Address of James McMillan Shafter at the Inaugural Ceremony of Stanford University

Address of Judge Shafter.

Address of James McMillian Shafter at the Opening Ceremony of Leland Stanford Jr. University

1 Oct 1891

         We do not know with what ceremonials Ramses the Great, or Solomon the Wise, dedicated the great structures they created, nor that they were ever dedicated in the sense in which we use the words. We do know that the vast temples, the ruins of which remain in the deserts of Egypt and elsewhere, had no design to promote happiness; that they were reared at a great expense of life, and their destruction is but the natural retribution due to tyranny.

         We do not know whether this great pile is to be destroyed by the subterranean force that shakes our mountains, or that the gnawing tooth of time is to demolish it, but this may safely be said that whenever in future time the statesman or scholar shall come to this spot he will exclaim, that yonder tomb contains those whose philanthropic and family affection were an honor to our common humanity, and that the man and woman, who with the design of “enlarging and cultivating” the intellect of the young raised this pile, were in touch with humanity at large.

         The Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University accept the trust devolved upon them with the hope that the founders of the University will long remain to exercise control of its affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Stanford, we felicitate you upon the grandeur of your design and we congratulate you upon its near fulfillment.

         In accepting our office of Trustees, we pledge ourselves to exert our utmost efforts to accomplish the objects of our trust, and we sincerely express the hope that the happening of the condition upon which we are to enter upon active participation in the management of this University, may be long deferred.

         Of the original members of our Board five have died. Mr. Vrooman, a lawyer and legislator, died comparatively young. In the death of Mr. Josiah Stanford, brother of our founder, the Board has lost that efficient aid of which his abilities were a sure guaranty. He had witnessed so much of the progress of the University as to assure him of its success and that he would have his share in the augmentation of honor attaching to his family name. Mr. Ashburner, who may have been properly regarded as the naturalist of the Board and whose learning would have rendered much assistance in natural science, is lost to us. His was the knowledge of where the gold had place and where the vein of silver was found; but the crucible is broken, the dross consumed, and the fine fold of learning is lost in ashes. Another, General Miller, confronted death in many battles and brought from them a mortal wound; still his interest in public affairs and in the interests of this school was undiminished. No more to him the blare of trumpets, the “thunder of the captains and the shouting;” under the white banner of eternal peace he takes his dreamless repose.

         In speaking of the last dying of our body, I am reminded of Sydney Smith’s sermon upon the unjust judge. “What should we say to the man who would willfully destroy this magnificent temple in which I am now speaking? Far worse is he who ruins the moral edifice of the world, which time, and toil, and many prayers to God, and many sufferings of men have reared; who puts out the light of the times in which he lives, and leaves us to wander in the darkness of corruption and the desolation of sin.” Judge Lorenzo Sawyer was the opposite of the character thus delineated. Amidst the vilest detraction, the product of ignorance and falsehood, he remained uninfluenced and undisturbed. “He clung to that pure, exalted, and Christian independence which towers above the little motives of life, which no hope of favor could influence, which no effort of power could control.”

         Gentlemen of the Faculty, permit us to welcome you. When hereafter you shall have attained eminent success, it will be an agreeable recollection that you have simply justified the prophetic hope of this Board of Trustees. I see by your published curriculum that it contains about all that is known or worth knowing. I think in directing this course of study you must first have adopted the doctrine of absorption and evolution, and have calculated largely upon the capacity of your students. What is stated there covers a large field of study.

         Admitting all there has been of ordinary collegiate education, the founders of this University have suggested new objects of study—the development of mechanical forces, the science of agriculture, and the largest study of the jural relations of men.

         Upon these topics the donors express the opinion that the field of inquiry is without limit, and that in investigation the capacity of man is equally limitless. They further say that the people, as to these subjects, need and desire information.

