Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-10

hospital. 1t is likewise disgrace to Ten
nessee that her commercial and political me
tropolis has no adequate means of caring
for the unfortunate poor man from the
country, who may be disabled by sickness
or accident, when here as a stranger. Let
city and State, county and university au-
thorities, all take the matter in hand, and
twelve months need not pass until the want
is supplied.
During the feUdal ages when a semi-bar-
barian sOldiery ruled the country, the arts
and sciences, no less than liberty took refuge
with the burghesses of the municipalities.
Yet in our modern cities the intellectual
training and wants of our mechanics and ar
tisans is too much overlooked. A department
intended to furnish all followers of indus
trial occupations with the scientific knowl-
edge so useful to such persons could, with
comparatively small cost, be added to the
University. This Polytechnic school should
be erected on the Medical College square,
receiving the use of large lecture halls and
of costly apparatus from the Faculty. 1t
should be under the special patronage of
the Mechanics and Manufacturers Asso-
citation. Embracing the whole range of
science applied to mans daily wants, it
would be an invaluable auxiliary in the
| development of the rich resources of Ten
nessee.
Another subdivision of the University
field, just the opposite pole, that which
| looks to mans religious life, also remains
vacant. While the Trustees cannot use
| any funds in their hands for the establish
ment of denOminatiOnal schools, they have
full power to accept donations for such
purposes, and to use them strictly in accord
| ance with the donors directions. They have
| also power to cooperate with other Boards
! in carrying on theological education, as is
done by the cooperation of Harvard Uni
versity and the Episcopal Church in Massa-
| chusetts. No more splendid field for the
| exertion of long continuing christian infiu-
ence in this region exists than that offered
| by the foundation of Chapel, Of Z Biblical
| prOfessOrship, or of Theological school, in
| connection with the University here. The
| founder may serve the cause of education
| generally, while he places his foundation
| under the charge and control of the church
| to which he is attached.
| Rich 1.-THE intellectual character imprinted
| by the founders of the city, rich in the pos
session of university known and honOred
throughout the land, Nashville is also rich in
the enjoyment of a system Of public schools
| which, though nOminally some seventeen
| years Gin fact but about ten) in action have
already become the pride of the people, and
| may, by wise combination with existing or
| projected institutions, and by feasible ex-
| pansion, be converted into GRAND EDU-
CATIONAL WHOLE, such as no city in
America can boast. To this end far-seeing,
liberal, enlightened, consistent and persist
ent legislation on the part of our municipal
government is absolutely necessary.
| The want of at least one great Universe
ty is deeply felt in all the South, and is
spoken of everywhere, and great many
plans have been proposed on paper, and a
number partially commenced to meet this
want, yet there is nothing now on foot
that is likely soon to do so. This is said,
not from desire to speak slightingly or
discouragingly of the various schemes to
establish great church universities or local
colleges. These must all 90 on and viii in
time be successfully established, A people
of ten, twenty or thirty millions will need
many great schools. Ii is emphatically said
that l may provoke the citizens of Nash
vile to contemplate the resplendent wealth
and beauty of the prize now within theiI
reach. A calm, not pretentious, but eau.
tiOus, self-reliant view of our site, sur
roundings, and capabilities will satisfy the
coolest head among us, that no matter what
this or the other influential christian church
may accomplish, or however much
patronage may reward efficient State or in
dividual effort in different localities, in on
near Tennessee-Nashville, if true 10 her
self from this time forward, may become
great university city. IA a great railroad
centre, as great commercial, manufactur
ing, banking. insurance mart, we have t,
: contend with several able rivals, the odd
being against us. To hold our own in thes
lines will require hereafter as heretofore tn
: constant eXeTtiOn OF remarkable skill AM
, integrity. On the other hand, this grea
| educational prize is within reach this day
p and if firmly grasped, win powerfully reac
: on every material interest above mentioned
Would that some one of our many able
public men by mastering and advOcatin
this noble work may turn the mighty strean
of Southern educational patronage to Nash
vile as did De Witt Clinton of old the com
meree of the West to his native city by hi
eloquent and repeated efforts in behalf c
! | the Erie canal. The Erie canal in u,
: | hands of De Witt Clinton was the crisis Q
7 | New York. Had his fellow-citizepS turne
7 a deaf ear to his wise and patriotic warn
g ings and exhortations, the metropolis Of the
4 Western World and the Empire State off,
! | Union would have been elsewhere.
: Fro BE CONTINUED