The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-20
MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY.
SELF GOVERNMENT THE ONE
THING NEEDED
To Make II as Marked q Success as
the WOmen's or the Agricul.
cultural College.
lcoRnEspovpExcE OF THE APPEAL. |

WATER VALLEY, MISS, July 49,
There being nothing OF more impos-
tsnce 10 our STATE tnan our eduCa-
uoual interests, chltf # which are our
colleges and cur university, we are
CAD to zee the APPRAL open it's
columns for free discussion of our
present trouble at OIfnd. The inter
est OF every Mississippian should be to
build up, not TO tear down. By con.
cert OF action and frse discussion as TO
defects and better methods, we are
doing much TO improve and bui d mp
ouI common chool system, our village
graded and high schools. We are at
tracing the confidence and admiration
OF our people and people abroad at our
utcess with the Agricultural aud
Mechanical College at starkville, and
have certainly started on the high road
to q great success with our Indus
trial College for Girls at Columbus.
Then why should we lag behind at
Oxford? There is no question but the
trustees are able men who are sll anx-
ious to have our university rank with
the highest in the country. There is
no doubt but the faculty was composed
OF men OF ability; not only those who
have been retained, but those profess
sors who up TO this time have been
let out. Then what is the mstter? /
have lived twenty years since the war
in bearing, as it were, Of the university
bells, and came direct from the Uni
versiiy OF Virginia. the last grand
work of Thomas Jefferson, whose
ideas OF self government and freedom
OF religious thought permeate that
institution and have much 10
do with its success to this day. Is it
not possible, with all their ability and
great learning, the management may
have omitted in the government and
discipline at Oxford some OF the
American principles OF sef govsrn-
ment? Numerically we have not suf-
fered more than similar institutions in
the South since the war, which may
properly be ascribed TO the poverty OF
our people, and the fact that a less
proportion OF our young men have
the means or time to seek university
education.
The catalogue Of the University Of
Virginia showed last year 1903 names,
against COG In 1858. But except in
numbers that institution is going on
with the sane grand success as In days
OF old, when it turned out such men
as DIR. John L. johnson. DR.. Jones, at
the head Of our Girls Industrial Col
lege; DR.. Bozeman, DR.. j. W. Jones,
of Richmond, Va, and hosts Of others.
Our trouble seems to bs in the man.
segment and discipline OF the stu
dents. Have not the young men of
Mississippi the came manhood, the
same high sense OF honor 10 be drawn
upon; the same instincts OF the prin-
ciples OF self government. common TO
American men.
Possibly the spiritual welfare Of the
young men is receiving too much at.
tention and their secular interests too
little for a great State institution. The
words Baptist, Methodist, Presbyte-
rian, Catholic should never be thought
of or used in discussions concerning O
Stats university. Man in his very ma
ture is a religious being, and one with
out a rational religious code to guide
him in life is either monstrosity or
savage. But the State, In no sense,
sets up theological seminary. And
there are grave doubts but what forcible
attendance at common prayers does
the student body more harm than
good. Wonderful results in discip.
line have been attained In the public
High School in this town in the past
four years under the management of
our State Superintendent of Educa-
ton, Prof. ]. r. Preston. With over
400 pupils he and his ten assistants
have kept them so busy there has
been neither time nor inclination for
mischief.
Could not the same spirit of indus
try and self government by method
and appeal to their high honor and
manhood work still better in uni
versity where the pupils and
students are nearly all grown
young men. Military surveillance
without military power to enforce
obedience is worthless, nor is 1t desir-
able in college discipline, where we
expect to educate the civil rulers, and
Legislators OF a people, even in mill
tsry academy, lectures on principles,
and appeals to honor and manhood of
America. Young men add much to
the success in discipline.
From my personal observation and
comparison OF methods at Oxford aud
other places l am constrained TO be-
lieve that, with the same faculty and
with new methods, less discipline If
you chose to call it so, our university
may go on to grand success.