The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31
A MODEST REQUEST.
Shall the State Library Be Removed to the
State or Any Other University?


State or Amy Other University?
Educational Weekly.
In their annual report to the Governor, the
Board of Trustees of Indiana University. among
other absurdities, modestly request the Leslsla
ture to cart the State library down to Bloom
ngton. Careful and candid consideration of
this question is urged" Here is wisdom for
you. Why not take the State house, also down
to Bloomington The students could utilize the
new State house for dormitory purposes. Using
the argument of this wonderful committee, 'if
one citizen of our State, moved by generous i'm
pulses and noble aims" can build with his own
money half a dozen large college buildings in
one year, how can the great State of Indiana
otherwise compete with this large souled indi-
vdual citizen than to utilize the new State house
for dormitory purposes for great State uni
versity2 And this same report asks for $50. 900
to complete the buildings under way, besides
$25225 to meet current expenses. If
there is better reason for sustaining
the State University than to compete with
the liberal endowment of a UNCONVENTIONAL
college-if the fact of the generous impulse and
noble aims of one citizen is to be brought for
ward as an argument for taxing the people to
build up one of the great universities of the
world where it is not needed, or where there is
no special demand for its existence other than to
crafty the pride of an ambitious board of trus-
tees, we beg to cast our vote against the propo-
sition If, by the generous impulses of individ-
ual citizens provision can be made to supply the
entire demand for university education, tuition
and quality equal to the demand why should
the State be taxed at all for this purpose3 Why
not relieve the tax payer from all unnecessary
burdenss We are not to be understood as OPP
posed to a State university, nor opposed to
making ample provisions for carrying out the
legitimate purposes of any well-ordered State
institution but call upon them, the com
mite, to show better reason for
the existence of university at
State expenses than simply to compete
with individual beneficanca Is the university
essential part of system of free schools
which the State is bound to maintain Of what
advantage to the average tax payer is the uni
versity at Bloomington. over and above the ad-
vantages derived from De PAW University, or
Butler University or Wabash College, or Frank
lin College, or Hanover College, or Earlham
College, which cost the tax payer nothingF If
there is a good reason shown for making a great
university" at Bloomington at State expense; if
an urgent demand for such school is shown to
exist; If 1t really forms any part essential to the
completion of our system Of common schools; if
the public schools of the State including the
high-Schools, as now organized, do not carry
education at the expense of the State, free and
equal in privileges to all, far enough; if the
State ought to equip "great university, which
means college of liberal arts, law school, a
polytechnic school, medical school, college
of theology, an agricultural college, a school
of pedagogy, etc, let the committee show
why, and base their arguments upon inherent
truth which the demands of education clearly
point out Let them SLOW Il necessity, an ur-
gent demand, well-aefued purpose The tax
payers of Indiana are not slow to respond for
educational purposes, but the purposes must be
real and we'll defined.
If the State of Indiana is to sustain great
university" let this be agreed upon, and let us
utilize what means we have as hand to this end
The work of consolidation may as well begin at
once. The agricultural college at Lafayette,
the normal school at Terre Haute ard the col
lege of liberal arts at Bloomington united,
would make three parts of a university Con-
solidate these, and erect law school, medical
school, college of theology, college of fine
arts, college of music, etc, and we have a
great university, at a cost to the State Of a
quarter of million dollars annually.
But is this what the State needs! If So let us
have sound reasons for it, and then make the de-
mand of the Legislature accordingly. Until
more potent arguments are presented, we are of
the few who believe the State does not need a
great university" at the present time. Let the
school at Bloomington be maintained as col
lege of liberal arts-that and nothing more
The normal school at Terre Haute, a school for
teachers; the agricultural college at Lafayette a
school of agriculture in the main, as contem-
plated by the original grant by the general gov
eminent, under which it was established.
Equip all these schools literally for doing the
special work for which each was created. Large
appropriations to establish great university are
out of place, and uncalled for until some plan of
consolidation is agreed upon.