The Portland daily press., 1863-03-11
COMMUNICATIONS
The Agricultural COLLEGE.
To the Editors Of the Press:

To the Editors Of the Press:
Being much interested in the article on this
subject, in your SATURDAYS issue, wish with
your leave, TO make few suggestions thereon,
not for the purpose Of controversy, but Ia the
hope Of advancing the public good.
The two leading ideas In the mind of the
writer Of that article, seemed to be, that the
nature and designs Of the proposed college are
such as to demand, that it should be made
separate institution: and that its connection
with either OF the leading institutions of learn
ing In the state, would place it under sectarian
control, and thus exclude it from the dona-
tions aud bequests of many, who would gladly
contribute to such college, II, "placed far
d6oce the reach Of denominational bias, SO
that no selfish hand shall mould IT,"
The act of Congress, the sole authority and
prime cause Of the contemplated college, pro-
vides for the particular branches to be taught
In agriculture, Mechdnic Arts and Military
Tactics. The proposed course is broad, liber-
al and practical, and would require able pro-
fessors, whose entire energies and time should
be devoted to their respective departments.
But would the addition OF other departments
In the same institution, IL well conducted by
separate professors, interfere with the success
full management Of the above named? Is
there any natural antagonism between the
Mechanic Arts, or Agriculture, and Classical
Studies, or Philosophy, or Astronomy? Do
grousiy combine with those of existing colleges,
ss does Agriculture with Military Tactics?
There Is another view. Educators and
thinkers in general know, that every depart
ment Of instruction helps every other depart
ment, II properly administered. Every one
familiar with such things knows, that the at
fractions, the general enthusiasm, the mutual,
stimulation of students in the various depart
ments, and the influence and general culture
which any college or university shall secure,
depend verytmuch upon the breadth and scope
of the institution. The broader the founda-
ton, the better, provided the superstucture is
worthy of it, The more numerous the de-
partments, provided each is well administered,
the better for the whole establishment 1t
would cost many thousands to procure for
the new college facilities for the prescribed
course Of instruction, which are now to be
found in either of our colleges, and can as
well, nay, much more successfully be used for
five hundred students than for fifty. Iventure
to affirm, that no fit professor could be found
for the new college, who would not greatly
prefer to be connected with either Of the two
now established; for he and his institution
would thus be Immediately advanced to res
pectable maturity, and would, in good meas
ure, escape that perilous and discouraging
period of experiment and infancy, so dreaded
by Intelligent educators. l suspect that no
department of science or learning, well man.
ned and ministered, can be an encumbrance
to a college, let its leading object be what it
may. One ground of the relative weakness OF
most of our American colleges conceive to
be, the narrowness Of their scope, and the lin
tied number Of their foundations. As view
the matter, it would be sad thing Cor our
State to neglect TO connect its college with a
college which would give it, from the moment
Of its birth, breadth and strength, and pres
tige.
How about the danger of sectarian and
selfish influence from such connection p
Would the separation OF the new college from
all the institutions connected with religious
denominations, enable it to "reach the sympa-
thies Of the people, the whole people?" Is it
clear that the denominations would pour their
wealth into the new foundation rather than in
to those which they have established and
cherished? And what proof has been given
that the unsectarians. outside of the denomi-
nations, are the friends and patrons Of learn
ing and science? Where are the foundations
which they hare laid? Had these disinter-
ested, unselnsh lovers Of liberal education and
culture, formed q college some 40 years ago
and sustained II well, and educated cheaply
the sons of Maine during her beginnings as
State, we should favor their claim to the new
college. have pretty strong impression
that, with almost solitary exception-the Gi
rard College - our successful institutions O.
endowed by Christian denominations, or have
been placed under the charge of some one oil
more Of these denominations. And the Gi.
rard College, I suspect. is an orphan in the
world, like its founder, "without friend, ,
and considering its immense endowment ha.
proved splendid failure.
Butare our colleges sectdridn to hurt?
have failed TO find the evidence of this de-
not detect 1t in their course of study, nor il
their laws and regulations The board O
trustees in each case has men on it outside O
the denomination which founded it. Each ba.
. students from all the other sects. And sus.
pect that the strong desire to secure student,
Rnd patronage Is a sure guarantee against tb,
Exercise of any sectarian influence whatsoey
er. If l am correctly informed, the denomina
tions have been actuated In the establishint
Of schools Of learning by a desire to promot,
the general welfare of society. and TO sustai,
their claim to be the friends and patrons O
liberal learning. As a matter of fact, Bap
lists have contributed largely to Harvard Uni
versity, and Amherst and Williams College
IN massachusetts, and Dartmouth College il
New Hampshire. Episcopalians and Untari
ans have given largely to Brown University il
Rhode Island, which was founded by Baptists
Practically this matter amounts to whole
some division Of labor, and a competition
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