National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-10

but al appeals to the denomination to
which It belongs have failed to get money
enough to endow professorship Of me-
tallurgy. Instances Of this kind might be
multiplied almost indefinitely. Professor
White cites the case of the University Of
Michigan as the best evidence Of what can
be done, what splendid results can be
achieved by concentration and centraliza-
ton. With wisdom which every year
only more clearly vindicates the Legislature
of that State devoted the land grant of the
General Government to the building of one
great establishment, instead Of cutting It up
as was done in other States. Around the
nucleus thus formed there has been col
lected year after year magnificent equip
menh until at the present time it Is one OF
the most perfect institutions Of learning In
the country. The folly Of the opposite
course Is seen in Ohio, which adopted the
policy of diffusion. and In attempting to do
everything succeeded In doing next to moth
ing at all.
The broad proposition laid down by the
Cornell president is that 'the main proYi-
"'sion for advanced education in. the United
States must be made by the people at large,
acting through their National and State
Legislatures, to endow and maintain institu-
'fions for the higher instructions, fully
equipped and free from sectarian control. "
He maintains that duty and patriotism
command the foundation of q great ma
tional university, which shall have all the
means and appliances indispensable to an
institution Of the kind, to which the exist
ing colleges shall act as so many training
schools. The principal objections to the
project come from two classes First the
older and richer institutions, like Harvard,
which do not care to be thrown In the shade
or outrivalled; and, second, from some of
our politicians and so-called statesmen, who
see in 1t a violation Of the spirit, If not the
letter, of the Constitution. These influences
and arguments may prevail for time, but
there can be little doubt that In the end
they will be overcome, because they are at
once selfish and weak. Washington has
already splendid nucleus for great uni
versity-the Smithsonian collection and en-
dowment, the Naval observary, the Army
Medical Museum, the Patent Office, the
largest and best library In the country at the
Capitol, the Coast Survey, the Agricultural
Department, &c. The idea meets the ap-
proval of large number Of our cotempora-
ries, and will, no doubt become, before
many years, a reality. The Graphic, in
an article en- the subject says: 1--WE need o
national university Of larger proportions
land on nobler plans than any educational
institution in the country. Not q mere
classical school for boys, nor a school of
technology, but q university In the largest
and best sense of the word, and so richly
endowed and amply equipped in every
department that It shall reflect honor on
'the nation that maintains 1t and attract the
SCHOLARS of other countries to Its seats and
professional chairs. Washington needs a
great educational institution to at 1t TO be
''the capital of the country, and the infiu-
''ence of such an institution on the Govern
''ment would be intellectually great and
beneficial The establishment of such
university would 60 far to break up the
present ruinous System and compel rival
COLLEGES to combine"