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purpose is never quite lost sight of。 The habit of counting it
in； as a matter of course； affects all concerned； in some degree；
and complacent professions of faith to that effect cross one
another from all quarters。 It may frequently happen that the
enterprising men in whom academic discretion centres will have no
clear conception of what is implied in this scholarly purpose to
which they give a perfunctory matter…of…course endorsement； and
much of their professions on that head may be ad captandum； but
that it need be a matter of course argues that it must be counted
with。
Still； in the degree in which business principles rule the
case the outcome will be of much the same complexion as it might
be in the absence of any such prepossession； intelligent or
otherwise； in favour of the higher learning on the part of the
directorate； for competition has the same effect here as
elsewhere； in that it permits none of the competitors to forego
any expedient that has been found advantageous by any one of
them。 So that； whatever course might be dictated by the
sentiments of the directorate； the course enjoined by the
principles of competitive business sets toward the suppression or
elimination of all such scholarly or scientific work from the
university as does not contribute immediately to its prestige；
except so far as the conditions alluded to make such a course
impracticable。
It is not an easy or a graceful matter for a businesslike
executive to get rid of any undecorative or indecorous scientist；
whose only fault is an unduly pertinacious pursuit of the work
for which alone the university claims to exist； whose failure
consists in living up to the professions of the executive instead
of professing to live up to them。 Academic tradition gives a
broad； though perhaps uncertain； sanction to the scientific
spirit that moves this obscure element in the academic body。 And
then； their more happily gifted； more worldly…wise colleagues
have also a degree of respect for such a single…minded pursuit of
knowledge； even while they may view these naive children of
impulse with something of an amused compassion； for the general
body of the academic staff is still made up largely of men who
have started out with scholarly ideals； even though these ideals
may have somewhat fallen away from them under the rub of
expediency。 At least in a genial； speculative sense of the
phrase； scholarship still outranks official preferment in the
esteem of the generality of academic men； particularly so long as
the question does not become personal and touch their own
preferment。 In great part the academic corps still understands
and appreciates the scholarly animus； and looks； on the whole；
kindly and sympathetically indeed； with a touch of envy on
those among them who are so driven to follow their own scientific
bent； to the neglect of expedient gentility and publicity。
The like can； of course； not be so freely said of that body
of businessmen in whom is vested the final control； yet this
sentiment of genial approval that pervades the academic body
finds some vague response even among these； and in any event it
is always to be reckoned with and is not to be outraged； unless
for a good and valuable consideration。 It can not altogether be
set aside； although； it is true； the conduct of certain executive
heads； grown old in autocratic rule and self…complacency； may at
times appear to argue the contrary。 So that； by and large； there
results an unstable compromise between the requirements of
scholarly fitness and those of competitive enterprise； with a
doubtful and shifting issue。 Just at present； under the firm hand
of an enterprising and autocratic executive； the principles of
competitive business are apparently gaining ground in the greater
universities； where the volume of traffic helps to cloud the
details of suppression； and the cult of learning is gradually
falling into a more precarious position。
In a curious way； too； the full swing of business principles
in academic life is hindered by the necessary ways and means
through which these principles are worked out； so much so；
indeed； as to throw a serious doubt on their ultimately achieving
an undivided dominion。 Taken as a business concern； the
university is in a very singular position。 The reason for its
being； at all； is the educational aspiration that besets modern
mankind。 Its only ostensible reason for being； and so for its
being governed and managed； competitively or otherwise； is the
advancement of learning。 And this advancement of learning is in
no degree a business proposition； and yet it must； for the
present at least； remain the sole ostensible purpose of the
businesslike university。 In the main； therefore； all the
competitive endeavours and manoeuvres of the captains of
erudition in charge must be made under cover of an ostensible
endeavour to further this non…competitive advancement of
learning； at all costs。 Since learning is not a competitive
matter； since； indeed； competition in any guise or bearing in
this field is detrimental to learning； the competitive manoeuvres
of the academic executive must be carried on surreptitiously； in
a sense； cloaked as a non…competitive campaign for the increase
of knowledge without fear or favour。
All this places the executive in a very delicate position。 On
the one hand the principles of competitive business； embodied in
a plenary board of control and in a critical scrutiny from the
side of the business community at large； demand that all
appointments； promotions； dismissals； ceremonials； pronouncements
and expenditures； must be made with a constant view to their
highest advertising effect； whereas the notions current as to
what is fitting in a seminary of the higher learning； on the
other hand； somewhat incongruously demand that all these deeds of
commission and omission be done with an eye single to the
increase of knowledge； regardless of appearances。 And this double
responsibility falls； of necessity； on the executive head of the
university； under the present r間ime of centralized autocratic
rule。 Any ethical code that shall permit the executive head to
accomplish what is expected of him in the way of a competitive
enterprise under these circumstances； will necessarily be vague
and shifty； not to and men who have tried to do say tenuous and
shadowy； their whole duty in these premises are ready to admit
that they have been called on to face many distasteful
situations； where honesty would not approve itself