ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMAN UNIVERSITIES. 265 



must not be allowed to sink. If that were the case, 

 the dangers of academic freedom would choke its 

 blessings. It must therefore not be looked upon as 

 pedantry, or arrogance, if the Universities are scrupu- 

 lous in the admission of students of a different style 

 of education. It would be still more dangerous if, 

 for any extraneous reasons, teachers were introduced 

 into the faculty, who have not the complete qualifica- 

 tions of an independent academical teacher. 



Do not forget, my dear colleagues, that you are 

 in a responsible position. You have to preserve the 

 noble inheritance of which I have spoken, not only 

 for your own people, but also as a model to the 

 widest circles of humanity. You will show that 

 youth also is enthusiastic, and will work for inde- 

 pendence of conviction. I say work; for indepen- 

 dence of conviction is not the facile assumption of ; 

 untested hypotheses, but can only be acquired as 

 the fruit of conscientious inquiry and strenuous 

 labour. You must show that a conviction which 

 you yourselves have worked out is a more fruitful 

 germ of fresh insight, and a better guide for action, 

 than the best-intentioned guidance by authority. 

 Germany which in the sixteenth century first re- 

 volted for the right of such conviction, and gave its 

 witness in blood is still in the van of this fight. 

 To Germany has fallen an exalted historical task, and 

 in it you are called upon to co-operate. 



T 



