The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-06-19
UNIVERSITY oe kANsAs

At the recent commencement exer-
cises Of the University of Kansas, which /
was also the tvyenty-hfth anniversary
of the institution, President Angel, of
the University OF Michigan, delivered /
the following address:
This day makes a landmark In the history
OF this university Her sons and her dGUgh-
tiers have gathered from FAR and near 90 cell
citrate the twenty dfth anniversary OF her
birth A quarter OF century has elapsed
since she hrst opened her hOspitable doOrs
and Invited the youth from alb parts of this
broad state to enter and receive a college
education almost without money and with
out price The marvel Is that so early In the
hard and troubled life OF this state the insti-
tuition was prepared to make this generous
Ofer Kansas had been born into statehood
nve years before, only after thrOes OF vtO-
leEce which shook the whole nation to it's
eEtremities. In spite OF the dreadful con
tests v hicn rSvoged this region from 1882
vigorous efforts were made from early days
to provide for common schools and schools
Of collegiate rank
Compared with the present the days of the
founding of this institution were the days OF
small things In 1885 the taxable property
of the state was $4,000 OGO. Now te is more
than S34s, 600 ,OOU. Like every similar institu-
ton this university met with Its share OF de-
lays and difficulties and disappointmsnts
But under the leadership OF courageous and
energetic men IL has pushed It's way 10 the
point where it has become the pride OF the
state and where its future IS secured To-
day II will have graduated In its twenty five
years OF existence about 800 from its col
legIate departments and about 600 from all
departmeIts. More than 500 others who
could not remain to graduate have pursued
liberal studies here for some years. The
university has now an income OF sS4O 900
| year. It has more than thirty teachers, and
| among them are men or national reputation,
| whom the older and larger universities
/ would be glad to number among their ranks.
II mas a large outuL OF the appliances TOT
! teaching the sciences according to modern
I methods In a word it is furnishing excel
/ lent instruction 1t is no exRg geratiOn to say
] that in its twenty -1ive years of existence the
/ university has made more progress than
! Harvard college made in two centuries after
Rather
/ that the development of this useful institu-
! ton has not been more rapid, give thanks
! that il has gone forward at swift pace.
! There is so much that is similar in the his
! tory and situation OF all the state universe
ties that each Is profoundly concerned in the
| prosperity of all the rest. The failure OF amy
| one weakens, the success of any one
| strengthens ali the Others. There is no more
/ conspicuous feature IN the history OF Amer
! lean education of late years than the rapid
| and brilliant Developments of state uniVer-
/ Stiles From Ohio to the Pacific, from North
| Dakota to Texas, nearly every state has
! established or is preparing to establish a uni
/ versitv on the found alton ofthe United States
| land grants to each state. During the last
! quarter of a century some OF them have
! grown with extraOrdi nary rapidly, and q
/ few of them need fear no comparison with
| the strongest and Oldest and most richly en-
/ doWed universities in the east They are
| firmly established N public favor, the ad-
| vantages of maintaining them have become
| so obvious to the taxpayer that while they
| may not always secure so large an apprO-
| priat.On as they may desire the question OF
/ giving them what is deemed fair support
/ is in few states longer open TO discus
| sion. 1t is worthy of note that the develop
| meut of state universities has been natural
not artificial. and because this is true we
may expect their continuous growth. They
| were founded because they met a real and
I serious need. Mistakes have been made, tt
| is true. Still, in spite of these discourage
ments, tho university lived and grew and
the taxation for the support or ihe uniVer-
! Sly has not been In the least burdensome,
There is really no more democratic insSi-
! tuition IN our icOuntry than the college or
university. All distinctions OF family and
| of wealth disappear here more than any
! where else in the world. The son of the bod
| carrier and the son of the millionaire there
| sit side by side on the same bench. Which
| ever of them has the brains and tho char
! acter Is there the king. It Is experience
| of untold value to this nation that tn univer-
/ stiles thousands of young men and women
are living in a community IN which every
one of them is judged by his Intrinsic worth
and talent. regardless of the Incident of birth.
The state university needs wise and vigOr-
Gus administration by It's regents and ita
| faculties 1t is a more complicated orgaui-
cation than the old fashioned New England
college It's wants are more varied; It's re-
| latiOns to the people and to the legislature
are at once more close and more delicate.
They should strive 20 cherish he broadcast
OF the university and enlarge plans for its
fIIture development The president and fac
uIty should have the same conception of the
nature and work of the state uoiversities.
It is especially desirable that the reli giOus
men and women of the state should cherish
a warm interest In the university. Many
hold themselves aIoOf from the university
under the IN OPPRESSION LAllt ~ III ~ ms
tutiOns is not conducive co the grown OF re-
/ Iigious character. This impression Is not
/ 1ustfried by the present condition of state
| universities The regents generally repre-
! sent the moral and religious sentiments of
| the people and the faculties are made up of
men who almost without exception are ear
| nest reverend, GOd-fearing men.
Again, II the university IS to prosper Il
| must have the financial help needed for its
| proper development A university is not
[ deveIoDed by catacIysm5 It must have a
/ certain steadiness of life. Legislatures N az
! fairly be asked TO be mindful of this. 1t
| should not be forgotten that 1t is not bricks
! md mortar even If moulded into the finest
/ architectu re, but the men in the teacher
| chair that above all make university.
| Gather the great teachers here and students
/ will receive their instruction even though
/ the lectures are given in huts OF sod or on
the open prairie.
! There IS ample room IN this state and IN
/ each of the western states for one large and
/ prosperous university. This state, imperial
| in size and imperial in resources, should
/ plan for a great and proud future. But one