Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-27
GHatrtman s Stair JOurnaI.
BY B.P. WALTON
MONTPELIER. OCTOBER 81. 1865.
THE AGRICULTURAL CoLLFGE.

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
We publish the report Of the Trustees oil
this institution, presuming that all of our
readers are interested in the subject. Their
interests are indeed concerned in it, much
more than some Of them probably realize.-
The agricultural interest, every body under.
stands, is the paramount one of the state
but every body does not see or believe that
the purpose OF the college is to elevate agri-
culture to the dignity Of science, 80 that
the intelligent and skilful laborer in the field
shall take at least equal rank with the lawyer
at the bar, the parson in his desk, or the
scholar 10 his closet. The world has long been
willing to worship talent, for it has been forced
to feel that talent is its master and it has
long worshipped wealth without talent, be-
cause gold is one Of its idols but it has for
gotten to render due homage to the humble
but persistent labor that Is the divinely or
dained source of wealth, and TO the modest
patient, laborious teachers who have given to
talent the culture that has made it success.
err been admitted to the position they deserve,
nor permitted even to deserve the dignity
they could attain, by uniting to manual skill
a command of the science of their profess
sion. Few have done this. and therefore
few have been honored. We have made
pets Of few boys. and put them to Latin
and Greek, or into dry goods shop, just
as il all the remainder we're incapable OF
culture or, in some cases, able to take
care of themselves without the help Of teach
ers or friends. 20 it has come TO pass
that the college-boy and the clerk have az
sumed superior social position, and most peo-
pie have been unjust enough to accord it to
them. This thing is all wrong, and it is hiah
time to abandon it for much better way. We
have colleges for clerks, and they are excel
lent and very successful, educating young
men and young women in the rules and modes
Of every sort Of business we have long had
rather too many good colleges for the learned
professions and now let us have college
for the farmers and mechanics. That was
the design Of the munifcent donation made
by Congress to the several states The tx
pertinent to see whether any town in the State
will furnish the requisite aid, with the land
fund, to endow such a college, has been fairly
tried. The Trustees have been earnest in
the attempt, but it has sgnally failed. Now
with one exception only, the Trustees recon-
mend union with the University Of Vermont,
maintaining perfectly the franchises and exc
cutting the purposes of each 1t is, 10 our
view. good thing to abolish the faint Of caste
between learning and labor. by putting antique
and modern literature side by side with the
science Of agriculture and mechanics, giving
to each equal care and culture and dignity
1t will be good thing to unite the Universe.
ty and the Agricultural College, ard it would
be better to unite all our colleges into one
That is nov impossible, but it is possible to
begin the union in the way proposed. We
trust no prsjudces or jeaousies Of Burlington
or it's University, and no differences of opin.
ion as TO location, will be permitted TO defeat
ms bi"hu a PStlihShV ia Otnaii OF the WORK
ingmen Of the State. We have desired to
see the College located in our own neighbor-
hood, in East Montpelier, or Barre, or Berlin,
or some other central location. Our own
town has a beautiful site on the hospital
ground, should the hospital be discontinued
but we know too well that many people would
object to giving more good things here SO
we have endeayored to get liberal donation
for East Montpelier, from native Of that
town who is both able and well disposed
but the state Of his affairs at The time prevent
ed. Now we say, put the College in Burling-
ton, or some other town which makes as good
offers for it let us have the College some.
where and at once.