, 1873-08-16

pnoo ON this aub]oct ttlero In often tho direct a1-
sortion, and always tho assumption, that It
10 tho duty Of tho Goyornmont TO MAIN
tain n grand university and furnish the poo
plo Of tho country with tho means Of acquir-
ing university education. This assumption
oxtondB to Il number Of othor nattera, such Oh
tho duty Of Government to provide national
ronds, national tolegraphs, national canals, M
tlonal schools, national farms, nntfonal vosoclB
to carry on tho national and domestic commerce,
national foundries, ahip-yards, aud rolling mills
and various other schemes. Tho fallaoy Of lhtu
assumption ia admirably o1poHed in prosilons
Eliot'a report. Ho shows tho wldo difference
botwoon government like ours, compoood
mcrely Of public agonta hired to perform certain
duties, aud government founded On tho theory
OF Divine right. Forgetting this distinction, 1t
is argued that tho Government Ia tho guardian Of
the public civilization mud morals, aud shoull DO
tho embodiment Of tho national character and
aspirations; ind that tlis moral Government this
corporate representative Of Christinn nation,
has high dutios and functions commensurate
with itR great powers, and mono moro imperative
than chat Of dinus1ng knowledge and advancing
soionco. But President Eliot holds that FREQ
govornmont dooa not held this patorual rotation
to tho pooplo. It Ia not tho guardian Of tho
nations morals, Is not responsible for tho
character, and ia itself morely ono Of tho
products Of that character. The doctrine Of
Btato personality, and tho elevation Of
government ns.a teacher Of morals, is natural
enough whon tho government is supposed to
o1ist by Divine right, but has no application
in q government which is purely an agency con-
trolled by limitations Of power, aud having mono
but delegated authority. Ho points out tho
logical fact that If tho Government
should direct our secular oducation because 1t is
tho guardian Of tho pooplo's morals, how much
more incumbent 1t must bo Oh tho part of tho
Government to direcss our religious education.
Outside of tho Unitod Statos md 5witzorlant, it
ia tho doctrine Of all Christian nations that re-
lgion is tho supreme human interest, Goyorn-
mont tho supreme humRn organization, and
therefore Govornment should care for religion
to tho oxtont Of maintaining Christian religious
duty to establish National Church, whilo 1t ia
claimed tllat NO must establish Nationa1 Uni
vorsity, bocauao the Government is responsible
for tho morals and cla5Eaotcr Of tho people.
President Eliot takos tho true ground that
q pateraal government means a dependent pco-
ple-that F" accuraed inheritance from tho days
Of tho Divine right Of Kings" But Is o aolf-
reliant people, who alone orc capable Of
being FREQ, wo want no such government. Tho
only government needed by FREQ peoplo Is that
It, and perform no function which any private
agency mny perform as woll.
Tho greatost and tho most insidious danger to
our institutions and our liberties. is tho System
Of subsidies. No such thing as n subsidy or
special privilege should DO known or tolerated
under FREQ government, acting as tho repre-
sentative Of tho whole people. Tho religion Of
tho American people is supported by tho volun4
tary contributions Of tho people, and TINT sup
port il aa liboral and religion itself
any land whore it is maintained by tho Govern
ment through enforced oxactions from tho
people. So with our school System. This ia
supported by local taxoa, votod by each oommu-
nifty, voluntarily paid, and expended by local
boards. Tho highor schools are supported In
like manner by n voluntary syatom. In other
governments, whore it ia assumed TINT God
takes care Of tho government aud tho govern
mont takes caro- Of the people, oil this business
Of religion and schools is managed by tho State,
and tho people recoivo education anl religion,
as tho rnnpors do soup ut tho almg-louao, ns
bonofaction from the Government. A pato1nal
government destroys individual enterprise, par
alyzes personal industry, and oroatos a nation Of
dependents and mondicants Tho 20 luntary
system Of tho United States encourages thrift.
mahoa tho entire population self-reliant makes
thom free, and Jealous and watohful of thoir
1bertioH. The American systom teaohes tho
people to think. speak, and act for, and tako
caro- Of, themselves, and, as consequence, thoy
must be FREQ.
This document Of President Eliot ia yigor-
GUS and valuable contribution to tho literature
OF tho day. Though confined to tho subject of
q National University, its argument appllbs with
equal force to all the various schemes Of gov
ernnental patronage which arc now urged upon
Congress. We commepd tho report 10 tho
thoughtful realng Of tho friends Of education
mud o popular independence and freedom.
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NOTES AND OPINION.