CHAPTER V.

POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
— Where's the manly spirit Of the true-hearted and the unshackled gone? Sons of old freemen, do we but inherit Their names alone?
— Whittier,
These political principles hold in college, as elsewhere, and work the same effects, though with some modifications. Here also, as parties, the societies tend to dispel confidence, to sow dissension, and to undermine republican prin- ciples; as aristocracies, they exalt the few at the expense of the many, by giving them undue political influence and by creating exclusive cliques which monopolize social and literary advantages.
The relation between classes under the class system is one of its great objections. The fact that the odious word " supe " is one of the most familiar in the Yale undergraduate vocabulary, tells the whole story. Freshmen ordinarily do not understand this great factor in college life, but gradually they begin to feel its mysterious power, and by the spring of Junior year men hardly dare "to say their souls are their own," as the current phrase runs. So subtle is this in- fluence that it often has complete mastery, though one who had not felt its power would not suspect it. It is omnipresent, making itself felt in the smallest details. It was once reported in Yale and generally believed that a prominent disappointed candidate said that he had bought
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM. 57
three new suits of clothes that spring, to "im- prove his chances." If a man subscribes well to college athletics, it will be hinted that he is "suping;" and sometimes, probably, he is. A man dares not congratulate his society friend in the upper classes on their successes; if he does, he will be "suping."
These things are only incidents in a system of domination over the minds of men which is ab- horrent to the spirit of freedom. Class societies " lead younger students," says a prominent grad- uate, "to adapt their manners and, to some extent, their life to the approbation of those in higher classes, whom they look upon as likely to be influential in their behalf, instead of being governed by elevated principles and a high sense of honor." Undoubtedly this repression has some good effects, as urged by Baird, who brings forward the salutary discipline often exercised by the societies; but there are some good things pertaining to every tyranny. Public sentiment, too, among a community includ- ing so many men of upright character as a college does, considerably limits this evil, many men being driven to take the opposite extreme of independent conduct, as well explained in the leading article of the Yale Literary Magazme for May, 1882 : yet few communities are capable of a more universal and servile subjection of opinion, for the time being, than a college com- munity. With all its limitations, there are few men whom this influence does not warp some- what from the true; and it is still enough to fill the soul with righteous hatred of all such dom- ination over human freedom.
58 THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
The societies embitter factions. Parties, in- deed, will always exist; and Baird draws a pic- ture of a scene in one of the old literary socie- ties, with the constitution flying out of the window and the chairman after it. No doubt there might be occasional bad feeling under any system ; but it could come out in ways far health- ier and better for the students than with the suppressed bitterness and jealousy incident to the secret system. It is the diiference between bad blood breaking out on the surface, or re- maining in the system ; of which the former may look worse, but is far better for health and soundness. Says a college President,^ ''Their general effect is to sow dissensions and produce factions in a degree in which they were never known to exist here before, and so as to render the elections of the several societies scenes of most unhappy division." Another President, ^ *' They break the college into parties, produce jealousies, contentions and a difficulty of pro- moting any object of general utility among the students." President Robinson, of Brown, " They foster a spirit of clannishness and lead to the formation of cliques in the classes, inter- fering with the class feeling, and sometimes destroying utterly the esprit de corps which it is so desirable for every class to cherish."^ This last would not be true to the same degree under a class system ; yet a graduate says that in Yale they " stimulate petty intrigue," and "give
^ Hitchcock's Reminiscences of Amherst, p. 323. ^ Do., do., p. 325.
^ Report 10 the Corporation of Brown University, June, 1876 ; p. 16.
I
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM. 59
opportunity for slights in the bestowment of Students' honors, which embitter the remain- der of college life, and, in some cases, of after years." "Prominent among" the evils with which " such societies may be, and sometimes are, attended," President Porter mentions "the fostering of an intriguing and political spirit, which is incongruous with the general tenden- cies of college life toward justice and generosity ; and the division of the community and the classes into hostile factions."^ "I am confident," says President Hitchcock, however, "that the evils feared from them have much diminished."^ In Yale, also, many of them have disappeared with the giving up of the Wooden Spoon, and of coali- tions between the Junior societies, with the abo- lition of the societies of the two lower classes and the giving up of class elections for the bi- w^eekly papers; though the method of appoint- ment by the editors gives the latter so much power as to involve some of the same objections. Of late years, therefore, there has been a consid- erable progress in Yale toward a more whole- some and generous public life ; yet a straw occa- sionally shows that there is a wind still blowing the wrong way. The Senior neutrals sometimes hold a private caucus before the election of class committees, in which the ticket is so arranged as to exclude every society man ; a singular proceeding, when it is remembered that the society men are presumably the best and most popular men of the class. I need not dwell on the undercurrent of feeling shown by such a fact.
^ American Colleges, p. 195.
2 Reminiscences of Amherst College, p. 325.
6o THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
When allowed at Harvard, the societies created such feeling that in one instance the Seniors could not or would not arrange for their class day, and the Faculty were obliged to get up some sort of a programme for the occasion. It may be true, as Baird says, that the societies do not introduce politics ; but they do introduce into them unnecessary elements of bitterness.
