The Evening critic., 1881-10-01
GARFIELD MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY.
A Baltimore Rabbi Suggests the
Erection OF n University I'm wash

tbStOu.
The following letter, written by one of
tho most distinguished of the Hebrew
Rabbis appears in to-day's Baltimore Sun.
MEssRs. A. s. ABELL & Coz We have now
paid the last honors to our great dead Prcsi-
dent. To indulge in further idle grief and
vain regrets now, after all that Is mortal of
James A. Garfield has been consigned to its
last earthly resting place, would be as weak
and unmanly as it would be wrong and dis
loyal to put our great loss out of memory at
once and altogether. Our sorrow henceforth
must be active, our mourning fruitful of
some grand design by which we can pcrpct-
uate the name and memory of Garfield
True, he has secured for himself prominent
place in the annals Of his country, and of
all ages and, whatever monument we may
erect cannot enhance his fame, can only re-
dound to our own honor. For our own
sake, to show the world how we appreciate
those men who serve their country patri-
Otically, We must erect some memorial.
But we must keep in mind that
1t is q great, rich and prosperous
nation which is going to honor one of its
illustrious men. II must be grand
national monument to which we can point
with pride. have read of various projects;
equestrian statues, marble figures, etc, have
been suggested. These would be very APP
propriate for any one small community, but
they are quito unworthy of whole nation.
In erecting memorial we should not fail
to study the character of the deceased and
make our tribute appropriate. Garfield
rose from the humblest ranks of life to the
highest station successfully which the citi-
zens Of n republic can fill, and his wonder
full career can be explained only by the great
ambition which possessed him-an innate
desire for mental culture, and the attain
ment of this cherished end was the first
stepping-stone to success. Therefore it
seems to me to be appropriate in the highest
degree that university bearing his name
be erected in Washington. To fulfill
truly the end for which we design
1t, it must be established on the
broadcast basis, open to all sexes, fostering
every department of science and philosophy,
lavishly casting forth knowledge in every
language; national institution for which
q magnificent home must be built, where
any student can find what he seeks. A
great need of ours would thus be met with
also During my late trip through Europe
/ often blushed for my country. Every
where the universities arc pointed out to
the stranger proudly as sites to be visited
just as their systems are to be studied and
initiated. In Vienna, the capital of a bank
rupt state, filled with buildings which can
scarcely be matched, there is none finer
than the university And we, a rich nation
shall continue to send our students to the
Old Country? One scarcely feels justified
nowadays to practice profession before
such has been done.
Americans should feel elated to contribute
to n monument of this kind, for it is per-
fectly in keeping with the spirit of our
institutions. Education is the most sacred
cause intrusted to our care upon its ac-
feasibility the welfare Of our Republic de-
ponds, as it is the bulwark of true civiliza-
ton. Could there be u more admirable way
of preserving for generations the memory
of q man who rose by the power Of educa-
ton and knowledge? He struggled fol
these ends bitterly. 1t is to-day the duty
of press and pulpit and people to make the
path less rugged for those who wish to emu
late the example of James A. Garfield.
Respectfully, BENJAMIN Sold,
Rabbi of the Ohcb- Shalom Congregation o.
HanOver.strcet Synagogue.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 81, 1881.