The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-06-18

sAOu Will Uc uiatIci vi iuPOi e0"S OVH-
si6eration in the Convention. Matters
polite ard of political economy will
bring out antagonizing views Of MEM
bers, and the earnest convictions of
minorities may be overruled; but, We
believe, 10 the matter of furthering educa-
tional interests the delegates will stand
unanimously on common ground, and if
differing in opinion as to manner of doing
so, will be animated by the one desire to
give all possible aid to the cause Of edu-
cation The educational institutions of
nation, State, are the monuments of
progress and public spirit, and in ancient
as in modern times the chiefest objects Of
the patriotic pride of people, for in
mental culture they recognize the power
which elevates them above and enables
them to control the races who trust in
brute force alone The academic schools
were the centres of learning that radiated
art and science, the agencies which en-
abled the empire Of those ancient nations
that dominated the less civilized
through the middle ages the retro
erosion of European peoples was stayed
and civilization kept alive by the
sustained endowments of monasteries and
abbeys; and in later days the founda-
tions of colleges and universities have
maintained standard of higher culture
which has been the educational leaven of
the masses in every European nation.
With the settlement of North America
came in due course the founding of col
leges, and for their advantages the newer
colonies, and subsequently the newer
States, were tributary to the older-even
as Florida, new State, has been to any
other that might afford to her children the
facilities of thorough education. Most
of the States now have amply endowed
universities, and the time has come for
Florida to supply her sons an institution
to which they may be proud to refer as
their alma mater in that after life to which
it may send them forth equipped with the
knowledge which is power.
The Convention is expected to consider
not alone the matter of common school
education, but Of the establishment or
encouragement of institutions of higher
education and having this in mind Hon
w. r. Bush, of Columbia, day before yes
terday submitted the following preamble
and resolution, designing, we are in
formed, to so increase the revenues of the
institution that its curriculum may be en-
largeI to the full scope of university
study:
Whereas, The Congress OF the United States set
aside, by an act, 100 900 acres of public lands, the
proceeds Of which were To he made permanent
fund to found an agricultural and military col
leye in the State OF Florida, the interest on said
fund was to be expended in keeping up and pay
ing faculty for said college; the State of FlOl-
da having accepted the same and placed it in the
hands OF board of trustees and places iseli
under obligation to aid and assist said college in
every needful way that this Convention, in
framing new Constitution, should provide am
pie funds for the above named college therefore,
ii is
Re~lced, That special tax Of not less than
property in the State in addition to the other
means provided, shall be levied and app ,rtloned
annually for the support and maintenance OF the
| State Agricultural College.
Without discussion as to whether the
aid asked tor the State Agricultural Col
lege is or is not excessive, we would remark
that other collegiate institutions are also
in the position Of candidates for assist
ance, and that it is a subject for grave de-
quick elevation to the conditions of an
actual university. Perhaps more than
one cannot now be aided to such extent
but we are not disposed at this time to
question the wisdom Of giving such aid
to one institution. We have been re-
quested to urge the claims of the " Flor
ida University" and though it may be
thought that Constitutional Convention
is not body upon which any "outside
pressure" should be essayed, we neverthe-
less file application in such behalf and
submit the following from an advocate Of
the institution
Communicated
OF all the important matters OF the ConstilI-
| ton that require the attention OF The Conven-
! ton, not any are more so than that of educ4lion
and of higher education-the UNIVERSITY. No
| Slate can be great and prosperous without
| higher education. The greatest and most pros
| porous OF our States have the greatest Universe
lies, and the smallest States that have great Uni
versies are great in every element of progress
But The case needs no argument. Florida does
not wan, its people to have only the tomer haf OF
education, and our State, hope has pride
enough 10 do her own educating. Help may not
he unappreciated Ii Congress will do justice to
Florida and give an endowment to our Univer-
siv we will rejoice IT. AS is already done, and
as is expected will be still more greatly done
private individuals shall make our University
the object Of their generosity we shall continue
to rejoice But all this ought not to occasion
the neglect of our present Convention making
an mprov ement on the old Constitution IN the
| provision for the University.
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