Page:A Catalogue of Graduates who have Proceeded to Degrees in the University of Dublin, vol. 2.djvu/35

 INTEODUCTION. xxix nishes the State to exercise the rights of superiority (Hoheitsrechte) which belong to it. On the Continent, the modern principle of State curatorship has already long since been practically carried out. The guardianship of the Church has also been everywhere obliged to yield to the State, and only with reference to the theological faculties, whose importance for the education of the Clergy closely touches the Church, a certain co-operation, and, in part, co-superintendence is either still conceded to her, or not without some justification claimed by her. "What has remained, or is worth preserving in corporate self-depen- dence, consists principally — («) in the possession and the administration of separate property, even if under the superintendence of the State. The outward existence of Universities is by this means in a higher degree protected from the perils of various kinds to which the public finances of the State are more exposed, and at the same time a free and respected social position is secured to the University; {h) in a separate administration of justice, which, indeed, within the modern State, must submit to a more complete subordination and narrower limitation than in the middle ages, and can only continue in the form and fashion of scholastic discipline ; {c) in the honour which the cor- poration has a right to expect from the State (it has no claim to ex- ternal power, but a well-grounded one to honour, corresponding vrith the degree of the scientific spirit), and in the academic honours which it bestows itself. ISTeither of these is duly estimated always and every- where. Many faculties have themselves at times contributed to destroy the credit, and therewith the value, of academical honours, even those of the doctorate, by squandering them on candidates who were not worthy of such distinction ; and the State, instead of preventing such abuses, has refused to respect such honours, and thereby again de- stroyed an important element of moral-mental order. Also, the mode in which pai-ticular States have arranged the precedence of Universities and their members shows that there also true insight is often want- ing ; {d) in the representation which is conceded to the corporations of the Universities in the council of the nation, and is quite as much corresponding to their great importance for the mental life of the nation, as serviceable for discerning deliberations on legislation."