, 1866-11-11

tween the different sects, or TO recognize
sects 1T all, that moment tho
purpose md aim Of the Institution
would, In our opinion, be abused. Tho great
variety Of sccta and ofcscois. as enumerated
by Mr.. blanchard. furnishes Al excellent
reason against connecting the agricultural
fund, or any public school foud. with the
theological controversies which divide the
church. His letter shown that he hal no
faith In the doctrine that the keys Of at.
Fetcr arc held BY the Pope. aud that he has
quite as little faith In the Claims OF apostolic
succession maintained in the Church
Of England. We soy these are quea.
tions that should be excluded from
lnstitutious Of learning supported BY public
funds. young man shonld receive neither
more nor less advantages for believing In tie
Pope or not believing in hlm-ior accepting
the thlrty-nlne articles or rejecting them.
Our existing colleges, wc know. are open 10
all comezs, but 1t Is doubtful whether Cath.
Ollie would elect to 60 to college wherr a
fundamental idea Of the college Is that the
Catholic Church Is the scarlet woman men,
toned the Apocalypse. Gfre the Catholics
their share Of the fund and let them 60 their
way-is perhaps the answer. And this brfnCs
us to the question whether such distribution
Of the Agricultural College fund would be
judicions.
It is urged that By attaching agricultural
proiesserships to tho different sectsrian col
legcs, every one conld choose for himself
and thus the contentious arising from differ
cncea Of opinion in religion would be avoided,
! and Mr.. B. admits that "some OF the
"strongest colleges In the State orc cursed
NNnH trn1EnnrI hp rnrh rorfnnffnnA ~ In
tht. admission, 1t sccms to us that
be comedies the whole ground. 1t Is
| The duty OF the State to sec that IN Asricul-
tural College shall be founded on such priu-
ciples that 1t will not be weakened by sec.
tazian controversies. The way to accomplish
this is to found It On the principle followed
In tho Establishment OF our common schools
that Is, slmply. to found college that i
wholly free from secsarianism. Mr. B, says
this cannot be done. Ha might q.
properly say 1t cannot be done
In the common schools. The Miehl
tgan University Ia among the most uselu
and prosperous Institutions Of learning ii
tho United States yet 1t Is free from secta
rianisn,, and its students and professors nf,
oi various religions creeds. Tint It has no
always been free from eectarinn disputes ant
controversies, we are AWARE. Nevertheless
1t survives such controversies, and 1ourishe
greatly in the midst Of diverse sects ant
cfeede. If the different sects choose, a
their own expense, to attach agriculture
professorships 10 their colleges, there ca
be no objection; but for the Stat
to do It would be for the State t
miug'c in dogmatical strife, and to exhaus
It's strength by such division and sub
division that tho purpose Of the magntdcen
grant Of lnnd by Congress would probabl
be lost and destroyed. Church and Stat
must be perpetualiy divorced In a Tree Goz
. csnnant; and the duty Of Illinois in respcs
} 10 this matter is very simple. II Is to devol
, the whole of this princely gift to the csta'
: listtueut and maintenance Of one great IL
esitution, devoted primarily to the Al
! vaaccment Of agriculture and the naechan
+ arte, that shall be worthy Of the iutcllicenc
: power and resources OF the Prairie State