The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-05-04
Southern Schools and Colleges.

The pride Of American citizenship-under the opera
ton of reconstruction and its underlying dogma OF
equal civil, political and social rghts-was weakened
to degree that amounted almost to its total extinc-
doniE the South. With that grim comedy gone through
with, by the admission of Texas, and with disgust
shared By all honest men in thetreatment of Georgia.
and with sense of awakened interest in the institutions
oil the whole country We have lately been directing
attention to the of popular education, under a
conviction that at last the stability of the republic de-
ponds principally upon popular enlightenment. As
the result of our observations at home we lately pub
lished an account Of the different schools of
city, and felt genuine pride in the announcement
then made that had so far recovered from the dis
astrous results of the late conflict that We could here
furnish and did furnish the facilities for good pr
mary education for both sexes. At the same time we
frankly admitted we were not able, as vet to 20 be-
yond this And until we are, dependent on
others for superior advantages SO thought it
duty to look abroad in search of them.
The first question that presented itself to our con-
sderation was where our young men, the growing hope
OF the State, should be sent for the best education?
Aud recognizing it as the duty Of the citizen prefer
ceteris pariIs the institutions of his own State we
have carefully inquired into the condition and man
agement of our late Seminary, now called the Uniyer
sy. As the result of this inquiry we now take occa
sion to say, that it afforded great satisfaction for
considering the trials to which this institution has
been subjected that it still lives and honorabIy lives
is fact every way creditable to its faculty But We
were impressed with the discovery thai has almost
no patronage from the northern parishes Why this
is so, ought not to be So space will not allow
us to discuss. Let conclusion Suffice that for boys
from Is 16 to IS 10 years of age it is well
thy Of a State support. Going beyond the State, and
for the ages, we would strongly recommend the
preparatory school established at sewannee, de.
signed as the foundation of that splendid scheme of
the amened Bishop Polk, the University of the South.
1t is in successful operation under Gen. Gorgas Con-
federate Chief of Ordnance, who will give all necessary
information in regard to it, and who is gentleman of
f0e character and fine culture.
Turning to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the
Carouas in each of which excellent colleges be-
fore the war; found, and report nothing but the
wrecks of noble institutions lying high and dry upon
the arid sands of Radcasm. Sckened with the pros.
pect we, have often done before, cast our eye
towards the " Old Dominion" remembering her and
General Lee, and that Lexington Military School,
which contributed in Stonewal jackson and his and
its pupils the noblest Roman of them ALL" and
body of young officers, trained and led by him, whose
combined achievements will live, in spite of prejudice
and final defeat, with the glory of the " line of Aus
tertz." Though like Zenobia, crowned with her jew
els and followed by her children the good old State
was made to bring up the of the reconstruction
triumPhal shame she is yet in advance of the South
in those directors and mouders of thought the Wash
ington College, the Lexington Military School and the
University of Virginia. each in itself credit to any
State and all worthy of the Mother of States They
are, long0 jcrra0, in our opinion, the best colleges
in the South At some other time when space
will allow it, We will call attention to three Northern
colleges, the growth Of later spirit of educational
enterprise whose facilities increase our wonder at the
resources of our country. They the University of
Michigan, the Cornell University of New York, and
the Lehigh University of Pennsylvania.