The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-09
Self.Suprorting Eniversitics-Facts
versus Theory.
Communicated.


There are some well-meaning friends Of
sound education who talk about sefsustaining
universities; that universities can be support
ed by the patronage Of students. The theory
is pleasant one, but is based upon pro-
found ignorance of the history and the pre-
sent status Of the universities Of the Old and
New World. There as not q university an
Europe or america which is not supported
either 10y State appropriations or frem the
interest Of endowmcniS, or from both of
these sources.
Prussia. whose system Of State education
! is the most economical and, perhaps, the most
| thorough in the world. makes an annual
grant of more than half million of dollars
10 her universities, the care of which forms a
very important part of ministerial duty. A
recent report on the Prussian universities
tells us " Count Bismarck aud the Emperor
resist the loss Of great savant from Prussia
as they would resist political check" The
| working Of the Prussian system, now in
operation for more than half a century,
| shows that the universities and the primary
schools are both almost entirely dependent
on the public treasury, while the schools Of
| secondary education return to the State
| large proportion Of the sums appropriated
for their maintenance. But to continue
France, Italy, Austria, Russia, Belgium,
Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and little SwitZ-
crland, oil maintain State universities as an
essential part of their systems of public edu.
cation. In England the endowments of the
| universities are simply enormous, and LII
striking contrast TO the effective economy of
most OF the continental universities The
annual income of Oxford from endowmcnts
is about two millions Of dollars per annum !;
while Cambridge bestows annually to stu
dents. in prizes and scholarships, more than
two hundred thousand dollars. The annual
| income Of each Of the universities of Edin-
hurgh, Dublin, aud Durham. Is several hun
dred thousand dollars. In America, the Older
universities, as Harvard and Yale, count their
endowments by millions. Cornell, COM
bining state appropriations and private gifts,
has fund Of several millions. More than
fifteen millions have been added to the en-
Gowlnent Of northern colleges since 1865.
| The northwestern States and California, not
wishing to pay tribute to the East, have,
through State appropriations, at bound
come 10 the front in the march of university
progress. Michigan, California, Wisconsin,
Iowa, md Minnesota, all have rs the key
stone Of their systems Of State education uni
versilies maintained by large State appro-
priatiUns. 1t can safely be said that In the
North and Northwest the foundations Of
great universities are now laid in which the
cost of higher culture to the citizens of those
| sections will be Il nero trille. In view Of
these things it may be asked, What can the
| States of the South do to save themselves
from falling entirely behind in this great
movement for higher education? In our con-
dition Of poverty it is clear we cannot wait
tor the slow aggregation of private bcnefac-
| ti0n TO build up universities. The method
Of State appropriation must be combined
with the muniticence of private benetactors
to build up in each State of the South
q great university. Let each State, on the
foundations which they have laid in the past,
build up aud cndow university, in connec-
ton with which the muniticence of wealthy
patriots and the aggregate gifts Of those who
are unable TO make large benefactions may
| provide adequate maintenance of mature
study and scientific research, and bring the
higher education within the reach of all who
are desirou5 to profit by it. Liberalty Oh the
plrt of the State will foster liberulity in pri-
vate bcnetilctions; and Do statesman can
doubt the soundness of The policy of render
Ing the gifls Of individuals TO the State ettec.
tive for all coming generations by additional
permanent endowments. Virginia, as the
leader of the South Ia educational progress,
has great role to play in this matter. Let
our statesmen and our people stop making
inventories Of "what we lost by the war"
and launch the grand old Commonwealth on
career of intellectual greatness that shall
dignity and cnnoble tue material prosperity
which the immediate future holds out for
her fortunate grasp.