The southern argus., 1891-06-18

| Quarter of q Century.
At the recent commencement cxer-
cises of the University of Kansas, which
was also The twenty-ffth 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 daugh-
ters have gathered from far and near to cell
cbrate the twenty fifth anniversary OF her
birth. quarter of century has elapsed
siucs she first opened her hospitable doors
and invited the youth from all parts OF this
broad state 10 enter and receive college
education almost without money and WITH
out price The ma vel is that so early In the
| harl and II oubled life of this state the insti-
| tuition was prepared to make this generous
offer Kansas had been born into statehood
five years before only after throes OF Tio-
| lence which shook the whole natiol TO Its
| extremitics. In spite OF the dreadful con-
| tests whIcn rayagcd this region from 1851
| vigorous efforts were made from early days
TO provide for common schOo , and s. hoolS
| of collegiate rank.
| Compared with the present the days of the
| founding of this institution were the days OF
| small things. In lS6 the taxable property
| of the state was S200IO,0ol Now it IL more
than 1918 uo1.On Like every similar nstltn-
! tion this university met with its share of de-
4
But under the leadership of courageous and
| energetic men il has pushed Its way to the
| point whore Ii has b come the pride of the
| state and where It's future is secured. To
! dly it W III have graduated in its twenty nve
wears of existence about S0l from its col
| legiate department and about GOO I, ON all
departments. More than 100 others who
could not remain TO graduate have pursued
liberal studies h re for some years The
university has now an income of $4,000
year II has more than thirty teachers, aud
among them are men of national reputation
whom the older aud 1trg It universities
would be glad to number nmpng their ranks
1t has large outfit of the appliances for
teaching the sciences according TO modern
methods. In word it is furnish ing excel.
lent instruction. 1t Is no exaggeration to say
that in Its twenty Ave years of existence the
university has made more progress than
Harvard college made in two ccnturt after
its foundation. Rather than be impatient
that the development of this useful institu
tion has not been more rapid. give thanks |
that 1t has gone forward at SO swift plcn.
There is so much that Is similar in the his. |
tory and situation of nil the state universi- |
tics that each Is profoundly concerned In the /
prosperity of all the rest. The failure of any |
one weakcns, the success of any ono /
strengthens all the others. There Is no more /
conspicuous feature In the history of Amer
lean education of late years than the rapid
stiles From Ohio to the Pacific. from North
Dakota to Texas, neary every state has
established or is prepar ny to establ IN a uni
versity on the foundation ofthe United States
land grants TO each state During the last
gu Irter of a century some of them have
grown with extraordl nary rapidity, and a
few of them need fear no comparison with
the strongest and oldest AMI most richly en-
dowed universities In the east They are
firmly established N public faFor, the ad
vantages of mant aiming them I'VE become
so obvious to the taxpayer that while they
may not always secure so large an appro.
priat on as they may desire the qu s:ion OF
giving them what Is deemed a fair support
Is In Few or no stat longer open TO discus
sion. 1t is worthy OF note that the develop
ment of state universities has been natural |
not artificial. and becau q this is true we |
may eApact their continuous growth. They |
were founded because they met n real ana |
serious need Mistakes h we been made It
Is true. still, in spite of these discourage.
ments, the university lived and grew and
The taxation for the support of the univer-
81 has not been In the least hurdcnsome
There Is really no more democrat instf-
tuition In our country than ths college or
All distinctions OF family and
Of wealth disappear here more than any.
where else In the world. The son of the hod.
carrier and the son of the millionaire there
sit side by side on the same bench which
ever of them has the br tns aud the char.
icter Is there the king. 1t Is an experience
1f untold value TO this ma ion III At In unly.r.
'ities thousands OF young menuand women
ire living In a com runIt: Ia which every
me of them is iudg, d by hi intrlr sic worth
ma talent. regardless OF the Incident OF birth |
The state university eds wise end yIYor. |
'us administration by its regents and it's | 4
acultleA 1t s a more complicated oruanI.
alton than the old fashioned New England | r
onege Its wants are more varied; It's re-
ations to the people and to the legislature =
re at once more close and more de fcate =
'hey should strive to cherish tha broaaeat
nd most generous views of the functions :,
the university and enlarge plans for ia :
lture development The president and fac. -
l'y shouId nave the same conception OF tho L
ature and work Of the state universities n
Ii is especially desirable that the religious -
zen and women of the state should cherish | o.
warm interest in the university MANY | a,
old themselves aloof from the university !:
nder the impression that life in such instI -
ltions Is not conducive to tho growth of re IT
e,ons character. This impression is not is
lstihc1 by the pr sent condition of state
1iverslties. The regents ReperalIv rcpra p'
mt the moral and religious sentiments az W
&c people ana the facult et are made up OF -.
en VINO almost without exception are ear -
sst, reverend. God fearing men a
again. IL the university is TO prosper 4. OF
ust nave the financial help neetled fur ~.
'veioped by cataclysms II must baye VI
rtan steadness of life Legislatures nav VI
irlF be asked Ia be mindful of this I,
ould not be forgotten that IL is not br.cLs -
~ mortar even IL moulded into the nnes, I !
ch'tecturc' but the men i'm the teacher,a r,
ar. That above ali make a ,.niverajtv -
i,her the great teachers her. and student. III
u re elve their instruction evan ,bnnah CO
2 lectures are given In huts of sod or on r
g open prairie. =" u.
u
.neIe Is ample room In this state and IN
80 1.' oI me "fstern states for one large ana
osperous university. This state f,nn.rfat | 4
size and imperial in resource. .he..,tn
an Tor great and proud future Eu,r 49, :
hs - absolutely necessars TO thI. ,~eorts
pooie lineage and high character ar 4 ~ :
aise1 aaI enterprs"' II they are to gnI, ana
an Ior the state th It conspicuous t1.I >
u "hich tou are predicting for her ,ha.
thing Is sufficient nu,n',er -, ,a >
ihea bS the be t education 10 fl tha,a a. Is
aershlp IN all departments OF hr.u
- - Ky Tor cininenee in branches Of trt,,.
- oi professional an of civic it, -
tbi" great state aspir TO do ha, II
@ftuE E1F the west the hE.rb 'f