Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-28
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Wy DuiiuAhSS, Biouhus, hDiaIlcS anu dp-
p&tStds: nsteDeen supplied by public
spirited Gift PENS Or by Legislative appropri-
atiOns, it is Still found necessary TO have
endoYmenS TO pay the salaries of pro-
fessOrs and to make improvements and
repairs. A few successful private enter
prises in the way of collegiate institutions
might be pointed out, but they rarely at
tain very eminent success for obvious rea-
sons. No one is found possessed of suf-
ficient fortune to erect buildings, supply
costly appliances and pay teachers sala-
ries, who is at the same time willing TO
devote his time and talents to the business
of educating the young. The rich,
though they often give generously to the
cause of education, do not apply 10th
their money and talents to that object.
The wealth of individuals or of States
supplies the money; the toilers supply
the labor and talents. Yet sufficient has
been done by individuals adapted to the
business, TO show that the struggle in life
with some of those not born to fortune,
yet strong in energy, industry and skill, or
jealous in the cause of education may in
| spire such action as would make large
College, such as is here demanded, self
sustaining. And certainly in competition
with the endowed colleges of our country
/ those who may succeed IN making col
lege self sustaining, without unusual
expense to students, merit public
appropriation and fair reward for their
abors. There can be nothing wrong or
liberal in the proposition which aims to
apply the grounds and buildings of the
Undergraduate Department OF the Univer-
sity of Nashville simply to the purposes
for which they arc. designed, at time
when they cannotbe said to be so applied,
and when public wants cry aloud for it.
If $1,000 per annum is asked for edu-
eating twenty-five boys in the Montgomery
Bell Academy, it is also proposed to Sc
cure to this city at least 800, 900 annually
by the accession of students not now
attracted to the University. If we are
rightly informed, the Montgomery Bell
Academy has an annual revenue of 81, 600,
and the University an annual revenue
of 81, 220. The first of these sums
can only be applied 10 the Academy,
and the latter 10 the College proper.
With perhaps one or two small College
classes and one hundred and sixty schol-
ars of all kinds enrolled this session 1--WE
are not informed how many are in atten-
dance at this time) both these sums and
the tuition fees have been expended, and
still friends of the University have mad to
advance money from their private means
TO pay Professors salaries. This money
viii perhaps have to be returned from the
principal or future interest of the Uniyer-
sity or the Bell fund. If this statement is
correct, Will it be possible, under existing
arrangements, to open the full
college course of instructions in
the University or even to main
tain in continued operation the Mont
gomery Bell Academy If not, can there
be suggested more feasible scheme, or
one that promises greater practical results,
than that Offered by Gems. Smith and
johnson. In this view of the matter
their proposition seems liberal. They are
undertaking no light responsibility; but
one that will demand from them both
money and energetic actions 1t would
certainly not appear that their proposition
was made with any other than honest in
tentiOns of fostering public institution
for the public good, and perhaps to per-
form duties rendered attractive by asso-
citation and by habits established through
years of practical experience. No
doub: they desire, and cf necessity
require, remuneration for their labOrs.
They cannot expect TO realize wealth.
The simple wants of a teacher devoted 10
his duties are easily supplied.
In short, instead of Grammar School
and one College class, which We under
stand is proposed for the next session,
with revenues exhausted, endorsements
and loans, Gems. Smith and johnson
propose the full College course, and the |
accumulation of the Montgomery Bell |
fund, now $4,000, at interest COM
pounded, TO the sum of $1,000, and Of |
the University fund, now $4,000, to thej
sum of 1913, 900 in fifteen years. From I
1855 to 1861 the Undergraduate Depart
ment of the University of
Nashville enrolled its students
from as many as thirteen States |
in one session and was successfully con-
Quoted by one of the parties to this pro-
position without assistance from the |
University Fund, save small sum volun-
tsrily appropriated by the Board of Trus-
tees; andit was finally made to pay inter
est on the University debts, and improve
ments and TO aid in purchasing new in
struments and apparatus. This affords
one the best evidences of the ability of
these gentlemen to make the undergradu-
ate department self-sustaining, while the
familiarity of their names, and their
regulations as educators in every part of
he country from which students must
come to the University, give the highest
assurance that they will be able to fill
NE halls of the department with students,
It is the success and prosperity of the Uni
gersity which is demanded by the public
interest and by public sentiment. This is
he one object Of paramount importance,
md if the propositions of Gems. Smith
md johnson are such as to secure that
success and prosperity, there should be
10 difficulty in adjusting the conditions
lnder which they shall take charge of the
University. /
THE MISSING BONDS.
We stated in a brief paragraph yester-
lay, that the readers of this paper would
that more than year ago, we