Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-21
ga Word for the University Of
Georgia"

SAVANNAH, August l9.-Edtt0r MoyqaSns
NssCs: Permit me short space in the col
umns of your paper for the purpose Of call
ing the attention of the young gentlemen Of
our city contemplating collegiate course
and of their parents, to the claims and ad-
vantages of the University of Georgia. Il
is greatly to be deplored, and to be ashamed
of, that since the close Of the war, this IN
stitution has received so little patronage
from this section. The idea seems to have
prevailed that complete education could
not be obtained anywhere In our own State,
but, that for this, as for as all things else,
we must humbly look to the North. It Is
high time for our people to at least do ius-
tice to our own college.
It is the right sort of State pride that
would prefer our university. We ought not
to proclaim by our conduct that It isnot
worthy of our patronage-that this, the
university Of our own State-the Empire
State. Of the Southn-cannot give a sufi
cient education to Georgia boys and young
men. This spirit, in its different develop
ments, has cursed Georgia long enough.
The fact is, Mr.. Editor, that the Uniyer
sity OF Georgia Is eminently worthy in itself,
that 1t is one Of the best educational insti-
tutions ia the United States. 1t is not as
rich and as large as some others, but It af-
fords such facilities as will, II embraced and
improved, give as good an education as can
be obtained In any other college. Several
wears can be spent there as profitably as
anywhere. The faculty is one Of the best;
the professors are, in every way, competent
and efficient. The venerable Chancellor,
DR.. Patrick Il. Nell, Is, l question
not, as fine aChancellor as anYin the Union.
He is In all respects eminently fitted for his
position. Not only is he a ripe scholar and
a Christian gentleman, but he is born
leader. Men and boys fnstinctively neces-
sarily trust, respect anu obey him. de is
full of personal magnetism. No king ever
ruled more completely than he does, vet no
woman ever exercised a gentler or q more
unresisted sway. 1t is a great deal to
have a boy with DR.. Nell. Unless
the boy is singularlY devoid of
manliness and character he is certain to be
greatly benefited by the influence. You
know, Mr.. Editor, the Doctor is low-coun-
try man, having been born and reared In
Liberty county. A few years ago-before
he was elected Chancellor-an unfortunate
policy and management hurt the college
good deal. Bat all that has passed away,
and 1t is now rapidly regaining its former
prosperity and prestige.
This university is emphsticallY our uni
versity. Her sons, who are scattered in
large numbers over the State, many Of them
filling high positions, have given honor and
lustre to Georgia. You cannot find one
among the hundreds now living who is not
proud to claim her as his alma mater. In the
numbers, influence and distinction of the
alumni no other institution In the State can
compare with Athens. A very large portion
of the men who have illustrated and honored
Georgia within the past fifty years were
Athens graduates. Aud they, generally, see
to 1t that proper esprit de corps makes
binding and permanent the union OF the
alumni To this has been due, to a con-
siderable extent, the success of a number
of our public men whose fathers were wise
enough to send them to old Franklin.
II young man expects to live In Georgia
he certainly as q matter OF policy, apart
from the higher considerations of duty to
our State and righteous State pride, ought
to be educated in a Georgia college, and
in that one which has sent out the largest
number of Georgia graduates, providing
always, of course, that it be a good institu-
ton in itself, as the University of Georgia
uDquestionably is In this way will he be-
come identified with his contemporaries
who are his fellow Georgians, many OF whom
will be the leading men Of their sections
He will form most valuable and pleasant
friendships, that will be preserved by after
association, and, through life, he will have
to whom he is bound by ties of strong and
enduring character. II young man is
educated out Of the State, he WILL
in after life, seldom meet one
OF his fellow alumni, and the
friendships which he has formed will
usually end their pleasure and advantage
when final parting is had at the farewell
commencement. l have vet to find an
Athens graduate who was not glad that he
had been sent to this particular college. l
have yet to find man educated out of his
State who did not regret It. The reasons
are too obvious for anything more than
mere suggestion.
have heard of four of our boys who
purpose going to the University of Georgia
this fall. l hope and believe that they Will,
by their course, do honor to Savannah and
the college, and that our city will hereafter
make amends for its strange neglect.
Contrary to my inclinstions, l seek, for
the sake of a cause that is near to me,
place in the public prints; and thanking you
for the place, am, very truly yours,
SAMUEL B. ADAMS.