The Globe-republican., 1891-06-17
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS.

I AT the recent commencement exex.
cises of the University Of Kansas. which
was also the twenty-fifth anniversary
! of the institution, President ANGEL, of
the University Of Michigan. delivered
the following address:
This day makes q landmark In the history
| OF this university. Her sons and her dauyh.
| ters have gathered from far and near to eel.
| citrate the twenty nth anniversary Of her
! birth. quarter of . century has elapsed
since she first opened her hoepitable doors
and invited the youth from all parts Of this
| broad state to enter and receive . 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
| offer Kansas had been born into statehood
| hve years before. only after thrOes Of vio-
| lence which, shook the whole nation to its
extremities. In spite OF the dreadful con-
tests which ravaged this region from 1885,
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 1875 the taxable property
OF the state was $1,000 Goa Now it is more
than :3iS. 6OO.OM Like every similar institu-
ton this university met with its share of de.
lays ana difficulties and disappointments
But under the leadership Of courageous and
energetic men it has pushed its way to the
point where 1t has b-come the pride of the
state and where its failure is secured. To-
day it will have graduated in its twenty five
years of existence about 800 from its COL
legiate department and about 600 f.Om all
departments. More than 600 others who
could not remain to graduate have pursued
liberal studies here for some years The
university has now an income OF .s4. O0o a
To tt,s II Il
among them are men of national reputation.
whom the older and larger universities
would be glad to number among their ranks.
1t has large outfit of the appliances for
teaching the sciences according to modern
methods. In n word it is furnishing excel
lent instruction 1t is no exagseration to say
that in its twenty five years of eX .stence the
university has made more progress than
Harvard college made in two centurte after
its foundation. Rather than be impatient
that the development OF this useful institu-
ion has not been more rapid. give thanks
that it has gone forward at SO 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 any
one wenkcns, the success OF any one
strengthens all the others. There il no more
conspicuous feature in the history of Amer
lean education of late years than the rapid
and brilliant developments OF state unver-
stiles. From Ohio to the Pacific. from North
Dakota to Texas, near.y every state has
established or is prepar ng to establish uni
versity on the foundation of the United States
land grants to each state. During the last
quarter OF a century some of them have
grown with extraOrdi nary rapidity, end
few of them need fear no comparison with
the strongest and oldest and most richly en-
dOwed universities in the east They are
firmly t.lLl iShaI N nuhliC the ai.
vantages Of maint aiming them have become
so obvious to the taxpayer that while they
may not always secure SO large an apprO-
priat;O as thev may desire the gus ;iOn OF
giving them what Is deemed fair support
is in few or no stats longer open to discus
sion. II is worthy of note that the develop
ment OF state universities has been natural.
not art fetal. and because this is true We
may eAp .et their continuous growth. They
were founded because they met a real and
serious need. Mistakes have been made. it
is true. Still, in spite of these discourage
ments, the university lived and grew and
the taxat on for the support of the univer-
81 has not been in the least burdensOme.
There is really no more democrat C insti-
tuition in our country 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 hOd
carrier and the son of the millionaire there
ST SlQc Dy sue OH Tue same DtHCu " HIGH
ever of them has the brains and the char
acter Is there the king. 1t is an experience
of untold value to this nation that in univer-
stiles thousands Of young men and women
are living In a cOm'nunitr 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 its regents and its
faculties 1t is a more complicated organi.
cation than the old fashioned New England
college Its wants are more varied; its re-
latiOns to the people and to the Legislators
are at once more close and more delicate.
They should strive to cherish III. broadcast
and most generous views of the functions
Of the university and enlarge plans for Its
future development The president and fac
ulty should have the same conception of the
nature and work OF the state universities.
1t IS especially desirable that the religious
men and women of the stat. should cherish
a warm interest in the university. Many
hold themselves aioof from the university
under the impression that lif,. In such insti-
tutions is not conducive to the growth of re-
ligious character This impression Is not
Justified by the present condition OF state
universities. The regents generally repre-
sent tho 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.
must have the financial help needed for its
proper development university is not
developed by cataclysms 1t must have
certain steadiness of life. Legislatures may
fairly be asked to be mindful of this. 1t
should not be forgotten that it is not bricks
AMI mortar even il moulded into the finest
architecture, but the men in the teachers
chair. that above all make a 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
thing Is absolutely necessary to this people
of noble lineage and high character and I'M
daunted enterprise, IL they are to gain and
retain for the state that conspicuous posi-
ton which you are predicting for her, that
one thing Is a sufficient number OF men
trained by the best education to fit them for
leadership in all departments OF human
activity, for eminence in branches of indus
trial of professional and OF civic lie.
II this great state aspires to do her part In