As to direct outward influence on undergrad- uate interests, matters are probably about evenly balanced. Some years athletics have doubtless suffered seriously, either from society men's pre- suming on their position to break training rules, or from their indifference to college interests after themselves attaining the coveted honors, or from favoritism in management, or from a general lack of patriotism. It is also said, and probably with some truth, that the society influ- ence is unfair with respect to the choice of men for various positions, as on the papers or the Glee Club. But these evils are much checked by honor and the pressure of public sentiment ; and also largely balanced by the zeal aroused by society ambition and by society rivalries.
The real mischief, however, lies deeper; in the principles and methods, and their influence, which is against that public discussion of men and measures which is so vital to civil liberty. This, in case of a political society, has been al- ready explained. Under the class system, it is felt in reference to the system itself. Its sup- porters will have no discussion of it; hence its real nature and tendencies are not understood. Its effects are not known. Whole classes may and often do feel themselves bitterly galled by their subjection to it; but no man dares to open
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM. 6l
his mouth. It is also specially felt in reference to public men and measures. It frequently shields those who hold public offices from mer- ited criticism. It prevents large numbers of men from speaking and voting independently on public measures. The Junior class, particu- larly, feels itself almost literally bound hand and foot, so far as any public action is concerned. The freedom of university meetings is very much impaired by this influence. Devotion to the so- ciety also is likely to overshadow regard for the college, so that men do not feel a hearty devotion to college interests, as a quotation from a college President has already suggested. College hon- ors come to be valued not as tokens and rewards of college patriotism, but as stepping-stones or trophies for a society. The tendency is for men to work in athletics not for the honor of the col- lege, but to get into a society; which puts the thing on a false foundation, for no one would admit for a moment that such was his real mo- tive. So, whether organizations are managed in the society interest or not, it is very often be- lieved that they are, which, as already explained, is fatal to confidence and harmony. All secret societies tend very strongly to favoritism ; and ^' how utterly unjust and subversive of the best interests of the State " this is, it needs not those letters of Washington to which Lieber refers to show.^
Societies are an annoying and hampering in- fluence in the relations between the general body of students and the Faculty. The society con- nections of instructors lie directly athwart the
^ Political Ethics, 2d edition, Vol. II, p. 29.,
62 THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
path of that progress whereby the students of the larger colleges are outgrowing the school- boy notion of what these relations must be, and coming nearer to the true relation of pupil and master. To the imagination of the undergradu- ate aspirant, these instructors seem to be invested with all of the mysterious society power, and consequently capable of about as much sym- pathy and enthusiasm as an iceberg. He often regards them as working secretly to ad- vance their own organization. Doubtless the student sometimes gains from the society am- bition inspired by these relations ; but he gen- erally loses more in other ways than he gains here. Even when further experience modifies his views of the matter, he cannot help feeling that such officers are identified with extra-col- lege interests, or that they are united with a particular part of the students in a way which threatens injustice and certainly involves loss of sympathy for the rest. What has been said about the society influence on college patriot- ism and about favoritism may sometimes apply here with regard to marks and college honors; but probably much less often, to men of such character as college officers usually are, than undergraduates suppose. The effects above mentioned are largely due to the secrecy.
It may be noticed that there is a question as to whether society considerations should enter into the choice of college officers, on either side. This would depend on the importance attached to the society influence, for good or evil. Clearly no society, as such, ought to exert an atom of political influence for or against a candidate. Officers who had never joined the societies
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM, 6;^
would be free to act more impartially, but they could not understand as well the nature of the in- stitutions with which they had to deal. Society men, on the other hand, could hardly avoid be- ing influenced somewhat by considerations of party fealty ; and, while maintaining such re- serve as at Yale, they would not be in a favora- ble position to understand or measure the so- ciety influence on the great body of students and graduates, or to deal adequately with questions of reform. The general principle would seem to be that society considerations ought to be kept very subordinate, if admitted at all ; but there are reasons which might make them worthy of serious attention.
Very important is the bearing of this question on the college patriotism of graduates, the feel- ing which men have for Alma Mater. Societies may bind men's affections, but these tend to cen- ter in the society, not in the college. The liter- ary societies sometimes trenched on the college province, but not as the secret societies do. The latter may bring men back to Commencement, but when there the tendency is to exalt the so- ciety much above its true place, as compared with the college. Graduates are also led to give their money in ways less profitable than might be. Can any man doubt that if the thou- sands of dollars which have gone into the so- ciety halls of this institution had gone into the buildings of literary societies, for instance, they would have done far more good 1 A graduate says : There is " hardly a doubt but that the buildings have, in every instance, been erected by the contributions of graduates of the college who were members of the societies while they
64 THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
were here. There are four such buildings. One of them is said to have cost more than ^40,000." Proportionate expenditures for the others would raise the total to at least a hundred thousand dollars. Suppose it to be admitted, for the mo- ment, that the advantages of secret societies do on the whole outweigh their evils; yet is it not clear that the latter, on the whole, are so serious as to make the return for the outlay a very small one, so far as the undergraduates are concerned } If, then, it be further admitted that the graduates are to some extent building club-houses for themselves, which helps the case for the so- cieties in this respect : even then does it not appear that the same sums could be given to the college for much better purposes.^ But if, still holding the latter supposition, we take what is probably the true view, that the evils do out- weigh the advantages, and the principle is a wrong one, such investments must appear to be very seriously mistaken indeed.
