The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent


The commencement exercises at
Howard University have been ex-
ceedingly interesting this year. The
students in the various departments
as shown by the catalogue reached
near 400, drawn from % states and
territories. Over 20 have gone out
from this alma mater as graduates,
to engage in the battle of life as teach
ers, physicians, lawyers, ministers
and missionaries in this country and
in Africa, The doors of this noble
institution are thrown widely open
to all, without regard to sex or color,
OF its 80 graduates more than half
were white and several were ladies'.
In the law department the highest
honors were accorded to lady. Over
1000 graduates have gone out from
this seat of learning since it was
planted on the high grounds west of
the capitol just after the close of the
war. The building is like city set
on hill, whose light cannot be hid.
There is a whole chapter of poetic
justice in its location overlooking the
capitol, where the Missouri compro-
mise and the fugitive slave law was
passed, where the bitter war of words
over slavery and its extension was
begun and carried on for years, to be
transferred to the bloody field of
carnage, to be settled with shot
and shell, the groans of amounted
thousands being an awful diapasion
in this sad wall of woes-while God
was marching on. IT'S fitting now,
after reading this ''fiery g spell writ,
in FURNISHED rows OF STEEL" that this
high place and this noble institution,
bearing the name Of Howard, the
Soldier, should send out from its
walls cultured men and women to
carry the light of education and
Christian civilization to those who
were so strangely delivered from bon
dage. No tuition is charged in either
the normal, preparatory or collegiate
departments at Howard, and stu
dents are boarded in the hall at IS
per month. With economy student
can get through a year comfortably
on 500.
For the last four years Congress has
made appropriations to the institu-
ton to be used only in the education
al departments are supported entire
ly by small fees paid by the students.
Those in the theological department
are subjected to no charge, the pro-
lessons being supported by the Amer
lean Missionary Society supplement-
ed by generous donations of Chris
tan friends throughout the country.
The institution received recently
$4,000 from the Stone estate, $4,000
from the executors of the SchOles es-
tate, and the late VIM. E. Dodge,
who was in his life generous con-
tributor to the needs of students,
made legacy of $4,000. All these
sums and other sums are invested,
the interest only in any case being
used. There is to be opened this fall
in connection with the other branch
eS of education an industrial and
chronological department for learn
ing young men useful trades. A
dental faculty was appointed last
year, and the dental college will
hereafter do grand work in giving
colored young men thorough knowl-
edge Of dentistry. The Freedman's
Hospital, whose ample building and
wards are rented by the Government
from Howard University. furnishes
with its $50 patients excellent opp0r-
tunitieS for clinical instruction The
progress made by the children in the
eolored schools of the city Is most re-
markable, and they do not suffer in
the least when put in comparison
with those in the white schools ofthe
same grade. The advanced scholars
many of them find their way into
Howard University. and thus they
are enabled at their homes to secure
an education in any department, or
profession, equal to that furnished
by the older colleges in the land.
These rare advantages and the rapid
advance in culture and education
marka wonderful epoch in the history
of this race here and in the southern
country.
Twenty years Of freedom has push
ed far forward the great hand on the
dial plate of progress. In this capt.
tai few years ago slaves were bought
and sold in our streets. Free colored
men required a permit under the
great seal of the corporation to live
in the city, or to.meet in any public
assemblage. Any such person found
in the street after 10 o'clock in the
evening without a pass from the
Mayor was arrested. AnV pocr slave