Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-23
From the Daily Chroaicle jane IL
EAST TENNESSEE [ UNIVERSITY

=
sidering the financial pressure through
which we are passing, has been very
gratifying. The course of instruction
is thorough and complete. The Fac
ulty is equal if not superior to the
Faculty of any similar institution in
the South, and has but few superiors
on the continent. The library and
apparatus for instruction is not equal
to that of some other institutions in
the country. but is being constantly
improved and added to as the means
of the institution seem to Justify.
The discipline of the College will
compare fayorablv with that exercised
over other institutions. Tue students
in point Of intellect and personal ap.
pearance are the equals Of any like
number of boys and young men to be
found at any school or college in the
land.
According to the catalogue, the
whole number of students enrolled
during the past twelve months, in all
the departments. was 315. OF these.
101 were enrolled in the Collegiate
Department, and the remainder in
the Preparatory Department. At no
time before the war did the number
of students in the institution equal
this. 1t has held up remarkably well,
which speaks volumes for the learned
gentlemen composing the faculty, and
for the policy they have adopted in
imparting instruction and maintain.
ing discipline.
The University and those who con-
duet it, including faculty and Trus-
tees, should receive the hearty coop.
Grafton of all the people of this COM
munity in rendering it first class
institution. We believe our people
feel it their duty to encourage the
college in every possible way. We
have occasionally heard Of complaint
it is true. but in no case has it been
well founded These complaints usu.
ally proceed from Il captious motive,
or are the promptings Of envy. We
do not think this exists to any serious
extent, but it occasionally crops out
where one would least look for it.
We trust all this may die out and
that we will hear no more Of it.
There is a complaint that we have
heard our farmer friends make in q
few instances, which shows clearly that
they misapprehend the meaning of
the law Of Congress providing for the
endowment of Agricultural Colleges.
They think that the fund thus provi-
ded can not be used for the purpose
Of carrying on q strictly literary or
classic course Of study. In this they
are mistaken. Those branches of
study pertaining to Agriculture and
the Mechanic Arts are to be made
prominent. but others are not to be
excluded There are well informed
| persons who are no doubt honestly
mistaken on this point.
We do not believe this difference
Of opinion. nor this spirit Of com.
plant to which we have alluded have
damaged the institution vet, but they
ought not to exist. The management
may not be perfect but it certainly
has been commendable, aDd of such a
character as to command the sympa.
thy and cooperation of all lovers of
learning. We look forward to the
time, at no distant day, when every
/ Tennesseean, every Southern man,
and every American citizen will
point with pride to East Tennessee
University as an institution Of HIGH
grade, and As having accomplished its
full share in training the young men
Of the land for usefulness, making
them q credit ito their Alma Mater
and an honor to their country
In this connection we take pleasure
in noting the fact that so many prom
, inent gentlemen from different parts
, Of the State were present at Com
mencement this year as well as pre-
yious years. Among these were
Governor Porter, Colonel Trousdale
. Superintendent of Public Instruction
/ all the members Of the Suprem,
t Bench except Judge Freeman, who il
4 detained at home by sickness, Mr.