The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-11-16
TRUE sTAfEMENT ABOUT THE
UNIVERSITY.


script to the various States for the pur-
pose of establishing In each State an
and Mechanical College.
Under this donation Louisiana receiv-
ed lands and script which she sold for
1926, 200. This was sacred trust fund,
q pure beneficence 10 which the State
had NO title or claim whatever, except |
as trustee. Yet the Constitutional
Convention OF 1879 deliberately vio-
lated the States trust and scaled this
fund to S196, 900, on which amount I'll
declared that per cent interest should
be- paid. This with the amount which
the State received from the United
States TO establish Military Academy
and Seminary Of Learning, wh4ch was
also scaled 40 per gent by the Constitu-
ton, constitutes the endowment of the
State University aud A. & M. College
at Baton Rouge. The interest on the
bonds originally gave the University
an annuity of 1927, $50. The convention
scaled the donation or trust deposit
$145 900 and the annuity $13, 224.31.
<10NAh8 " LaO dhdAAsyS 10 A<AS>A ~ ssAS
Constitution, the $4,000 which the
Legislature appropriates, making $24,-
$500, we have still %, 224.31 less than
the interest on the money given to the
State for the purpose of establishing
and maintaining this institution.
It thus appears that the University
is kept up entirely by funds derived
from the United States government,
unless we admit that the State of Lou
isiana has the right to repudEate it's
sacred trust and embezz!e the funds it
received from the United States gov
eminent.
In the light of these facts, clear and
cold and undisputable facts, how does
the proposition to abolish the Univer-
sity sound? Shall we return the trust
money TO theUnited States or steal ii? l.
Louisiana to be placed in the disgrace
full position of being the only State in
this Union that does not appreciate
and improve the donation of the gov.
eminent? Every honest man in the
State must cry shame on such a propo
sition!
We do not think the newspaper
/ who make such a proposition are dis
!. honest, but ignorant. Yet their carp
ing criticisms have dishonest twang
+ In the face Of the published fact tina
, tho University has over 100 cadets
q some OF them say that there are oni!
I 60 or 20. In the face of the fact tina
( Ievery year the University sends fortt
D graduates of the highest order, ant
gives its students the best and fulles
!, advantages, 1t is repeatedly stated tina
the institution is worthless to tn
State.
q Have those who make these unwar
q ranted charges ever done aught t
d build up the University? They CLAIM
II that 1t is poorly patronized. Hav
9 they ever said one word 10 Increase it
9 patronage It is our University. w
/ all as citizens and Louisianians ough
!. to feel an interest in its success. Stat
10 pride and the elemental promptings {
d refinement and culture ought to In
d spire such sentiments. Yet these carp
g ing critics have never said word /
d favor of the University, never sc
l. forth its advantages, never urged
IS single student to attend it.
d Let there be change in this regard
g Let the newspaper critics of the Un
u versity just for one year turn the
- attention to trying to get patronas
f. for that Institution from this aud othe
is States, and we will guarantee the
y they will never again have cause
complain. The school is all that ca
be required. The president and fat
ulty are able, earnest and patriotic
The only thing lacking is full a
a tendance, which the press and peopl
y of the State can easily remedy.