The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-19
A University for New York.

daughter Of KARL MARX.
A University for New York.
The Rev. Dr. BRIGGS touched on very i'm
portant subject In his speech at the Cham
Der Of Commerce dinner when he referred
to the need of great university for New
York, and explained that In the colleges
and professional schools already in exist
ence we have at hand the constituents for
the building up of such an institution.
A real university. as he truly defined It.
embraces all the circle Of human well
fare" 1t includes In its comprehensive
system the classical and scientific courses
Of the colleges. the special training Of the
study Of art and music. Of political science
and Of the laws and principles OF trade and
commerce. It also requires for its uses
museums and libraries. hospitals and asy-
lums. and the many and various opportuni-
ties afforded only by a great cosmopolitan
city. in which accumulate the best fruits Of
human energy, and whittier tends naturally
the choicest special ability.
Such community Of itself Is an essential
part Of O true and comprehensive system Of
university instruction adapted to the needs
of modern life. More than ever before the
great city Is the centre OF civilization. and
the source Of the influences. both intel
lectual and material. which move all So
ciety. Throughout the civilized world
population increases in modern times
at much greater ratio in the
cities than in the country, and in
them specifically must be solved the
most momentous Of the social and political
problems Of the future. 1t will not be long
before half the people Of the United States
are gathered in urban communities steadily
increasing in size and Importance. and in
them will be the vast preponderance Of the
wealth and moral power Of the Union. What
ever is accomplished for the benefit Of civ
ilization is felt first and most in these CEN
tres Of activity. and in them are generated
the forces which determine the course Of
civilization everywhere.
As DR.. BRIGGS said on Tuesday evening, a
great modern university. therefore. has its
natural seat In a great and cosmopolitan
city like New York. "where millions OF hui
man beings are assembled from all nations
and kindreds and tongues" Neither ia there
anywhere 80 urgent a demand for such an
institution as Is exhibited here at
this moment. mo other city Of the
world" he declared without exaggeration.
has at the present time more students
pursuing the work OF higher education"
but because Of the division and conflict Of
the educational forces at home. many of
these are obliged to resort to the UNIVERSE
ties Of the Old World for the completion OF
their training. and the rest Of them suffer
because they are scattered in number OF
institutions. no one OF which has sufficient
teachers. adequate buildings. or the appa-
ratus needed to do its entire work."
This division. too. represents no oppo-
sition OF theories and methods OF education.
The different schools run along parallel
lines. They pursue substantially the same
course to reach the Same end. Their in
dependent establishment may have been
due to conflicting religious partisan
ship, but that motive for separation
exists no longer. Their division is purely
artificial and it is justified by no principle.
They arc apart. as competing institutions.
simply because they were founded as such
under different conditions from those pre-.
vallnG now. They are working against
each other when their real interest Is com
mon. and their objects in education arc
identical. Take the Unlvcrsltyin Washing
ton squire and Columbia College in Forty
ninth street. what is the distinction be-
tween them. SO far MS concerns their pur-
poses and methods? What reasonable
ground is there for any competition be-
tween them? Why are two distinct insti-
tutions maintained for tho same ends when
tho division weakens the ability OF both for
attaining them?
Thee questions were asked and discussed
by tho late DR.. HOWARD CROSBY when he
was Chancellor OF tho University. and By
the lnto President BARNARD OF Columbia
College: aud thcy agreed In tho answer
that there was no reasonable justification
Tor tho !rittering away OF power by such
division. The difficulty In the way of COM
pletc union lay and still lies in the separa-
ton OF their endowments: but as we havo
shown hitherto. and rs Dr.. BRIGas pointed
out Oh Tuesday evening. 1t does not consti-
tute an insuperable obstacle to their coming
together in a comprehensive university sys-
ten. 1t may be impossible for the one to
absorb the other. but their federation In
such system is feasible. They can MAIN
tain their distinct legal existence and
preserve thor names and traditions as In.
dependent colleges. and yet divide up be-
tween them the functions and departments
OF university, an institution into whose
various colleges may enter.
At this time the University Is considering
a project for removal which will involve
large additional endowment. and Columbia
(oIIepo Is ont growing tho limitation NJ ite
present site. so magnificent is tho scheme
Of university development conceived by the
Of President Low. Each insti-
tuition is ambitious for Itself independently
Of the other. Yet both are seeking
the same end In education. and 1t Is the
building up Of great university. Butthere
cannot be more than one such unlversityiu