National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-29
THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

At the meeting of the National Teachers
Association, in Detroit last month, Presi-
dent White, of Cornell University, read an
able reply, upon the subject of the estab-
lishment of a National University, to the
argument of President Elliot against the
project the year before. Papers upon the
same question were read by other gentle
men, and so impressed was the association
by the arguments adduced in support of
higher education that committee was ap-
pointed to visit Washington this winter,
with instructions to present the matter to
Congress and endesvOr to obtain the neces-
sary aid for its foundation. A committee
of the House reported in its favor in March,
1873, and the idea has a large number of
friends in both branches of Congress, so
that there is every probability of favorable
action in the near future provided the
scheme is only pressed with energy and
assiduity.
The committee in question is already at
work, distributing documents explaining
the objects sought to be attained and the
steps that have already been taken in the
matter. This action upon their part has
provoked furious, ill-tempered assault by
the Hartford COurGRt in the interest of
Harvard and Yale. The project, we are
told, is upon its face an absurdity, end the
gentlemen engaged in it are band of lob
byIsts, whose only purpose is to plumber
the Treasury and rob the people Toshow
the utter injustice of this charge, SO far as
the gentlemen upon the Detroit committee
are concerned, we reproduce their names
as they were printed in THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN shortly after their appoint
ment. They are: Or J. W. Hoyt, Madi-
''Son, Wis; DR.. Andrew D. White, presi-
'dent of Cornell University; DR.. Mark
''Hopkins. ex.president of Williams Col
'1ege; Hon. J. p. Wickersham, Superin-
''tendent Public Instruction, Harrisburg,
'Pa.; DR.. George P Harris, president of
washington and jefferson College. Pa:
''Hon. E. E. White, editor Of the National
"Teaeh5r; John Hancock, Superintendent
''of Schools, Cincinnati; Dr.. David D. Wal
'1ace, president of Knox College, Ill; DR..
''W. F. Phelps, president of State Normal
School, Winons, MINI; DR.. w. T. Har
iris, St. Louis; Col. D. F. Boyd, president
''of State University of louisiana Alex
lander Hogg. president of State Agricul-
'fural and Mechanical College of Ala
''bams; Prof Joseph Henry, secretary of
'fhe Smithsonian Institute; Hon. 2. Rich
cards, Washington CITY," To denounce
these gentlemen as frauds and lobbyists is
certainly exceeding the bounds of respecta-
bic journalism, and we are surprised that
so gross and unfounded an allegation should
have appeared in the columns of a paper
like our Hartford cotemporary. We are
certain that its responsible editor, the Hon.
Mr.. Hawley, who is a member of the
American Rife Association, was absent at
Creedmoor at the time it was printed.
Every one OF the gentlemen above named
is as free from the suspicion of lobbying
and corruption IS the president of Harvard
or Yale, and many of them enjoy quite as
high a reputation in the ranks OF the edu-
Gators Of the country.
Washington is directly and closely in
terested in the subject under consideration,