The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-09

be too earnestly or too frequently i'm
pressed upon the intelligent public mind.
The fundamental idea of our system of
free government is that it must rest upon
the morality, intelligence and culture of the
people. IL embraces in its scope not only
the common schools but also the higher
instruction provided for in the University :
the one Is intended to supplement the other;
they give mutual strength aud both are
needed to insure that better intelligence so
essential to good citizenship in a free
country.
Even prior TO the adoption of the first
State Constitution of Missouri this was
the thought which guided the enlightened
men Of that day. Under the Enabling
Act OF March 9th, lS2O, which authorized
the inhabitants of the territory to organize
themselves into state, provision was made
for common schools by the dedication of
every sixteenth section of the public land
for this object, and at the same time set
ting apart two townships OF the public
land for the founding of "A University for
the promotion of arts, sciences and liter
ature." Thus 1he common school and
University were inseparably blended. The
lower and higher education we're thus pro-
vided for in the same Enabling act" and
''came to birth with the birth of the State
itself" One University, many common
schools, which meant concentration for the
higher education, diffusion for the lower"
Thus II Is AT these two parts of the same
system were established at the same time
for the education of the PEOPLE. This was
the provision made BY the wise and intelli-
gent men VINO laid the foundations OF our
State government more than half a CEN
fury ago; his WIS the system which they
pledged themselves to encourage and NAM
tain, and which they deemed necessary to
afford that cul ure TO all who might in
habit the State in the fn.ure, and which
would enable them to be honorably asso-
ciated with citizens residing in other
States which might compose the Amer
lean Union. And who in this age of
progress would change this system? Who
would net fortify. strengthen and main
tain il, and thus enable the youth of Mis-
souri,, male and female, to enjoy advant-
other state or country?
1t is creditable 10 the people that in the
first constitution adopted by them when
Missouri was admitted rs a state into the
Union, the system of education above de-
seribed was incorporated, and amid all the
political changes and fluctuations of par
ties which have since occurred, and in
every Constitution under which the people
have lived down to this time, the same sys-
tenn has been recognized and a solemn
pledge Civ n TO maintain il 1t was en-
bodied in the con- ti,ution of 1866, and with
only change OF phraseology it il found in
the present constitution, adopted in 1875.
In article eleven, section one, We find the
following:
SECTION !. A general diffusion of
and intelligence being essential
10 the preservation of the rights and liber-
ties Of the people, the General Assembly
shall establish and m aintain free schools
sons in this state between the ages OF six
and twenty-Oue years.
And in section five of the same article
we have the following explicit language
"The General Assembly shall. whenever
the public school fund shall permit, and
the actual necessity of the same may re-
luire, aid and maintain the State Univer-
sity, now established, with its present De-
partmentS."
How Is this public school system to be
sustained? In article eleven, section six,
subject, Education, will be found q clear
and distinc; definition Of Whist shall con-
;titu,e the public School Fund" anil
which fund shall be securely invested"
and "sacredly preserved" as "a Public
School Fund.-" the annual income of which
iund, together with go much of the ord ina
" revenue of the State as NAV be necessary,
shall be faithfully appropriated for estab-
fishing and maintaining the free schools
and the University in this article provided
or, and for ND other uses or purposes
Upder the latter clause OF this section
Tot less than 25 per cent. OF the State rev.
.nues has been for msnv years past set
apart for the purposes named in said sec
ion. 1t has never been definitely settled
What portion of the above fund, or of the
income thereon. shall be set apart for the free
public schools" and what part for estab-
ishing and maintaining the Estate Uni
'ersity." This question has therefore
.aused some embarrassment,s and as certain
" OF annual income both for the free pub
ic schools and for the University is
natter of vital concern, call you atten-
ion to il in order that the same may be
.quiiably settled by proper legislation;
md II it lie deemed the wisest policy to set
part for the free public schools the whole
mount Of the 25 per cent of the State
'evenue, then it would seem but fair and
INST, rs we'll as in strict accordance with
he letter and spirit of the Constitution,
hat an amount commensurate with the
wants Of the University, as recommended
" its Board Of CuratOrs, should be appro-
,risted out of the remaining revenues or
,ther funds belonging to the State and not
appropriated.
A PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND.
In this connection it is proper to call
vOur attention to the State providing .
permanent endowment fund for the Uni
'ersity. III this were adequately done,
md the fund pro6tably and safely invest
d, the annual interest thereon could stand
u lieu of the appropriations now asked
op ot oarh mootinu IF tho Gouerai A.