Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1877-09-08
To the Editor of the Picayunc

dertaking, it is of the first impor
lance that we have clear and dis
tinct ideas OF what the undertak
ing is, and the means and appli
ances at hand to attain the end j,
view.
In seeking to apply this trit,
proposition to the organization o
the above mentioned institution,
do not propose to write an exhaus-
tive essay on the subject, but only
to give my ideas, hoping thereb
to provoke others, and especially
the planters and farmers of the
State, to give theirs, in order that
tie Board of Supervisors may
know the sentiments of the people.
and have something to guide them
in their difficult task.
l know there are those who
wish to regard the now institution
as simply a continuation of the
Louisiana State University: aud
the Agricultural and Mechanical
as a branch of that institution.
This is pardonable, prehaps, in
those who have q parental fond.
ness for the university, and who
insist in the blindness of their de-
votion that the university is not
dead. But I cannot take that view.
and shall insist that the bill uni
ting the Louisiana State University
and the Agricultural and Meclan-
ical College of Louisiana, destroy
ca the two prc~existing institu-
tons, and created another, which
1s to enter upon a new life, and to
make name for itself apart from
any reputation, either good or bad, |
which may have attached to eth
er OF the defunct schools. What
sort OF school then is this new
school to be? Is it to lie literary |
institution. a so-called university
added to the list already too long
OF feeble, poorly supported, second
rate universities and colleges scat
tered all over the land i? Is there
any demand in our State for sur h
an institution Z? Is there any neces>
sity for establishing another rival
for those schools in our own State
and neighboring States. which can
barely keep alive owing to the
want of patronage and the want of
money. In my opinion all of these
questions must be answered in the
negative. I do not believe that
the people of Louisiana feel the !!
want OF such school; Of school ..
which must come before the Legis-
|ature at every session to beg for
IN appropriation, which if once
withheld; will leave the school in a
The condition of the Louisiana 8
state University. Those of our &
people who have the means to give a
heir sons finished literary educa- D
ion will send them to the old and n
ong esta blished colleges and uni- u
erslties of other States-while O,
he larger class of our citizens, who II
annot afford the expense of COL N
,glate course. costing from $500 to az
lOCO per annum, must be satisfied 70
see their sons growing up with So
ut the advantages which might be IN
'eirs it this new institution were
gained and conducted for the pr
pecial benefit of this class of our tn
'ople. Louisiana is and must re- tn
ain for ages to come, an agricul- ca ca,
raj State. The chief business of w
r people will he cultivation of OF
e soil: Then why should not her TN
ate College be so organized and
nducted as to fit her people for
at employment which must be
cir life work.
II the Agricultural and Mechan~
i College is to be henceforth one
the schools ola great university acc
y not begin by putting this as
Iool in operation first, especially in
all the available assets belong the
originally to the Agricultural Te
Mechanical College? Then, as sin,
Ficient funds are acquired, the ado
or schools may be organized as ato
aston demands. spe
No State in tho Union presents \
n an opportunity for the prac. hon
!! application of science and ag- alb.
allure as ours does. Here agri- Obi
ture is carried on upon more in Y
ens,ve and costly scale than in in
other State; and more knowl- ror]
9 and skill are required in the to Il
quot OF the sugar planting in it W
,e .na" - AZ present available the
" u 'n' mere Is a present de- ing
~ ~. I neu whose education tits bein
N to take charge of the mann, 8.
ure OF sugar, now carried ON tr