Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/50

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26
THE WISCONSIN IDEA

left alone, appealed to the men of America, as it did to the immigrants, who rushed to our ports from the countries of Europe, land-hungry and sickened by the laws which had bound them in the old country. It was not strange that the doctrine of industrial liberty took deep root in America and found its way into our law and into the teachings of our professors. While the able and inspiring Professor William G. Sumner, the teacher of President Taft and of State Senator John M. Whitehead, the great opponent of La Follette, was expounding this philosophy in no uncertain phrases at Yale, while the eastern colleges were everywhere satisfied, both in the law schools and in the courses of political economy, with this doctrine of industrial liberty, there was being evolved in Wisconsin under German influences a new doctrine which did not take form save in humane ways, until after its teacher had ceased his activities. But John Bascom and his economic teaching were not forgotten; nor were Carl Schurz and his political ideals forgotten.

In Germany, prosperity had not resulted immediately from the efforts of her economists, and the Germans, fleeing from the poverty of the old country and arriving on our shores by the hundreds of thousands, were slow to realize the mighty forces at work which were destined to stop that tide and show to all men the wisdom of the new doctrine of the judicious interference of the state.