Neutrals, on the other hand, must be much alienated, particularly under such a class system as that in Yale. There is something terrible about the silent exclusion, stern and cold as death, and as hopeless, by which they are left out of what they believe the controlling powers of the college. A recent graduate of an Eastern college says of one society in his college, '^What- ever it may have intended to be in its origin, it has certainly grown into a political brotherhood with branches extending in many directions." In certain cities "the members pull together in every way they can ; and I might give startling instances of how they favor one another in places and ways that seem beyond their reach.
THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM. 65
They are not many but are enough when a unit to control college politics. They struck in years ago to secure control of the Faculty and they have it. They might have more representatives there, but do not wish it, because that would be a concentration of power which would weaken the forces for other fields of operation." This is not quoted to endorse its statements, as true of the system generally or of any particular soci- ety, but to show how some neutrals regard the societies. This must weaken college patriotism. " I am quite certain that the mass of the students feel less interest in the prosperity of the Univer- sity than they were wont to do," writes an old graduate of Yale. In such matters men are very much influenced, often unconsciously, by their feelings and impressions; and among these, few are so deep and lasting as those caused by a social slight, or by being regarded or treated as inferior. That the secret system in college in- volves a systematic treatment of this kind is clear; though men do not realize it, because it happens to be the custom to inflict it on one side, and to put up with it on the other. This considerably modifies the eff'ect but it does not remove it. Nor must this be taken to mean that the alumni of Yale are not substantially loval to her. The subscriptions for the athletic grounds and the enthusiasm of the alumni asso- ciations would show that they are ; but it seems certain that this is in spite of the secret system, not because of it. It is said that alumni of the college have refused to send their sons to Yale because of the secret society system there domi-
66 THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
nant ; and that thousands of dollars of endow- ment are withheld from the college for the same reason.
The unfavorable effect on college thought, al- ready noticed, is largely explained by these political influences. Thought has its roots deep in the political structure of society, and finds in freedom its native soil. The Greek and Roman republics, for instance, gave the world immortal literatures ; but the rival despotisms of the East produced little or nothing of value. Secret so- cieties cramp college thought, by taking away the spontaneity and inspiration of freedom.
Nor are such influences calculated to form the highest public character. I believe that in most cases it does require a sacrifice of manliness and independence to join a society whose customs and requirements are secret. The candidate is committing himself to the control of those who have no rightful authority over him, to methods which he does not know, for objects which he does not know ; and the sacrifice is in principle the same, it will be seen, quite irrespectively of what these really are. The spirit and methods of a secret system, as already discussed, are essentially opposed to the development of a vig- orous and independent type of character. Says John Stuart Mill, ^ speaking of the ballot as a means of concealment, " If it be one of the par- amount objects of national education to foster courage and public spirit, it is high time now that people should be taught the duty of assert- ing and acting openly on their opinions. Dis- guise in all its forms is a badge of slavery."
^ Dissertations and Discussions, Vol. IV, p. 46.
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The society may be a despotism, itself under secret superior control. It often claims alle- giance for life, a despotic principle which pro- g-ressive government left behind long ago. Part of the unwritten law of Masonry, for example, is, " That obedience to Masonic law and author- ity, being voluntarily assumed, is of perpetual obligation, and can only be divested by the sanc- tion of the supreme government in Masonry."^ Though the voluntary nature of the contract lends some plausibility to this claim, yet its arti- ficial character and the ignorance on the part of the candidate of what his contract really is make his right of resignation as complete as in other organizations, or even more so. There would probably be an obligation, however, to keep the secrets, as after belonging to a party of any kind.
It is one of the glories of a college to make its sons ready to enter on the high duties and honors of public life. In this training, one great element is the imparting of a generous public spirit. But in this the influence of the societies is not a help, but a hindrance. ** They lead,"^ says President Robinson, of Brown, "in the management of class affairs, to habits of in- trigue and to the practice of the low^ arts of the politician. Combinations and bargains are often made to secure or defeat the election of candi- dates for parts in the exercises of class day, at the end of the college course, which are wholly inconsistent with the disingenuousness of youth
^ American Pamphlets, Yale Library, Vol. 3, Constitu- tion of Grand Lodge of New York, p. 21. ^ Report as above, p. 16.
6S THE SECRET SOCIETY SYSTEM.
and scholars.'* If the public honors of gradu- ates, however, are due to their knowledge of politicians' arts acquired under the pressure of this system, they are not honorable, either to them or to the college. These considerations do not now have as much force in Yale as they once did, probably ; but apart from particular manifestations of it, the general truth remains that the secret society is at variance with true public spirit. The tendency of a secret system is to rear up a generation of politicians, not of statesmen.
Political secret societies, therefore, are open to grave objections; and, if not political, many of these still hold. They are still aristocracies, and their public influence has man}' hurtful ele- ments, both among students and graduates.