The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-22
Gunner L I1emotrat.
5 A / N T P A u L.
Saint Paul, Friday, Jan. 22, 1864.
State University.-A Practical View.

AS has been shown IN the able message
of Governor SWIFT, 46, $50 acres of land
are certainly held by the State, for the
use and benefit of a University. Ample
grounds, well chosen, and a noble edifice
are now owned by the corporation, and in
condition for the almost immediate OPEN
ing of the literary department.
But in the erection of the building
debt has been contracted of not less than
$4,000. To arrange this some legisla-
ton may be necessary. Doubtless, some
of the lands should be brought into mar
ket at an early day, for this purpose. Ten
thousand acres, it is supposed, would can
Gel all indebtedness and leave the grounds
and buildings unincumbered. Then the
State would have, for the support of the
University, $1,000 acres of land, of the
old grant. Suppose this to be sold for
five dollars per acre. The fund in hand
would be $lSO,4OO. Judging from the
recent sales of school lands it would sell
for more than six dollars per acre. At
six it would yield $216,4sO. Put it at
100000, and at seven per cent. you
have an annual income of $4,000. This
is more than the income of any educational
Institution west of the mountains, of which
we are informed; quite enough for carry
ing forward the literary department of a
first class university erecting other build
ings, and purchasing literary apparatus and
cabinet, as necessity may require.
This is predicated on the supposition
of the second grant of land never being
realized. The legal mind of our State,
however, seems strongly to incline to the
opinion that the 46, $50 acres contemplated
in the Enabling Act must be realized.
This, brought into market, and sold at
S5.49 per acre, would yield $25O,0OO.
This, added to the 100000 of the old
grant, would give fund of $45O,0OO,
which, at seven per cent, would yield an
annual income, for University purposes, of
$31 800 per annum. With this, not only
could the literary department be success
fully worked on a magnificent scale, but
medical college and law school (properly
appertaining to the University might, in
five years, be put in successful operation,
on a scale unequaled by anything west Of
Philadelphia. These, though under the
same general control, should be located at
other points in the State, as might be ar
ranged by the Legislature.
Still, it must be apparent to all, that a
great educational enterprise must be the
growth of years. Some years may be ne
cessary for converting all the lands into
money and then, the University must
gradually work its way into public favor
by successful work. Its alumni must be
abroad in the land, and known as men of
mark, before it can stand prominent.
OF the Importance of State Univer-
sity, to crown our common school system,
no one can entertain doubt.
But it is objected that State Universe
ties have not generally succeeded well in
the West. This is readily admitted; but
happily for us, we now occupy stand
peint from which we readily perceive the
causes of failure. These are,
LIST, Party politics, either in the Board
of Trustees, or in the Faculty. This will
be fatal to any educational enterprises
unless, perchanoe, all should be of one
mind. No political issues should ever
enter the portals of school or college.
Unfinching loyalty to the government OF
the country, must, of course, animate
every school and every scholar. An in
titution at fault in this, cannot exist, and
should not exist
2ll 3 ligious sectarianism. The jeal-
ousies of sects, lest the University should
take its religious complexion from some
one denomination of Christians; have too
often risen in violent opposition to the in
stitution itself. In some cases there may
have been occasion for such jealousy.
This should not be. A State institution
should be unequivocally Christian. Broad,
tolerant Christianity should underlie all its
ethics,-theoretica and practical; but no
one denomination of Christians should be
represented either in its classroom OF
chapel exercise. Students should be re-
ouired to attend the services of religion
on Sundays, but the wishes and preferen
ces of parents should be consulted IN de
termining the church they shall attend.
Sd, Infdelity. In their efforts to avol'
sectarianism several Western Universltle
have gone to the extreme of practical Inn
deity. Clergymen have been studiousl
excluded from all the departments, niue
az in the infidel school Of Stephen Girart
If Philadelphia. This has had the etfet