The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-21
4 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

Senator ingalls,, of Kansas, relating to the
establishment of National University. 1t
is impossible to overestimate the Importance
of such an establishment, not only to the edu-
catioual interests Of this country, but to the
advancement Of knowledge throughout the
whole world. II has always been 4 Teproach
that one of the greatest Nations of the earth,
and one which contains the largest number
of progressive, thinking people, thirstlng for
knowledge OF every description and capable
of making better use of it than any other
| people on earth, should have done SO little
for the advancement ofpurely abstract knowl-
| edge. No one disputes that we lead all the
world in the application Of science to the
practical affairs of life, and our inventions
are continually making heavy drafts upon
the researches and discoveries Of the scientists
Of the Old World, where the study Of knowl-
edge of a speculative kind is fostered by the
Government and encouraged by the spirit of
the people. In this way We appropriate, with
out any adequate return, The labor, thought
and research of the older Nations OF the
earth. The United States has now arrived
at state of enlightenment when it should
eDdeavor in some way to recipTocate the
many advantages if has received in this par
| ticular.
There are absolutely no facilities offered in
this country for higher education as under
stood in Europe, and these who desire such a
training, and wish to avail themselves Of the
opportunities offered by splendid libraries,
and the teachings of men of great learning
and of the highest repute in science, must
60 to Europe to gain it.
The establishment of an institution Of
learning worthy of our rank among the
civilized nations of the earth and which
would put US abreast of them in extending
the domain of human knowledge has been
contemplated from the very formation Of the
Government, and the fathers of the country
spent much time in celebrating plans having
this end in view.
In the proceedings of the Federal Conven-
ton which framed the Constitution Of the
United States, propositions were made by
Messrs. Madison, Pinckney, and others to
include the power TO establish university,
and afterwards both Presidents Washington
and Madison in their messages to Congress-
urged most strenuously the consideration
of the subject. Washington in paTtic-
cular was convinced OF the importance of
such a movement, and his last will clearly
shows his feelings on the subject In this
document he gave and begueathed in per-
petuity" $1,000 in the shares of the Potomac
Company, towards the endowment Of
University to be established within the
District Columbia, under the auspices Of the
General Government, if that Government
should incline to extend fostering hand
towards it."
While, as far as relates to practical educa-
ton, our State universities, schools of agri-
culture and mechanical arts, the Smithsonian
Institution and the Department Of Colonial
ton point incontrovertibly to the fact that
we are fully awake to the advantages Of
learning; still we need, as stated before, an
institution of still higher grade to place US
on an equal footing with other nations and
10 enable us to repay portion of the debt
we owe them for the vast amount Of theo-
retical knowledge they have furnished us.
Senator Ingalls's bill gives practical
application to this idea. 1t provides for the
establishment of an institution in the Dis.
trict of Columbia to be called THE National
University of America" where instruction
shall be afforded in the higher branches of
all departments of knowledge, and facilities
furnished for research and investigation"
The government Of this proposed univer-
sity is TO be vested in Board Of Regents,
Council Of Education and Council of Fac
ulties. The first of these bodies is to be
composed of one member from each State, to
be appointed by the Governor; and the
President is to appoint five at large. The
following will also be members ex-oficio:
The Chief Justice of the United States, Commits
sioncr Of Education Commissioner of Agriculture
Commissioner of Patents, Superintendent of the
Coast Survey, Superintendent of the Naval Observ-
atory, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
President of the National Academy of Sciences
President OF the National Educational Association
President Of the American Association for the Adj
vanccment of Science, President of the American
Pathological Association, President Of the Ameri-
can Social Science Association.
The Council of Administration is to con-
sist of six Regents and six members OF the
Council of Faculties to be chosen by the
Board Of Regents and the Council of Fac
ulties respectively. The Commissioner of
Education, Superintendent of the Coast Sur
vey, Superintendent of the Naval Observ-
atory and Secretary of the Smithsonian In
stitution are also to be &c oGicio members Of
the Council, On which will devolve the gen.
al IF -;