Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27

indeed, unity between all, but not uniform
ity and here let me say that having made
it my business TO look closely into the meth.
DDS of all these institutions, and to visit and
personally inspect many, in order to bring
home what might be good for our own use,
! can bear testimony that never have funds
been more carefully applied and made
to do more in furthcrng this great pur-
pose.
My duties have required ne to famliarzc
myself with these institutions, and | know
that every one IS making a noble return on
all it has received.
No sooner was the bill passed than null
titudo Of colleges rushed forward to the
| legislative halls OF the state Of New York in
| u scramble for the fund. AT one time there
were twenty institutions calling themselves
| colleges and universities Of various religious
denominations clamoring at Albany for a
scrap of this endowment. As scrip was
selling, the whole fund.- had not an ndivid-
ual come forward to locate it, would have
amounted to about 100000. Dividing this
among twenty there would not have been
enough money to give single professor
ship to each.
1'his'the Legislature Of New York saw,
and despite the pressure from these institu-
tions, it wisely determined not to irittor
|
recognized the fact that for primary cduca-
| ton the rule is diffusion of resources, but
| for advanced education, concentration, and
| it wisely concentrated the fund upon an
| institution known as the Peoples College,
at Havana.
The endowment was given to the Peoples
| College on certain conditions. Among them,
| il was required that the institution should
| have a certain amount Of land, accommoda
| lions for certain number of students, q
| faculty Of certain sizn, certain equip
ment, and that it should be free from
| incumbrance. \ year went by, and these
conditions were not complied with. Still
the Legislature waited aud s'urdi'y refused
to yield to clamors for fritteriug away the
fund. Another year went by, and still
nothing was done; and, what was worse, it
was discovered that bill had been intro
duced to relieve the Peoples College of these
conditions. At this, Mr.. Ezra Cornell came
forward and offered 10 pledge an endow
ment Of 10000 to new institution, pro
vided the funds were transferred to it, a
| bill was passed Chartering such new
institution but, in order that full justice
might he done the Peoples College, it wa
allowed three months to put Aself il
| possession of such sum as the Board o.
Regents of the State should declare oquiva
lent to compliance with the conditions of Tho
original act.
The Regents, after full examination, fXeC
the sum at less than $4,000. For ssarly
three years, then, that institution might have
obtained the whole endowment, had it
friends, or had its locality, raised for it {
sum Of less than $4,000, The tint
passed-they still did nothing Mr.. Corncl
then canc forward and redeemed hi
pledge; and thus was founded, for scientitic
industrial, and general education TIT
Cornell University. Bat this was not all
Mr.. Cornell saw that he could make wise
use of the provision ma e by Mr.. Morrll
than had yet been done At great sacrliic
of time, energy, and fortune, he "located
the scrip for tbs University, SO that instea'
of sacrificing it as other States had bcel
forced to do, the State of New York foun'
her institution endowed far more largely ant
adequately than any other Of those created
under the "Morrill Bill"
Such gre the main features in the carl.
history of the struggle toward the establish
ment of what has been called the "ncy
education" in the United States, and th
State of New York. The later history
indeed interesting. Some day it will b
written, and will contain much for inslruc
ton and for reproof but this is neither tn
time nor the place for presenting it.
Blu, we are assembled to-day to insert Oh
chapter in these annals which has been 70
long deferred In yonder library hangs tn
portrait or Ezra Cornell. This day tn
Governor Of this State has laid the cOrue
stone of monument not only to Nj
Cornell, but to other bcnetactoIs ana W
no" au" " 'ue1' Iil''iicl 'aIo 'n1 - a
Iiccourarrrntut. and oven after defeat, Til
-. : 49,, ~, l., =, !, al H.
State. If inc Union would not have existed
!, Il is Il tardy recognition, but none the les
hearty | know that | echo the feelings
, M ,.,, ,,,,,,,, I ,,,,,,oss Ic., ,r,ofi.u. "a (
~ ", "" "S" 49,. ,N,t -" a,
! | Mi. MDrilli, t9uphiE WIN IL lH' WISH li''