitude towards all institutions s sJ J with Ith whose principles we are not III in b acc accord rd Following this tendency in r ancient times men possessed with a areal areal real d desire sire for truth became hermit hermitt t philosophers wasting t their mental 1 energy in the analysis of empty forms or s r and in like manner in the middle ages devout me men despairing of the redemption re re- redemption r emption of the world from the soci social l and moral chaos that seemed e prevalent sought in the cloister the serenity of soul the absence of alli all i worldly interest which they deemed r- r as a preparation for the life to tor r t come All this is a denial of the reali reality ty of life of the earnestness of the i- i reality of life It is putting far too low lows lowan s an estimate upon the wisdom and beneficence beneficence bene bene- f of the U Universal nive sal Giver to assume assume assume as as- sume that the primal gift of life itself is an evil to o be endured only as s a a i punishment and to be got rid of as asa a F soon soon as possible A And d in the sa same e eway way way it is nothing less than treason to humanity to say that its institutions are ate areso x so hopelessly corrupt that we da dare not so much muc as attempt att to improve them r for f fear ar of contamination Politics s as asan an institution ution is is' is rendered necessary bythe by bythe the the very v very ry perfection and freedom of our c government govern ent and to to say that that we are better than the politics of our country while at the same time we make no attempt attempt to improve the condition of politics tics is to avow a lack not only of s patriotism but bu of sim simple le humanity on our part There is a place in active life for every honest and able man and college life should unfit no one for filling that place if it does it defeats its own en end I It t should not and does not in the main tend to weaken the aspiration that soars above what is sordid in human haman affairs but it should while it strengthens such aspirations indicate the means by which their objects may be attained Thus rightly understood college education education education tion is to prepare for life in society on the basis of a nearer approach to ideal perfection not to give a a mere merely merey negative negative negative nega nega- tive power to criticise social |