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Science and the State. By Stanley Coulter. 

 Presidential Address, Indiana Academy of Science, December 30, 1S96. 



I recognize the fact that innovation is dangerous, especially when it involves 

 an attempt to give definite form to thoughts, which in varying degrees of distinct- 

 ness are common property. Yet, despite this danger, I feel constrained to depart 

 somewhat from the usual line of presidential addresses, and, instead of presenting 

 a paper based upon research work or upon achievement in any one department of 

 science, to treat in somewhat broad lines the relation of science to the State. 



I trust that I may be able to show that the relation is one which involves 

 duty — personal and associate — offers opportunities and opens splendid possibili- 

 ties. I am led to this course, partially, at least, in the hope that the existing 

 relation between the Academy and the State may be shown to be not only a natural 

 one, but one of extreme mutual advantage. 



Science, as every other branch of knowledge, may be considered from two 

 points of view, and the view-point has much to do with the aspect she wears. To 

 the student filled with the scientific spirit the truths she offers are not only inspira- 

 tion, but sufficient reward. In no other guise can she wear so fair a form. 



To the mass of humanity science is beautiful only as she is useful, worthy as 

 she is helpful. 



I am one who stands for the exceeding strength and beauty of pure science, 

 who believes it not only strong and beautiful, but fundamental, the sine qua non 

 of the useful, and yet as one who is forced to feel that perhaps the world has 

 gained more from " Dobbin" than from "Pegasus." It is possible, too, that you 

 and I may have wrong conceptions of just what is meant by the term pure science. 



The old monastic idea of the scholar and of scholarship still persists. It finds, 

 perhaps, its highest utterance in Prof. Woodrow Wilson's address at the Princeton 

 Sesquicentennial celebration, where he says that for him the university is — 



"A place removed — calm science seated there, recluse, ascetic, like a nun. 

 not knowing that the world passes, not caring if the truth but come in answer to 

 her prayer; and literature, walking within open doors in quiet chambers with 

 men of olden time, storied walls about her and calm voices infinitely sweet ; here 

 'magic casements opening on the foam of perilous seas in fairy lands forlorn,' to 

 which you may withdraw and use your youth for pleasure." 



It finds its every-day utterance in the sneer of the party organ at the scholar 

 who raises his voice in affairs political, and in the expressed belief of tlie masses 

 that scholars are impractical and thenretical. I care not fiom what source it may 



