National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-10


az city that Is set on an hill cannot DO
hid" was the text found in Matthew v,
~, from which Rev. A. d. Mayo's sermo II
Oh Washington. National University"
was delivered at All Souls Church on
sunday last.
40 man. ia we'll known until many
generations have seen him, each from
its own point of observation, and
determined from tho all round esti-
mate Of gathering ages, whether he be
indeed o bas-relief ON the surface Of so.
ciety, or q colossal statue, representing
tho best human achievement of man
kind. Tho farther We arc removed from
&c, Washington, the more evident it
becomes that no was one Of tine worlds
chief men, so far the noblest representa-
tive of republican manhood on this now
continent; beyond ali men, held in rcvor-
ence by tho common people round tho
world.
A new claim to our admiration Of the
father Of our country Is found in ro-
view of his life and opinions on tho
theme which is now so rapidly coming TO
the front in our national lifo-the educa-
zion Of tho people. For IL is moro APP
parent every day that theology, politics,
polite society-oven literature and science
no longer will dominate the thought
full American people as in times past, but
each and all will be regarded as bearing
upon this sovereign interest-the train
ing of American children and youth for
citizenship in the new republic. This is
no local, narrow. or sectional ideal, since
true and complete citizenship, in the
American sense, implies the noblest model
of manly and womanly discipline, with
constant reference to the worlds only
type of the perfect man. And Washing
ton does not fail us when brought to this
test; for no American, in his own man
hood, has become q finer example of
true education, and through his life he
touched on every essen tial point in the
fit training of American childhood and
youth.
George Washington was the model
American schoolboy. He made the most
OF the meager instruction given him in
childhood, and graduated ut 10, after
writing q series of schoolbooks for his
own use, in which are anticipated some
of the best improvements In that depart
ment of literature to-day. He became
splen example of the American self
everything within his reach and by nat
ural methods, grows into complete man
hood through the discipline of Gods
universty-human life. Yet, unlike so
many of this style of men, he always
held in the highest esteem the most gon-
erous training Of the schools. He edu-
Gated two nephews. at an expense of
$1,000, and was constantly assisting young
poeople in similar way. He accepted
the chancellorship of tho old college
of William and Mary, with suggestions
worthy profound scholar. In his will
he provided that his emancipatod slaves
should receive instruction in letters and
industries. He gave a handsome bequest
OF several thousand dollars to the Alexan-
dria Academy; which is now included in
the public school system of that city. He
was the foremost scientific farmer in Vir-
ginia. as his correspondence with the cele-
brated English agricuturist, Arthur
Young declares. With Madison, Monroe,
Cahell and others of the eminent group of
great Virgiuians, lie was the firm friend of
Jcilersonss broad scheme of education,
which, had IL been adopted, would have
changed the history of the republic. And
lie gave the hundred shares in the james
liver Company. presented him by his ma.
tive state. to Liberty Hall Academy, in
ltnrkbridgc county, now known as the
College of Washington and Lee.
But his favorite educational idea was q
national university. to be located in the
national capital. under tho auspices and
supervision Of the general government;
where, in his own language, American
boys could be saved from the perils of q
foreign education, in which at that time
they could not fail to contract principles
unfriendly to republican government and
hn IN pf L. mr.
university should be complete in its
scholastic opportunities; aim to spread
systematic ideas through all parts of this
rising empire, and do away with local
and state preiudices;" a place where
youths OF fortune and talent" might learn
habits of good government, and by as
sociating with each other and forming
friendships in juvenile years. be enabled
to free themselves in a proper degree from
those local prejudices and habitual jeal-
ousies which when carried to excess are
never failing sources ofdisquiet to the pub.
lie mind, and pregnant with mischievous
consequences to the country" In 1894 he
preached this scheme in a private letter
TO Edmund Randolph. In 1895 he ad-
dressed letter to the commissioners of
the federal district, outlining his plan,
and offering fifty shares in the Potomac
company, valued at $25, 900 as his contri-
button. In the same year he communi-
Gated his views to Gov. Brooke, Of Vir-
ginia, with his donation for what he sug-
gested should be state seminary, tribu-
tary to the National University. He did
not fully approve Jetierson's notion of
transplsnting the faculty of the College
of Geneva, Switzerland. bodily to this in
stitution, but would select teachers from
broader field. In 1896, in his message
TO congress, he urges the point, besides
recommending q military academy. In
the same year he indicates site for the
university TO the commissioners of the
district. In his will ho mado tho bequest
accompanied with wise suggestions for his
favorite plan.
According to the best ideals and the
imperative necessities Of q century ago
this plan Of Washington was one of the
greatest thoughts OF the New American
life. The United States then consisted
of thirteen little, obstinate, British colo
mics. strung along tho Atlantic seaboard,
with the population of the present state
of Now York, aud only the old facilities
for travel, before the days when the
whole world has been gathered as into
one household. The vast majority of
these people must live and die in the lit
Ito provincial circle of local prejudice /;
strangers oven in their own state; outside
the currents of civilization in the old
world. But If the choice young men of
tho country could be gathered iu . ma
tional university at tho nations capital
they might be trained into phalanx for
republican government, which, like the
immortal band Of the Macedonian king,
could march everywhere and assure tho
success Of tho new experiment of union
founded on tho equal rights Of man.
But this noble design of Washington
has never been realized, partly from tho
sharp rivalries of states, localities, aud
religious bodies, jealous of a great central
institution that would overshadow them
all these riyAlrics only multiplied by
tho vast and unexpected growth of tho
country. But there arc other and larger
reasons for the failure. Within the past
century the idea of university life and of