New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-25

State Grants to Colleges.
The New- York Baptist Register is not
edited with our structures on the proposed
appropriations (amounting to $4,000 al
ready from our State Treasury in aid Of
sundry actual and possible Colleges. Its
line of argument runs thus-(we have mis-
laid the paper, but this is the drift of it,
sOther denominations have been helped by
the State to found Colleges-this year the
Baptists and Methodists 60 in for slice
each of the State bounty; and it would
'be unjust and wrong to shut down the gate
right across the bridge of their respective
noses. Serve all alike
But the Baptists and Methodists are not
the only denominations in whose behalf this
plea might be urged-in fact, if we are not
much mistaken, Colleges under Baptist
guidance have been repeatedly partakers of
State bounty already, though none such has
yet been granted to Methodist institutions.
Yet there are several denominations nearly
or quite as numerous as either of these, and
even more needy, who have never received
the first dollar from the Treasury, and yet
would be very glad to establish Colleges if
they could. The Roman Catholics have
one in full operation the Universalists are
now raising money to establish one. The
Catholics, we understand, are willing to sup
port their own College if others wiz do like
wise if not, they claim their share of State
money and we know no valid, republican
reason for Withholding it. The Universal
lists have net yet applied but they certaialy
will, as will dozen other sects, if they see
the public money travelling that way. Why
should they not! On what principle can
the State endow the College Of denomina-
ton having $4,000 voters in the State, yet
refuse to endow that of . sect having an
equal number or even that Of one having
only 10000 voters! The State cannot pass
upon the respective creeds of warning sects
1T can, in conformity to its own fandamen-
tai principle, only endeavor to treat all with
equal favor, to the best of its ability. Who
does not see whittier the policy new medi.
tated tends?
We ask The Recorder to say frankly and
clearly whether it would approve the ap.
preparation from the Treasury to tho sup
port of Roman Catholic and Universalist
Colleges Of like sums to those now asked
for Baptist and Methodist institutions! or
Of such sums as would be proporioned to
the numbers of those denominations respec-
lively? If.not, wAy not And nit would.
what would it say to like application from
the Skeptics Of all sorts who should resolve
to start College and thereupon ask the
Legislature for grant of ten to sixteen
thousand dollars to endOw it Let US have
the whole subject thoroughly ventilated. If
we have an Established Church, or knot Of
Churches, in fact if not in name, let US
know it and act in the light of the truth. If
We legally have no such Establishment, we
preteat against its creation; if we have one
SheAoy soAsSeo upon Us, We snsast On lts
abolition.
We know the people never intended to
give money from the State Treasury for the
promotion of Episcopacy or Congregation
alism. If it has been done, they have been
misrepresented or imposed upon. If the
wrong is beyond direct redress, it must be
borne but it need not be aggravated. TIE
undertake to found Colleges for all other
sects because the State has already endowed
those Of two Or three, will never answer.
1t is perpetuating error instead of renoun-
cling Il. Better repent of and forsake it.
We have Letters from respected eOrres-
Pendents urgently demonstrating against
eur objections to College Grants as'iliberal
and hoAti'e to the progress of Education.
10 all such we must say, Gentlemen, you
mink rs DO not understand the question;
we think you do not; the People mus. de-
eide between u.s.. Our own conviction is
that our State would have been better I've
do not say more abundantly) supplied with
Colleges than it is if there had never been
one dollar given them from the Treasury.
Ii we 60 on as for some years we have
been going, Colleges viii soon be As nuner-
Gus as bowling alleys, and bat little more
lstfai. Every one endowed from tae Tsss4-