The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-05

lueataen In the United stasss-Our Schools

Education In the United states-Our Schools
and Colleges.
We have lately given extended accounts Of
the annual commandments at our universities
and seminaries Of learning. We make no dis
tiDcticn in such matters, but treat all alike,
North, South, East and West-Baptist, Metho-
dist, Presby terrain, Unitarian, Congregational
ist, Roman Catholic or Episcopalean, Jew or
Gentle, bond or free. Learning is universal in
it's usefulness and it's power--its influence can
not be hampered by creeds or neutralized by
forms; and in view of the Importance of the
subject, we have prepared q lew statistics in
relation to colleges here and abroad, which
show that our country is far ahead Of Great
Britain in educational facilities.
The whole number of colleges in the United
Statesis 118; theological schools, A; medical
schools, 81; law schools, Is. In all England
there are but Sc colleges, including about 80
attached to the Universities Of Oxford and
Cambridge OF these, Oxford, Cambridge,
Trinity Dublin), St. Patricks (R. O.,
Maynooth, and the University of Glasgow,
ers who announce themselves here as gradu-
ates from one of these institutions, is exceed
insly large. They do not, however, always
sustain the reputation of their lima Mater.
Following the English example, the founders
Of colleges in the United States have generally
secured for them the patronage of
sect, and nearly all of our lead
ing colleges, although some of them
are not directly connected with any religious
sect, are more or less unpopular, on account of
the bigotry of their government Disputes, al
ways fierce, frequently arise in these institu-
tions, and the attention of the students is drawn
off from their legitimate studies to the discus
sion Of doctrinal points Of no great Importance
to themselves or any one else. Disputed ques-
tions in politics have, however, been kept outside
of the college green until within a few years,
when it has appeared that Harvard, the
Oldest college in the country, FOUNDED 1860
has been given over to abolitionism. Religious
feuds have often occurred here, but the present
reasonable outbreak is the most serious blow
that the mother of SO many great statesmen
and profound scholars has yet received. That
the faint of abolitionism is deep seated here, is
apparent by the removal of Judge Loring, lee.
turer at the law school, and the refusal of an
honorary degree to Mr.. Eliot. In both in
stances the men suffered because they fulfilled
their official duty under the constitution and
the laws. With such examples before them,
and with such teachings, what kind of students
will Harvard send forth into the world? She
was once called the mother of statesmen; but
her fall will be as sudden as her rise. Facilis
desce,,sus .aueTni.
But we are happy to say that the evil doc
trines which have sapped the prosperity Of
Harvard have not extended to its younger sis
ter, Yale, nor do they find home in any other
Of the Northern colleges. The Instructors rea-
son that politics not being studied in col
lege,i it is their duty to eschew them al
together. As the three thousand clergy
men who protested against the Nebraska
bill should have confined themselves to
preaching the Gospel Of Christ and him cruel
fed, SO ought the authorities of Harvard to
remember that it is their duty to simply instruct
their students, without blasting their political or
religious opinions. Or if they must undertake
to form q political creed for the young, let
them inculcate sound principles. remembering
the words of Virgil-.adeo IN teneris consul
esceye multum est.
The detection Of Harvard is the more impor-
tant from its position and history. As we have
said before, it is the Oldest college-it is mis-
called a University-and has the largest library
in the United States. Time was when an A. B.
degree from Harvard was considered as the high
est title an American youth could win. That
time is passing away. Yale has already outstrip-
ped her elder sister in the race. The New York
University, Columbia College, Bowdoin, Dart
mouth, Brown, and some of the Southern col.
leges, are gradually drawing away the Southern
students who would otherwise be sent to Har-
ward, were not their guardians Justly opposed
to their taking in abolitionism with their Greek
roots, fanaticism with their mixed mathematics,
and treason with their modern languages.
Harvard is, also, the most expensive Of all
the colleges except the University of Virginia.
The expenses for instruction, room rent, etc.,
are ninety dollars annually at Yale they only
amount to sixty at Bowdoin, forty-six; at
Dartmouth, forty. Ia the college terms OF four
years the pecuniary difference is considerable,
and the course of instruction is precisely the
same. The New England colleges are chiefly
under Congregational, Pfesby terrain or Unita-
rian influences. The Roman Catholics have
twenty six colleges in the United States, aud
half dozen preparatory schools The Baptists
have about twenty colleges; the Metbodists
eleven, the Episcopalians six. There are
several colleges where no particular sect has
control, ard at the Girard College in Phila.
delphia ministers of religion are not permitted
topreach or to teach TIE Bible, in its purity,
is read there, however.
The people Of the United States, however.
do not depend upon expensive college courses
for their education. In almost every State
there is free school system, more or less per-
feet according to the ratio of enlightenment
among the voters. In these schools our states
men lawvnr doctors nriests Innrchant. M