The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-11
WHAT THEY SAY OF US EAST

meeting of the "Society for the Pro-
motion of Collegiate and Theological
Education at the West" held at West.
field, Mass, Rev. 7. Dwight Hunt, of
California, is reported to have made
some remarks concerning this State
which were calculated to place US in the
light Of people Indifferent to moral
and intellectual advancement and de-
pendent for aids to the same upon East
ern liberality and zeal. He expressed
the opinion that the college-governed So
ciety, made the laws of the country, and
decided all the great questions of the
day in the east and deduced from this
premise, the unsoundness of which is OBJ
vious, that California would not improve
socially and morally until she possessed a
like controlling influence. The speaker
adverted hopefully to the fact that one
collegiate institution already existed on
the Pacific and was beginning to do
great good, but stated that it has to
"contend with great counteracting in
fluences, among which the papal is per-
haps the strongest" At this point, the
old bugbear of Catholicism sprang up
in the reverend gentleman's remarks,
and he stated that it is the intention
of the Papists to supplant all Protestant
institutions, by founding Catholic col
leges like those they have all through
Europe. There is nothing to fear from
them, if the East will only come up to
the work. Aid is particularly needed
on the Pacific coast now, because the
formation and eristrnce Of churches
there mast depend upon the University"
He closed by saying that what Califor-
MIA is in the future, depends almost
wholly on the assistance rendered at the
East to her collegiate institutions
The Rev. T. Dwight Hunt evidently
gives our people but little credit for
morality and intelligence, or for desire
to raise themselves to an equality in
this respect with their brethren of the
Atlantic States. He quietly and en-
tirely ignores the fact that, unaided by
Eastern charity or sectarian missionary
funds, we have earnestly commenced
the work of education and reform. In
dependent Of legislative assistance pri-
mary schools have been established in
nearly every town throughout the State,
and are supported under circumstances
which would efectually prevent educa-
ton in the East; whilst in many places
schools of much higher order have
been successfully instituted. The Rev.
Solicitor for assistance for poor Califor-
MIA takes no account of these facts, or if
he does, thinks them of no weight.
His real object in appealing for East
ern aid is revealed by the words quoted
above in italics. He desires, in COM
mon with most clergymen, theological
education for the people. No course of
instruction is satisfactory to the Church
that does not build up its own power and
lessen that of its enemies. Then, to
stimulate the tagging sympathies Of Sec
taries, the old anti-papal prejudices are
appealed to, there is danger that the
Protestant will be supplanted by Popish
colleges. On this point it may be re-
marked, that if the people are not pro-
tected against whatever is bad in Cathol-
icism by the. character of their political
institutions and by their supreme love
of liberty, Professionalism has no power
to protect them, and may itself be fear
ed. We do not specially deprecate the
founding of sectarian colleges; let those
patronize them whose convictions lead
them to do, SO; but every Californian
must regret to see his adopted State
placed abroad in the degrading position
Of needy suppliant-a strong-limbed
giant, yet begging at Eastern doors for
assistance. Let us preserve our indie
pendence, and rely for that improve
ment which we all desire upon our own
exertions and our own abundant re-
sources.
gentleman at a musical Darty. See