The Portland daily press., 1867-11-07

tniS port uuflng Lne week, careful review of
| the Portland markets; reports of sales at the
Brighton and Cambridge cattle markets; Sc.
| &C.
sour National schools OF Science"
A discriminating writer in the last number
| OF the North American Review, offers some
| very judcious remarks upon the real scope
| significance of the Act of Congress, 4" for the
| Benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic
Arts" which was passed on the 18th OF June,
1862, and became a law by the approval of
| President Lincoln on the 2nd of JULY follow
| ing. He thinks there is a very general mis-
| apprehension, even among intelligent men, of
the broad and comprehensive basis of this rnu-
niicent grant, and we are inclined to believe
that he is correct in so thinking. The Act is
almost always called the agricultural College
Bill,' and though that is as much msnomer
as would be the title of Public Lands Bill,''
yet it really embodies the narrow popular i'm
preston of its object and scope. The bill
states in clearest terms that the object Of the
national liberality Is to "provide instruction in
such branches of learning as are related to
l
| erclading other scientific a nd classical stud
| les, and including military tactics" 1t does
not seem possible to misappr ehend this state
ment, and yet the popular impression is that
in the institutions founded in the various
States, under the act, instruction In agricul-
ture should be alone contemplated This er-
| ror is really injui iOus and dangerous as likely
| to lead to many popular complaints respect
ing the institutions established by Congress.
In reality the mechanic arts are placed on the
same footing as agriculture, g and the liberal
education of the Industrial classes is as much
an object of the grant as their practical train
ing. Any branch of human learning NAV
lawfully receive attention in these schools.
provided only that it does not preclude atten-
tion 10 the study of natural science in its ap-
plicatons to human industry" We quote
from the article in the Review:
The popular misapprehension requires cor
rection. If the title s.Nationa Schools of
Science" does not find favor, let the "Col-
eges OF Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts"
Industrial Universities" or the more fanil-
lar and indefinite phrase Scientific" or POL
ytechnic," or "Technologicar School. be sub
stituted; but let not the inaccurate and in
complete designation Agricultural Colleges
continue to find favor 1t has already led in some
places, to unpleasant discussions with farmers
and their friends, who have claimed all the
advantages of the grant, without reference to
the many other industrial classes In the
comm unity. The truth is, that in our coun-
| try all belong to the industrial classes All
are intent on work. No birthrght, no entail
ed estate, no aristocratic lille, no official posi-
| ton, eXempts the American from labOring
with brain or withhand, for the ben
efit of his ielow-men and the promo
ton of the general civilization. 1t is the COM
prehensiveness of the Morrill, bill which con-
stitutes Its highest excellence. At the same
| time, while we insist upon the catholcity of
this measure, we cannot and would not over
look another fact which is just as clear Sci
entltc schools, not classical colleges are es-
tablished by the act. The terms Of the law,
the explanations of its author, the intent OF
Its sSSportegrs; e /; unite q ~ ,sh6wing thiss beyond
aouDt. Mathematical, physlcal, ana natural
science, the investigation of the laws of ma
tare, are to be the predominant study, rather
| than language, literature and history The
latter may be, the former must be, included
| No slight Is cast upon the classics, the vener-
ated means Of human culture, the acknowl-
| edged instruments of high intellectual disci-
pline. They may hold their place; but other
studies must predominate in the new institu-
tions. In other words, the general govern
mtnt lends its cooperation to the develop
ment OF the national wealth, and bestows its
bounty on institutions in which men of all
political, ecclesiastical, and religious opinions
may, if they will, unite.
The writer from whom we have quoted es-
Inmates that Congress has provided funds
which, If not grossly mismanaged, will amount
to ten millions of dollars for the endowment
OF the thirty seven new colleges for the exist
ing states. The disposition of this sum, with
in the meaning of the Act, is in the hands of
the various States; and undoubtedly the wide
differences in the pursuits and the public sem
timent OF different sections will result in
corresponding diversity in the institutions
they are likely to establish. Our writer re-
grets this, and regards it as unfortunate that
there has been no general conference of
scholars or statesmen respecting the legit-
mate scope of the institutions; no inquiry
with regard to the wants of the country" and
no comparison OF views among the educators
of the country, and discussion of the princi-
pies of mental training" We are not prepar-
ed to agree with these regrets Such discus
sion and comparison, supposing ii could have
been had, would undoubtedly have elected
much valuable information, and some ineeni-
GUS theories; but we question if its results
would have been Of sufficient Importance to
compensate for the delays which it would en-
tail As it is, each State makes its experi-
ments for itself, and comparison, very few
years hence, OF the first results OF these differ
ent attempts, through the annual reports
which are made obligatory, will we. appre-
hend, be found much more practically instruc-
tive than any previous discussion could be-
Indeed, a degree of diversity in these institu-
tions seems desirable. The wants of the
country are various, and each school should
aim to supply some particular necessity, and
to be strong in certain directions. The writ
er does not himself wholly overlook the ad-
vantages to be derived from this independ-
ence of action, as he says:
The older States will probably make their
requirements for admission higher, and their
courses OF study more rigid and difficult, than
the newer States. So, too, it will be well IL
the particular characteristics OF each State re-
ceive attention in the organization OF its
school. In the agricultural States OF the
West, agriculture will naturally be prominent.
/
mining interests should receive particular at
| tention. At the East the methods OF educa-
ton should be specially adapted to The In
struction Of engineers, mechanics, and chem
lists, and the directors and superintendents of
great manufa curing establishments.
He regards it as highly impor tant that the
scientific schools OF Europe should be under
stood in this country. Such schools abroad,
especially on the Continent, ale literally en-
dowed, and adapted to the various classes of
students and their influence In the first place,
on the advancement of science, on invention
and discovery, and in the second place Oh the
trainingo of manufacturers, miners, engineers,
agrculturists, architects, &C., for the various
positions of the industrial world deserves to
be much better understood t5an it Is. ....
Some very sound remarks on suitable build
ings will be found in the closing portion of the
article from which we have been quoting, but
our space will rot permit further extracts.
We must refer our readers to the Review it
self for the very able analysis and discussion
OF the whole subject which they will find
there.
| President Harris ON College Studies.