Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-03
DAILY POST IhTELLlGEhCtR
rHE UNIVERSITY.

pristloD fof TIE s1yfSt VI VIE ''''
torial University darirg the next too
years. has called forth the usual amount
of adverse eommest. and "a has oeicrs
been the case, this cou ment - not con
fined to the presen, bill alone bat -
applied indiscrimlnstsiy 20 the UuigeE-
sity and everything connected Siih IT.
We are not surprised at this. In fsse-
the people Of Seattle have become
accustomed 10 having the most savage
attacks made upon the University SIM
ply because /, IL located 10 King eossiy.
These attacks are usually made by
about one bali Of the newspapers 10
the Territory. 10 the past they have
had bot litsls effect, and it is probable
that this year. also, the people OF tbs
Territory can rely upon their L@eisis-
tors 10 act vithost regard to sense
less elamor, and TO make suitable pro
vision for the support Of one OF the
most promising institutions Of our in
faHt commonwealth
III kHe htbhok upOb th9 NHs'S'7'NJ ."
not surprising, however, the Arguments
used agaius, 1t are more than surprIs-
ing. Their weakness IL simply aston
ishing. 1t cannot be believed that they
will have the slightest weight IN deter
mining the action Of the Legislature 10
the matter. Vario1sly a. thess atRu-
ments are stated, they eau ali be re
duoed 10 four simple statements OF
fact. These are first, that the Univer-
sity is weak as compared With ths older
educational institutions Of the country
second, that there are stronger and
better institutions in California and
other States, to which parents can send
their children 10 acquire a collegiate
training third. that a very large pro
portion OF the students of the UBiVer
si.y reside IN Seattle, and fourth, Ii at
many Of the branches taught are OF
lower grade than those usually TO be
found 10 college curriculum. To one
OF these four objections, then, every
argumsnt yet made against the Univer-
atty can be reduced.
In regard IN tins hrst. that the Uui-
versity Ia a weak and struggling iusti-
tuition, IL may be answered that that il
precisely the reason that 1t aseds help
at the hands OF the Territory. IL II
we're strong and self sustaining, there
A. O.. nj 10.
appropriate money for its support. No
educational institution in the Uuiied
States has become great without aid
either from individuals or from
the State. Not one has sprung At
once into greatness. The promise
held out by newspapers which OPP
psse the University shat when it il
prosperous and wealthy no objection
will be made 70 appropriations for It's
support Is ahsnrd in the extreme. What
Ia wanted IL aid, now that IL is sting
Cling to establish itself ~ one Of the
permanent institutions Of the Pacific
Coast, now that il IL IN its in
NV AEht ~ - Ohk lfah WI
tered upon its career Of usefulness.
When 1t Is prosperous and wealthy, It
will ask no aid. The strong man walks
unsupported. but even the strongest
man knew time when his lettering
steps had In them nothing Of the
strength that was to be. TAis argu-
xaA..nanfts, H..
University. might be urged with equal
force against any or all of our Terri
toriai Institutions. They are all in
their infancy, and all need aio Our
psnitentiary Ia not Such one As that of
New York or that Of Ohio. Our insane
asylum oaunoi in any way he compared
fact, this is an infant commonwealth,
and there can be no justioe in singing
ont one Of its institutions Tor attack
because IL does not compare favorably
with the similar institutions of old aud
long settled States. Every collage aud
university in the United States has
passed through its infancy. The Uni
versity Of Washington Is not ~ be de
spiscd because IL IL yet IN the period
through which Others have passed.
The seooud argument Is similar in its
pature to the first. IL Is true that there
are better institutions in California and
other States to which some parents may
l..tr .ts L.. h.
there are better prisons in California
than there are In Washington Territory.
There are better insane asy lums. Doubt
less the Territory ooald arrange with
the state of California to provide for
our prisoners and eur insane. II could,
but nobody wishes IL 10 do 10. We de
sire 10 have within our borders all the
Institutions that viii be necessary in the
future State Of Washington, and We do
not desire to be dependent upon other
States In any particular. Then again.
u 10 not entirely true that parents can
provide for the education of their
children in other States. Wealthy
pareats can do IL easily enough. bat the
poor man and The man Ia moderate cir
oumssances must have his children edo
Gated in the Territory If they are 90 he
edues.ed AZ all. We do net believe in
giving the ohiidren Of rich parents any
additional advantages over tseir less
fortunate csmpAnions. Il should be the
oeise, Of government 10 20 alize 80 far
- possible the advantages enjoyed bv
she people. not 10 take action which
viii increase the inherent advantage
which wealth possesses over poverty.
The third Argument il thar 4 l.rgs
proportion of tie students reside In Sc
attic. This Is true enough. II II were
not for ,he support extended by TIE
people of Seattle, the University e,ald
not live The appropriations which
have been made for i, in past years have
no, by any esesns been sutielen, 10 sas.
tain H. II Hvsre not for the additional