Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-01-06
hCoMMUNIcATE
ST.. CLEmErr's BAY, Dec, 81, 1880.

ST. CLEMEET's BAY, Dec, 81, 1880.
Messrs. Editors "A communication
signed, "R. b. r." which appeared in
your last Issue, claims my attention. !
will not permit our Senator, Mr. Combs,
or my colleague, Mr.. Graves, 10 suffer any
blame (if blame there can be) Tor that
which / am solely responsible as one OF
the representatives Of the people Of St.
Mary's.
The bill for the benefit OF ST. Johns
college originated and was defeated in
the house, which entirely exempts Mr..
Combs, and it is dus 10 Mr.. Graves to
state that, if he voted against the bill
at all, it was with reluctance and simply
from the fact that he did not wish to
vote for bill strOnuously opposed by
his colleague.
admit the idea that representa-
tive comes from the hands OF his con-
stituents as a child from the hands
of his Creator-a free agent--and is
alike responsible for his deeds. acted
as such an agent and purpose TO answer
for nv conduct Within the last six
years land take this period as fair
criterion by which TO judge of 1ohdt has
been and what wiH be, of the vast sum
Of 500, 900 which has been squandered
10 the various colleges and academies
throughout the State, St. Johns has re-
ceived the sum of $150000. This
fact can be verified by reference 10 the
annual reports OF State Treasurer. By
reference, 10 the A ct. of 1854, CHI. 81,
(ihe charter OF St. Johns college,, 10
the resolution OF the General Assembly
of 1882, No. 4, which lead to the ADJUST
inent OF all the real or supposed claims
of the college against the State, and 10
the many subsequent acts, 1t will be
seen that, since the organization OF this
Institution, il has cost the State from
$3.50 900 to $500 900, and still is not
seli-supporting Truly, this isa "timc-
honored" institution. The history OF all
nations shows that, in those countries
where popular education has been ios-
tered, the advance Of civilization has
been most rapid; where neglected, there
has been, in this particular, a cores
ponding sfand-siiH. No country will
compare with Germany for the number
of her learned men; none with the u.
s. for its rapid advancement in cIvili-
cation.
Is it better then TO educate the mas
ses or individuals Do We rot DO the
State an irreparable injury by raising
the intellectual standard Of lew far
above the ordinary, thus creating an
impossible barrier between classes
which, IN the language Of Buckle, docs
efectually retard civilization and adj
yancement.
Dean Swift has wisely said, that the
humble man who makes one acre Of
poor land produce twice as much as il
did before, does more for humanity than
all the lawyers, statesmen and divines
between heaven and earth?
Let us then raise the intellectual
standard of this class to the highest pos
sble point in order that they may per-
form their various duties efficiently and
effectively, and leave higher culture TO
patient exertlon, TO private capital-and
10 that greatest Of all spurs-honora-
bic ambition.
The State appropriates $1,000, 900
for the support Of the public school 'ys-
TEN, and if we could add to this the an
nua amount. $4,000 appropriated TO
colleges and academies, who could
doubt that the money would be more
advontageously expended--that IN so
doing we would better subserVe the
interest OF the State'
1t is true that the State enjoys the
benefit of few free scholarships, but
most of these are conferred upon the
children OF the opulent and shrewd-
those children who would obtain collie
giate educations in the absence of any
assistance by the State.
Those who enjoy these free-scholar-
ships are required, under the law, TO
teach for two years IN the State after
they leave college, but not many do,
and even those who do, teach only for
the purpose of obtaining means to en-
ter higher and more yemunerdtice pro-
LESSONS.
But apart from this, is it far andjust
] will put this point in language as lit
tie calculated to wound as possible. Mr.
AS son is educated at the expense Of
Messrs. KS, US, Z.s son, and can
see some reason why Mr. A., or his son,
should advocate this Appropriation, but
none why Messrs. X. Y. 4. or their
sons should "R. B. IT," takes great
pleasure in referring to the "Slars"
which have emanatcd from this Insti-
tuition. We're these "Stars forced TO
lend their lustre by the appropriation to
this college, or is this fact due to other
causes?
would ask my friend to count the
"Stars" which have appeared in other
parts ofthe private institutional and edu-
cational armament and See what is, and
calculate what would have been. the
case if the vast amount expended on
these colleges had been applied to raise
'rera' n1"ootional standa-a