Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-02-18
GOOD SENTIMENTS.
The State University Subject Dis
cnssed by a Friend to Education
In Favor OF a $685. o
Appropriation.


or denied that there are men in Mis-
souri, calling themselves civilized.
yes, even christianized-who to-
day vote would againstthe rebuilding
OF the STATED University at any point in
the State, for there still seem to be
representatives of a race, o nearly
extinct, who prize muscle more
than mind and money more
than education. Behind the
subterfuge of an imaginary absence
of constitutional authority in the
emergency and really sad calamity
to the State, which is evidently a
misfortune to every household in
the State, these advocates of mental
poverty and educational dwarfage
would stop and shut out this Ii of
the greatest benefactors of the State.
The State University Of every State
has a prestige that no other col
legiate institution has or can have,
for behind and underneath it is the
i~mpregnable bulwark of the States
honor and pride. In this matter
there is or Ear be no conflicting in
terest between the town and the
country, between the farmer and the
business man, for it is pre-eminent-
ly our school. On the question of
taxation il would bear heavier on
the town man than the country man,
for added to every tax which the
farmer pays the town man pays the
additional tax of the town, which in
our county, in Mexico is 50 cents on
500; Vandalia, %; Laddonia, %;
Farber, %; Martinsburg, %; and
added to this is the fact that in each
of these the very best of public
schools are maintained and in Mex
leo is Hardin College and the Mis-
souri, Militery Academy. And yet
with all this increase of tax over
what the farmer pays and with these
schools at our door, Mexico, we be-
lieve, would vote almost solid to re-
build the State University; and we
believe the farmers in Audrain coun-
ty would do likewise, for to-day
more farmers sons are in the Uni
versity in Columbia-two to one
than from the towns. AS to the
means with which to rebuild, we
see no reason why the public school
fund should suffer, or the State rev.
enue be depleted, for we have to
start with all the ground of the
campus, and much material on the
ground which can be utilized in re-
rebuilding and all the cottages, out
buildings, etc, etc. The insurance
money and $3.50, 600, the amount al
lowed by article 4, second divis-
ion of section A of constitution,
which its own language says is for
an Unforeseen emergency" this
amount in part or in whole each
year, would soon make what the
two million, six hundred and
eventy-nine thousand, one hundred
and eighty-four people in Missouri
need-a first-class University. Twen-
ty-five cents to the person would
pay the bill entire. Section 46 of
article 4 also provides for "calami-
ties" under which head we would
class the destruction of the Missouri
University. As to the location the
State is as much in honor bound
if it rebuild, to build at Columbia as
the trustees of Hardin College
would be to rebuild at Mexico if
it burn, or as would Col. Fleet be to
rebuild the Missouri Military Aca-
denny at Mexico were it to burn.
Audrain county has two railroads
built upon condition that we would
give them the right-of-way and a
few thousand dollars. The ground
was given, the money paid and the
roads were built and the county or
its citizens have gotten back many
times the amount paid for the roads.
If a cyclone should tear them up,
grade, culvert and rail, would we
not makethem rebuild? We think
we would. AS to society and of
Columbia, the best college in the
State of Illinois, and one of the
best in the West, Monticello Col
lege, is at Godfrey, where there is
nothing but a post-office and the
college building. In this respect we
think Columbia admirably adapted.
) The privacy of the place recon-,
mends it. Parents do not send
their children off to college in
search of society, theatres, bal
l rooms and billiard tables, and more
matured students have no use fnl
them while school boys. 1t is hoped
9 all will try to e the necessity D
Immediate aid to this important
State institution. But Bartimeus wa:
not blind beside those who will no
see. 1t will not be difficult to ses
the how or the where to rebuild tn.
: State University, provided the rea
: desire to rebuild it is in the hearts
!, of the members of this called ses
t sion. Every true friend of educa
/ ton and advancement will eithe
a strive to find or seek to make a va,
to perpetrIate the honor of Missuur