The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-22

that the discussion which has prevailed on |
this question has had the effect Inevitably |
to disturb public confidence in the perma-
uent existence of either the one or The |
other and to disturb that confidence in |
either is to assault the exlstance of both. |
They are prominently colleges of the |
people and for the people and therefore |
any impairing of public confidence in the |
local continuance of the one or the other |
cah be possibly only injurious. That this
has been the practical effect of this at
tempt at union, the friends of both institu-
lions arc quick to allow. lit has tended to
deplete them both of students and to with
hold public patronage and forbid tndow-
mens; for men who have the heart and the
means to come to them and place them
upon sound financial basis have found an
easy occasion to decline our applications,
not SO much by falling back on the merits
of the question as by resting their negation
in the fact, that we ourselves are debating
it. Observe | am raising no question as to
the wisdom of the fathers In founding
these two institutions in western Vermont,
nor do call in question the worthiness of
the motives that have prompted the many
friends of education in the state, who, be-
wailipg what they account mistake in the
fathers and the rival attitude of these two
institutions have sought TO make them one.
Had these efforts been crowned with sue
cess, the event undoubtedly would have
been hailed by the christian public at large
as a benefaction. But the question of duty
debated by the good men who have gone
before us, is not our question of duty to-
day. Taking the two institutions as they
now stand, coDgenial each 10 its soil, CON-
pacted and strengthened by the varying
fortunes and struggles towards cen
turys growth Each having record to
compare with any Other college in the land
in the service done for its graduates. Each
attaching to itself a devoted and intluen-
| tial body of alumni and each already SO
| endowed rs TO put them both beyond de-
| pendence upon public charity for their
| continuance, dependent though they be on
| that charity for enlargement-l say taking
them as they are with their respective his
| tories and growth and inhering powers of
| life and with an open sea before them for
| a magnanimous and honorable competition
does it not behoovc us-the friends of
both institutions to raise the demand that
this question of union debated so long and
with no advantage to either but injury to
both, be forever dismissed; that we take
measures to have it distinctly understood
everywhere in the land that the University
of Vermont and Middebury college are to
abide unaterably in their respective locali-
ties, each retaing its original integrity and
| distcintness, each a stimulus to the other
and both uniting to dismiss whatsoever of
the spirit of hostility may have marred
their beauty in the past while they cherish
together the spirit of good will and mutual
helpfulness.
Surely this decision solidy reached and
publicly avowed and accepted could issue
only in good. We are familiar that it has
been a potent ground of complaint when
socver appeals for aid have been made to
the public for these institutions-tha they
both never ought to have been founte /
that they stand in needless proximity to
each other-that they are both doing the
work of one-that they are both appealing
to the same section of country for patron.
age and that they are exposed to the evils
of perpetual hostility. TO these form:
of objection it may be replied that howso
ever justly they may have been urged in
the past, their force is substantially by
what Pre- ,ident Buckham denominates il
his inaugural ''the new Iolicy' of the uni
versity whereby these institutions are
made essentially to diverge the one from
another, together with the change which
has come over both of them alike in thei
relation to the general public. 1t is true
that these institutions abide still in thei
respective locations and that they hav'
still, and will continue to have, very mucl
in common to each other; but in many par
ticulars they have materially diverged, and
it is hoped, with decided advantage t
both.
The university continues TO be eth
child of the state" and her patron, and thu
/ oh fnrnpnac m mn n no
ntrigues" and liable "to be controlled TO
political purposes !" the college. on tn
other hand, has no vital dependence on tn
state and asks from her no favors but thos
guaranteed to her in her chartered rights
and is secure against the caprice and vi
olence of political parties. The university
reaching toward her ideal, aniUersita
Hterdrium Ct ScientiarIna, has, while retain
ing, as she may, the excellencies of her oil
course, enlarged her curriculum in the di
rectiOn of physical sciences and the practi
cal arts of life in compliance with the dc
mands of utilitarian and progressive age
admitting students of either sex, and stu
dents of unequal attainments some I
; pursue the college course proper some tn
scientific and some the partial, in one o
another of its forms; each student electin
his course, and some with immediate ref
erence to their vocation in life-all goin
. forth with the honOrs of university d
ploma whose worth is determined by il
place on sliding scale of degrees tn
college cOntrawlse, content to realize sim
ply the idea of the New England college
the equivalent, IN part of the German gym
nasium--continues to make mental dri
and culture specially in the use of the oil
appliances admits only young men an
Il oil a,,I tt,ar
, ular course and candidates for the honor
of the same degree, thus preserving he
catalogue in highest honor, though th
, names therein may be comparatively few
To many minds this departure" of tn
: university from its historic insistence upo
the method of rigid linguistic, mathemat
/ cal and philosophical discipline for all he
, students will be received with gratificatio
! as indicating the ''measure of its progress
| and fitting her to command more varie
/ and miscellaneous patronage. On til
I, other hand, many will rejoice that the co
lege has made no adventure in this diret
: ton, but rigidly adhering to the old course
asserts it still as her aim to make men
: sending forth all who entrust themselves [
y her disciplinary culture and training wit
the rounded fullness of robust and eI
= nobled manhood and graced with her higl
+ est honors. Many will account this III
, mixed and homogeneous character of hs
, students as an advantage to the student
= themselves and to the future record of I'll
q college. In these particulars then thes
two institutions have diverged and
, make point OF this divergence not
I, | show how the one can gain an adyantag
= owe, the other, because of it, but Just ii
reverse-how the prosperity of both can |
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