The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-21
BOwd0in College.

10 the Editor Of the Press:
You published last week resolution of the
authorities of Bowdoin College, beginning
in these words:
ResolUed, That the interests of the College
require the establishment Of" &C., &C., sew
eral new departments and courses being then
proposed.
l do not design to discuss these improve
ments They appear to be rather imitational
and rot the result of original reflection
What propose to say, word or two about,
is the naotiue which the authorities assign for
attempting the improvements. The motive
is, that the interests of the College require
&C. 1t is respectfully submitted, whether this
is the correct motive in the case, and wheth-
er the college has not been administered upon
that principle long enough?
When the college, nearly forty years ago
obtained its legal independence from the
State, the effect of that severance was some
what unfortunate, in leading the authorities,
perhaps unconsciously, to shut themselves up,
to close policy of administering the college
for its own interests, rather than with an as
siduous regard for the widest and best actual
interests of the whole community. Under
that policy the college has maintained a ca
reer of fair responsibility and usefulness
BUTT has not gained much. The classes are
no larger now than they were fifty years ago.
The fact still remains that Bowdoin College
is public institution, planted in the heart of
the State, and has enjoyed, and holds to this
day very respectable endowments from the
State. Nor does any one doubt that the COL
| lege was designed and founded, as a means of
promoting the superior cultivation of the
young men of the State of Maine.
submit therefore that when there is
plan OF improvements and new departures in
the administration of the college, the ques-
ton should not be merely, what do the inter
ests of the college require? That is too lin
tied, and too low. The higher and wider
questions would seem to be:
First, what do the interests of the State of
Maine require and demand of the college, in
respect to the superior education OF the peo
pie of the State?
Second, In what manner shall the respecta-
BILE endewments of the college, its rich apoa.
ratus and its corps of learned and faithful
teachers, be best administered and set at
work, SO as to bring the educating power and
the intellectual life of the college into the best
practicable harmony with the actual life and
needs of the people of the State OF Maine?
do not know how far the resolution re-
ferred to, may have been of the inspiration
OF the new President hope he will not be
an imitator. Ii be has the genius and the
strength to dig to the deepest roots OF those
two questions, and the administrative ability
to work out the problem which they involve.
and IT he acill do it, be will place Star upon
his brow, before which, all the stars OF his
military fame will grow pale
On the other hand, if his career is to 20
forward only upon the motive OF looking out
for the interests of the college, he will find
himself surrounded by too many other col
leees, worked upon the same low principle to
enable him to hope for much honor or advan-
tase in competition, with them.
A significant comment upon the resolution
OF the authorities, is in the fact, that in elect
ing last week sac new members into their
bodies, they elected three persons, who are
inhabitants of Massachusetts. JUsrUs.