New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-24

was about to become Governor of the State.
She calls for John a. Andrew as he is leaving
that post after five years of arduous service.
And although Gov. Andrew is known most
widely as a statesman of great abilities, there is
probably no man either in Massachusetts or out
oft who is better fitted than he for the peculiar
work which the President of Antioch College
has to DO.
The institution was founded on theory
wholly novel. 1t went counter I'd all accepted
ideas Of educational methods by opening its
doors to both sexes together. 1t had worse
obstacles than the imputation of novelty to con-
tend against from the start. Organized upon
what Horace Mann emphaticaly called rotten
basis, pecuniarily, it saw two financial revolu-
tioSs before it secured its present foundation.
Shortly before its first President died. its condl-
ton seemed so desperate as to be beyond all
possible remedy. The scholarship sys-
tenn had failed utterly. That was an
attempt to build college on the plan of giving
free tuition to the nominee of every one who
contributed $l00-in other words to fix the tut
ton fee of the student at Sc. But "by no
possibility" said its President after few years
trial, "can q student be educated here for Sc
year nor for six times So" He perceived and
declared that the organization must be aban-
doned before the college could pay its way, and
before he died he saw its grounds and buildings
sold under the hammer to free the insti.
tuition from debt in the hope to Sc
cure afterward q competent endowment.
When he died few weeks later it seemed as II
he had given his seven years unpaid or halt
paid toll, his lavish contributions amounting to
nearly all his property, and finally his life, to no
purpose-but God does not Lei such seed fall on
unfruitful ground. The College still lived, and
as long as it lived, though hampered for time
by scctaransm and lliberality and mean hos
tility of disappointed enemies, could not
but reward the jealous and generous efforts
of its noble band Of untiring friends.
For the West and for all America it had great
work appointed to be done by it, and through
all obstacles continued to do that work. Hor-
ace Mann's death dispersed the students; in
the promise of a successor to him they thronged
back. Technical difficulties in the Board Of
Trustees were got rid of by accepting the resg.
nation of one of the friends of the College.
DR.. Hill came in as President, and an income Of
900 year was made sure for three years
by the joint and several guarantees of seventeen
persons. Shortly after he resigned, the College
found it, struggle too arduous, and the effort to
maintain it was temporarily abandoned, but
has lately been renewed with fresh enthusiasm
and better prospects.
The present endowment Of Antioch College
is reckoned at quarter Of million, including
the College buildings and its invested funds.
To augment the body of professors and teach
ers, and consequently the facilities for edrca-
ton, it is proposed to raise an additional humid
red and fifty thousand dollars. Gov. Andrews
acceptance of the Presidency is contingent
upon the success Of this plan. The trustees
themselves promise to contribute large part OF
the sum in order TO secure Gov. Andrew, and
as many of them are gentlemen of large means
and acquaintance, no doubt is felt that the
amount will be raised. The college will then
be in q position of perfect independence aud
assured usefulness. It's position and oppor-
tunities will entitle it to rank among the lead
ing institutions Of learning in the country,
and, if the purposes of its new President are &C.
complished, it will speedily become the first
college of the West and in the best sense
national university. Harvard and Yale are
national inasmuch as students in large numbers
from every state flock to each Of them; yet
each is, TO certain extent, scctarian. What is
called the Unitarian influence predOminates at
Harvard; the Evangelical or Orthodox, so
called, at Yale. The University of Michigan is
a much younger and less richly endowed COL
lege than either of these but it possesses the in.
estimable advantage of liberality. Neither
sectarianism nor favoritism rules in the choice
of It's faculty. ii never saw, as a college nearer
New-York once saw, Professor of Chemistry
rejected in favor of an other who was admitted
to know less of science but was supposed to feel
more strongly in favor of particular scheme
OF theology then and now popular at that col
lege. The Michigan University is strong and
useful, and opens free avenues to poor students
in their pursuit of education, but it lacks the
radcalism of Antioch. 1t educates men and
boys only-not girls and women. There is no
college or university which the nation has not
some interest in; there is mono where some
good is not taught; none where some principle
OF advance is not recognized or inculcate ted; but
there is none where Demoe racy and Equality