         Who can look back fifty years and remember the then condition of the mechanic arts, and know their present condition, but will smile with something of self contempt at his former incredulity and fear? There is no longer any forbidden fruit of knowledge and of the secrets of nature; “Knock and they shall be opened” is the legend written upon the door. No man can prophesy as to the future progress of the mechanical arts, nor assure us that the muscles of men, in all important work, will not have to give place to the power of machinery.

         All this is equally true of agriculture. Scientific instruction as to its facts and principles is of very recent origin. The design of our founders is to supply this neglected instruction. The occupation that comes nearest to nature, that deals with its mysterious secrets upon which the life of the world depends, may no longer proceed without the same instruction which is given to all others.

         The course of study indicated includes that of jurisprudence, including that of politics and political ethics. It seems to me that this is one of the most important departments of instruction and the one most neglected. We have politicians in the bad sense without number—men who by the utterance of a few universally accepted facts and a few proverbs, half of which are erroneous, win place and what are called honors. Of all this vast number few can be called statesmen. All are desirous of acquiring place and official distinction, but they desire these advantages without any preparation fitting them in any considerable degree for the discharge of official duty. Anyone of ordinary observation must have become aware of the influence which catch phrases and fables exert upon the popular mind, and yet these proverbs upon examination will often prove to be wide of the truth, and the invention of kings and priests with the intention to mislead. While containing some truth, there will be found close beside it a sophism more like the truth than the truth itself. “The greatest good of the greatest number;” “The social compact;” “The voice of the people is the voice of God”—yet it was the people who said, “Release unto us Jesus called Barabbas, but as to Jesus of Nazareth, Crucify him! Crucify him!”—“Governments are instituted among men driving their just powers from the consent of the governed;” and numberless others, will require critical examination before being even partially accepted.

         If the greatest good of the greatest number is the supreme law it necessarily results in the utter disregard of all right in the minority to any “good,” and it also excludes them from even the right to opinion or remonstrance. If the right of the community to administer government depends upon the personal individual consent of the person it proposes to govern, what is to be done with the criminal who has never admitted his act to be a crime, nor ever agreed to its punishment as such? Perhaps the proper interpretation of the word “governed” expresses the idea of the whole community, and not of the individual man. It is to meet all difficulties as to the construction of these maxims that written constitutions are adopted, defining the just power of the community—to promote peace and secure “good” and justice to all society, thus declaring to every man within its jurisdiction: We will guaranty you the possession of all your rights, and we demand of you a fulfillment of all your social and governmental duties in return.

         That the power of government exists in all communities admits of no doubt. The contention is as to the extent of that power and the source from which it is derived.

         Many of these proverbs assume as facts things which never existed. I trust it is the object of the instruction to be had as to the science of government to put the student in possession of its true fundamental principles, and to emancipate him from the notions with which ignorance and evil design have enveloped the science of politics.

         Young Ladies and Gentlemen: Vast numbers of Americans will accept the principle that all men are created equal, who in practice will make the exceptions to the rule broader than the rule itself. This is the result of that egotism which allows one’s self-estimation to overcome his sense of justice. The founders of this institution have not only declared the general rule of equality, but have given it practical application—to a long disputed proposition—the equality of the sexes. This equality of right has received partial recognition in other institutions; here it is declared in its full extent and is to be literally enforced. Bold assumption, jibes, and jeers are no longer to be treated as argument. A courteous and honorable trial is tendered to you. When superiority is manifested it will, I doubt not, be gracefully acknowledged; but as the process of comparison goes on I can give you no better advice than that given by Mr. Thomas Hughes to his boy combatants to “fight it out so long as you can stand and see.”

         The actors in this dedication will soon pass away, but the University less perishable will remain. I trust some poet will arise among you who will give noble evidence that the virtue of gratitude still remains, surviving all other changes. And surrounding yonder monument, covering it with flowers, will be a noble band of students, from pure hearts chanting praise of that philanthropic spirit, the ministers and exemplars of which sleep beneath.

This speech is found in the original 1891 publication of the inaugural ceremonies of the University, as published by the university press. Full program available here.