The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-19
National University-True Republican

ISL.
We have not been more delighted for 4
long time at the opinions of any man than
we have been at those expressed by Presi-
dent ELIOT, of Harvard University, in his re-
port to the late Educational Convention at
Enira, N. Y, upon proposed National
University.
DR.. J. w. HoYT, of Iowa, at the National
Teachers Association which met at Trenton,
n. j., on the Goth of August, 1869, intro
duccd the proposition for Il National Uni
yersity, and it received the unanimous APP
p.oral of the asscmblage. A report was
made on it at the Cleveland meeting in 1870
1t was referred to a committee, and again
reported upon at the st. Louis meeting OF
II. The report was accepted, and COM
mittee appointed to carry out its object,
which was the establishment by the Federal
Government of single dominant university
for the country. The committee undertook
to prepare plan and urge it upon Con-
gress.
President ELIOT, after reciting in detail
these particulars, goes on to state that, with
out the cooperation Of the committee, DIR.
HoYr got at least one bill for the establish
mcnt of National University introduced
into the Senate in 1872 through the hands of
Mr.. Senator SAWYER, Of South Carolina.
Another bill was introduced by Senator
HOWE, of Wisconsin, for the same purpose,
whose author HOWE did not know. Both
Senators disclaimed any responsibility. for
the bills. They were read twice and not
again heard of. President ELIOT exposes
the unwarranted conduct Of DR.. HOYT in a
manner that shows very badly for HoYT and
jtlsties the suspicion that he calculated large
" on personal advantages probably that he
might become head of the institution. Presi-
dent ELIOT, however. makes not the slightest
hint upon this point. HoYT evidently
gathered the thing under his own wings;
an excessive exhibition of hankering after
Federal patronage, which lie must have re-
GREETED after reading what President ELIOT
said of his conduct.
The report next criticises the bills. and eX-
hibts their folly and impracticability SO
clearly that we suppose they will not be
aroused again from their deep sleep.
We confess, however, we are obliged to
HoyT, the Spectator in this university
scheme, for affording an opportunity for the
report Of the Harvard president upon it.
It's arguments are so clear, its opinions SO
sound, its sentiments so good. We will
gather few of them, which so resemble the
views and feelings of times by-gone. before
the Capitalization of all power in the Federal
Government had stif1ed the personal and
State independence, which was the very
soul of the American Constitution.
With regard to an idea which has grown |
rapidly i'll this country with the progress Of
Capitalization and the general looking Of
people to Washington for all thinss-the |
idea that it is somehow the duty Of Govern
mept "to provide and maintain an elaborate
Organization for teaching, just as it main
=" tains an army, navy, or post-oflice,"
DR.. ELIOT says and here we were about, |
with the rcmorseless scissors, to clip out
passage or two OF what the Doctor says, but
it would be an act of impiety thus to curtaii
the very best Of opinions and principles IN
politics that we have read since the war. We
offer the reader all that the Doctor says on
this branch of his subject:
* ain a free community the government
does not hold this parental, or patriarchal-l
7 should better say Godlike-position. Our
Goyernment is group Of servants appointed
tn do certain difficult and important work. |
It is not the guardian of the nations morals
il does not necessarily represent the best vir- |
tue of the republic, and Is not responsible |
for the national character, being itself one of
the products Of that character. The doc |
trine OF State personality and conscience, |
and the whole argument to the dignity aud |
moral elevation OF Christian nations gov |
eminent as the basis OF government duties, |
are natural enough under Grace-ot-God gov
ernments. but they find no ground OF, prac-
teal application to modern republican con-
federations; they have no bearing on GOV
ernments considered as purely human |
agencies with defined powers and limited |
responsibilities. Moreover, for most Ameri- |
cans these arguments prove great deal too |
much; for If they have the least tendency |
TO persuade us that government should |
direct any part OF secular education, with |!
how much greater force do they apply to the |
conduct by government Of the religious