The Portland daily press., 1867-01-14
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Monday Morning, January IA, 1857.
Maine Ind College.

Amongst the institutions which give prom
Use of great practical utility in our State, tn
projected Industrial College, about to be es
tablished in Orono, should be regarded, w
think, with special favor by all classes of thu
people. So comprehensive is its working de
sign, that it should be called an "IndustrIap
rather than an Agricultural" College; and
even if it were christened University rath
er than college, snch a designation would
come but little short of the several purposes
contemplated in the Congressional Act en-.
| dowing it. The idea seems to prevail that
| the proposed establishment is to be a school
for farmers boys only, Who are to be taught
those branches of learning which have a di-
rect bearing upon practical husbandry. This
is, indeed, one, and perhaps chief design,
but is very far from being the whole purpose.
Its general object and character are briefly
stated in the 4th section of the act, which pro-
vides, that the interest of the fund (amount-
ing in our case probably to nearly three hun
dred thousand dollars) shall be inviolably ap-
propriated by the State "to the endowment,
support and maintenance of at least one col.
lege, where the leading objects shall be, with
out excluding other scientific and classical
studies, and including military tactics, to teach
such branches of learning as are related to
agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such
manner as the Legislature may prescribe, in
order to promote the liberal and practical ed
ucation OF the industrial classes in the several
pursuits and professions life"
Though the teaching of agriculture and the
mechanic arts in primary provision OF the
law, there is nothing in it limiting the work
Of instruction to these; but, on the contrary,
the idea is OF college OF the grandest scope,
where, without excluding other scientific
and classical studies" the branches of learn
ing taken up, are to be taught Sin such man
ner as the Legislature may require in order
to promote the liberal and practical education
of the industrial classes in the several pur.
suits and professions of life" 1t will be seen,
therefore, that not only ''practicar but
''liberap education is contemplated. And this
education is not only for the several "pur-
suits" but also for the professions of life
As We have said, such design comes but lit
tie short of the scope of a University. Men
are indeed, to be educated mainly in the
branches relating to agriculture and mechan-
les; but if they, or others, also choose to re-
ceive Instruction in scientific and classical
studies" they can be accommodated, and thus
be prepared by liberal and practical edu-
cation" for success 'in the several pursuits
and professions" We may hope, therefore,
to see young men come from it, who, ::by
their literary requirements, shall be prepared
to distinguish themselves as farmers and me-
chanics ;and Others, who entering upon different
professions, shall carry with them knowledge
of the natural sciences, and familiarity with
the laws of good husbandry, which shall fit
them still more for usefulness and happiness
in their respective callings. In a word, the
institution should be one having regard TO
universal education as truly as any of our ex-
isting colleges. IT it proves such, it will open
new era in the cause of popular education :
and comprehending alike the benefit of all
classes, will emphatically accord with the ge-
Mus of our democratic institutions which
than that ofeminent merit. 81.
Our literary colleges educate young men
almost exclusively for what are called the
learned proiessions-law, physic and divinity,
or leave them, quite too often, to be idle and
useless drones in society. A farmers son who
is graduated there, is thereafter generally lost
to the farm. Seldom does he return home to
renew with new zeal and vigor the health
full labor of rural life, but regarding this as be-
meath the aspirations of a scholar, he aban-
dons the home OF his childhood to seek for a
livelihood by the easy means of literary or pro-
fessional life in the city. The Maine Indus
trial College is calculated to correct this error
1t means to make rural life as learned, as hon
orable, and as successful as professional lite
1t intends to send its graduates home as
blessings to their fathers and to the commune
ties in which they reside. 400
How far the Institution at OronO may ac-
eomplish the high design OF the act, will de-
pend upon the spirit in which it is conducted,
and upon the sort of men who administer
its affairs. 1t will labor under one disadvant-
age at the outset; it will have no adequate ex-
ample which it can adopt with sure success.
True, there are Agricultural Colleges in Eu-
rope; but they, like the governments Of the
old world, are based upon castes, and there
fore unsuitable for our imitation. As our IA
thers who founded the republican constitu-
ton of America, had the benefit of no exam
pie before them, so, in manner, the perfec-
ton of system adapted to the equal educa-
ton of all classes Of the people can only be at
tanned by careful experiment. The kindred col
leges which are partially in operation in Michi-
gan, and Pennsylvania, and those which,. per-
haps earlier than our own,will be in operation
in Iowa and Massachusetts,, will doubtless
greatly aid the Trustees ofthe Maine College in
maturing early some good working system
If its aim is high, according to the provisions
ofthe law endowing it, and if it is managed,
not by fanciful theorists, but by men of good
sound common sense, who know how to util-
ize the labor of the hand with the soundest
thought of clear heads, we may not doubt
that it will speedily acquire the public favor
and respect, overcome whatever of prejudice
may now exist in certain quarters against it,
and in due time, elevate the industrial profess
sions to a rank as high as their merits are con-
spicuous.
As far as the science of agriculture and its
kindred branches are concerned, it is not to
be expected that it will educate every young
farmer in the State; but by sending out an
nuaIly few scores of well educated and skill
full men, fresh from the laboratory and from
the field of succe ssful experiment, into vari-
Gus parts of the State, it will be the means Of
disseminating vast amount of useful knowl
edge, both in theory and in practice, which
cannot fail, like light, to illuminate the gene
raj mind on subjects of popular interest. II
no other advantage results at first from it,
than the qualifying and sending forth of an
annual corps of aptinstructors, who, by COM
munications through the press, or by popular
lectures, shall address the people in halls, OF
in school houses, or at their iresides, even this
would make the institution worth much to
| l. IL.