The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-17
P~OSTERITY'S VERDICT.

1t now seems clear that the separation
lists at Helena have covered themselves
all over with victory, but it is the kind
of victory that reflects no credit on the
~victors. Like a certain king, the schools
they have given away are schools ''of
shreds and patches"
Since the thing is done there is nc
present help for it unless Gov. Richards
should see tit to intervene. Throughout
the contest The TRIBUNE has been alb.
soldtely honest and sincere in the stand
it has taken. 1t has felt "A devout con-
viction that the best interests of the
state would be subserved by consolida-
ton, and that go far-sighted a policy
would have done much for posterity for
which this generation would have re-
ceived its gratitude, much as that gen.
Grafton which founded the republic now
has the generation and regard of G0,00O,-
900 people. But our Montana patriots
had other aims and other views. They
have subserved the temporary interests
so dear to them and are supremacy
happy in their oNn peculiar way over
their faithful services to their con-
stituents. Helena, with her ~Independ-
cnt, is contented because she thinks
the swag has gone where it will do her
the most good, and Anaconda, with her
STANDARD, caresscs herself with the same
flattcring conviction. Bless their dear
little hearts. May the rape of the uni
versity do chem all the good they hope
for.
While the present legislators OF the
state seem to have thought little on the
verdict Of posterity, TmE TRIBUNE will
rely upon that for the vindicatlon Of its
course in this matter. IN editorial
comment from the Bismarck Tribune is
"a reminder in miniature Of the whole
contest. 1t says:
In Montana it has been decided that
the state educational institutions will
be divided into a half dozen different
schools located at as many places.
Discussion as to whether this should be
done, or the schools be consolidated
into one great university has peer rife,
but the advocates of the former policy
were victorious. 1t is practically settled
now that the university will be located
at Mlssoula, the agricultural college at
BoZeman, the school Of mines at Butte.
aud the state normal school at Dillon.
Great Falls offered a site of 800 acres
and "A ca-h endowment Of 1OonOD if the
consolidated schools should be located
at that place, but the proposition did not
prevail against the ambition of several
cities to be called the educational center
of Montana, and local interests succeeded
in dividing the schools against the pro-
tests Of the state teachers association,
the state council of education, AM the
opinions of most of the leading educa
tors of the country. The federal gov.
eminent endowed the various schools of
Montana with an aggregate of over 600
600 acres Of land lying within the state.
which, in the course Of time, will be
worth several millions Of dollars.
These are the facts posterity will have
before it. There will be no need to read
the long discussion, the diatribes of Sen
ator Mats, the Yellowstone eloquence of
Senator Goddard. the elegant reasoning
Of Mr.. Bray, or the lisping accents of
Senator Hoffman. And on these facts
alone the people Of IA few years hence
will exclaim:
''Those men were chumps, if nothing