thp: evidence of evolution.- 



By Hugo De Vries. 



The noblo aim of university teaching is the lifting up of mankind 

 to a higher appreciation of the ideas of life and trutJi. It has to cul- 

 tivate the most intimate connection between theory and practice, 

 betAveen abstract science and actual life. Throughout the world of 

 research this connection is felt to be the real stimulus of the work, 

 the very basis of its existence. American universities and American 

 science have developed themselves on this leading principle, and it 

 is especially on this account that high admiration is given them by 

 their Euro^Dean sisters. Nowhere in this world is the mutual con- 

 course between practice and science so general as here, and nowhere 

 is the influence of the universities so widely felt as in this country. 

 Perfect freedom of thought and investigation, unhampered rights 

 of professing and defending one's conviction, even if it should be 

 wholly contrary to the universal belief, are the high privileges of all 

 real universities. Wealthy citizens spend their possessions in the 

 founding of such institutions, convinced that this is the best way of 

 promoting public welfare. The Government liberally supplies funds 

 for scientific research whenever its application to practical business 

 is clear. Your system of promoting agriculture by means of experi- 

 ment stations, of scientifically conducted farm cultures, of inquiries 

 in all parts of the world, and of collecting, introducing, and trying 

 all kinds of plants that might become useful crops is not only 

 admired, but even highly envied by us Europeans. 



It is not without hesitation that I have accepted the honorable 

 invitation to speak before this renowned center of learning. The 

 ideas to which I have been conducted by my experiments are to a 

 large degree different from current scientific belief. But I have 

 trusted to your willingness to listen to new facts and divergent con- 

 victions, and to your readiness to acknowledge whatever spark of 

 truth might be found in them. Unbiased by prejudice, the calm 

 air of the university and the enthusiasm of youth seeking only truth, 

 and convinced that only pure truth can bring real progress, are the 

 judges to which I gladly submit my conceptions. " 



My ideas have grown slowly, and have only reached their definite- 

 ness and full development under the protection of the high principles 



o Convocation address. University of Chicago, September 2, 1904. Printed 

 •liere by permission of the aiitbor. 



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