Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10
A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
Something About the Efforts Made te
Establish One Here.


From THE DAYS OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON TIE
PROJECT mas ALWAYS BEEs REGARDED WITH
FAVOR, BUT NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE BY
ooNGREss-fRIENDs OF THE MOVEMENT ARE
q STILL WORKING.
GONE FOLKS MAY REGARD AS AN
~ insult to the intelligence OF the American
people the statement that . large proportion of
the population of the United States never heard
Of the project to establish at the seat Of govern
ment great national university. Not to be
established by private enterprise, but by the
government itself. But there are, nevertheless,
q great many people who have not only heard
Of the proposition, but who are heartily in
favor Of it. Among these none has ever been
more enthusiastic tn an Mr.. John W. Hoyt, and
none will rejoice so much az he should the plan
become reality. MIR. Hoyt has gathered
together a mass Of information as to efforts
which have been sporadically put forth to
make the national university an accom- plished
fact He finds the origin Of the movement In
the suggestion Of Samuel Blodget, aftsrward
author Of the first formal American work on
political economy, in the presence Of
Gen. Washington, Gen. Greene and Nal
William Blodget, in WashinSton's military camp
at Cambridge, in October, l775 suggestion
made in answer to remarks upon ths damage
the militia were doing to the colleges In which
they were quartered and in the following words.
well, to make amends for these injuries hope
after our war we shall erect a noble national
university at which the youth Of all the world
may be proud to receive instructions" To
which Gen Washington replied Young man,
you are prophet, inspired to speak what am
confident will one day be realized" The next
fa1 his al b. x,
Warrington, who said just after the permanent
location Of tho national capital "While the
work OF establishing q national university may
be properly deferred until Congress Is comfort
ably accommodated and the city has so far
grown as to be prepared for 1t, the enterprise
mus. not be forgotten, and (rsferring to his in
tended bequest) trust that have not omitted
TO take such measures as will at all events secure
the entire object in time"
DIR. RUsHs ADDRESS.
In 1887, in an address to the people Of the
United States, DR.. Benjamin Rush, one of the
signers Of the Declaration OF Independence
and a scientist Of great repute, argued strongly
for the federal univ srsity u means Of sscur-
ing to the people an education suited to tho
needs OF the country-a true university with
postgraduate scholarships and fellowships in
connection with the consular service aud an
educated civil service generally.
A year ter in ths Pennsylvania Gazette was
another and similar appeal. LET one of tie
frat acts Of the new Congress" said the Ga
zette, "be to estsblish within the District to be
allotted for them federal university. into
which the youth of tine United States shall be
received after they have finished their studies
and taken their degrees in the colleges Of their
respective states.
Should this plan OF federal university, or
one like it, be adopted. then viii, begin the
golden ago Of the United States While the
huefress Of in eiass in sr
lures upon the ruins Of Palmyra and the an
uquft!ss Of Herculaneum, or in dispute abou:
Hebrew points. Greek particles or the accent
and quantity Of the Roman language, the youth
Of America Will be employed in acquiring IL ose
branches Of knowledge which increase the con-
venience Of life. lessen human misery. improve
our country, promote population. exalt the hu-
man understanding and establish domestic,
social and political happiness.
Let 1t not bo said, This Ia not the time for
such literary and political establishment.
Let Us first restore public credit. LIE.
Us regulate our militia let US build our navy,
and let us protect and extend our commerce.
This Is false reasoning. We shall
never restore public credit, regulate our militia.
build navy or revive our commerce until We
remove tho ignorance and preiudices and change
the habits OF our citizens, and this can never be
done until We inspire them with federal prtnci~
pies, which can only be effected by our young
men meeting and spending two or three ysars
toge thec In national university and si ter ward
disseminating their knowledge ard principles
through every county, town and village Of the
United States."
A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
On January s, 1890, in hi. message to Con-
gress, President Washington again called alton
ton to the nscessity for such An institution as
he had SO frequently talked Of. To the P esi-
dents remark, the Senate responded: "Iitera-
fr1y and not II g., H.
ton OF fair constitution; the measures OF
government should, therefore, be calculated to
strengthen tho confidence that 10 due to that
important truth" The House, also respond
ing 20 that.omo message. sAid: I'VE concur with
you In the sentiment that agriculture, commerce
and manufactures are entitled to Legislative
protection, and that tbs promotion of science
and literature will contribute TO the security of
free government. In the progress Of our
deliberations we shAu not lose sight Of objects
so worthy OF our regard"
WashIngton's interest in the university
scheme was continuous up to tho time OF his
death. Letters upon the subject written to
Gov. Brook. Alexander Hamilton, Thomas JET
fsrson and others show clearly that the matter
was one which The first President regarded az
being Of the utmost importance. In his will he
left ATTY shares In the Potomac Company
valued at $500 each, toward the endowment OF
. university to be established Ia ths District OF
Columbia under the auspices Of the general
government The Potomac Company wal
merged into tho Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company, but where that moneys gone to no.
! body seems to know.
AFTER wAsHINGToN's DEATH.
Several gentlemen Of prominence kept the
university matter before the people quite per
sistsntly during the frst ten years Of thi,
century, and in tho second annual message O,
President Madison IL was said: But above ali
q wsll-constitutsd seminary In the center Of the
| nation II recommended By the consideration
that the additional instruction emansting from
| 1t would contribIte no less to strengthen the
foundations than 10 adorn the structure Of our
free and happy system Of government"
| The committee Of tho House OF Representa-
tivss to whom that portion of the message was
referred reported favorably upon the proposi-
ton, and in that report said: "A central school
at the seat Of the general government, darling
its rays Of intellectual light or rolling its food
OF useful information throughout the land could
not fall to make strong impression. noble
and enlarged institution may be conceived 80
impart to IL pupils tho most excellent instruc-
tion, and, by properly qualifying persons to be
teachers and professors, to introduce uniform
| system NJ education among the citizens The
| Constitution does not warrant the creation of
| such . corporation BY any express provision.
But under the right to legislnts exclusiysly over
the District wherein the United States have
hxed their seat OF government Congress may
erect a university at any place within the ten
4