Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-06

the requirements, and much more, of the
Legislature have been and will be squaroly
and honestly complied with. IL did not re-
qure farm nor q mechanic shop, and yet
both have been supplied and at great cost.
OF course, In case the necessity should ever
arise, an appeal would be made to the
United States Supreme Court.
If it were to be attempted to start n new
collegiate institution in Vermont, limited
to national funds for it's annual support,
and exclusively confined to instruction in
the ranches of agriculture aud tho mechan
ic arts, it might be u useful and very re-
spectacle technical high school, but 1t would
be nothing more, and certainly far less than
college, which is SO plainly and palpaDly
required by the terms of both the national
and State charters. Considerably less would
be the outcome even in the specaltes men-
toned, tbsn what is now offered at Bur
lington, while all other provisions in behalf
OF a sound liberal education would he repu-
dia ted and contsmptuo usly set aside.
Under the act of Congress of 1862, no
college can he lawfully entitled to the b me
fit of the act unless the funds are in violabiy
apr opriated to college as provided in tho
4th section CT the act without excluding
other scientific and classical studies" Asri-
culture anu Tue InDCudulc dTIa were 10
have n leading position and be taught lin
such manner as the legislatures Of the State
may prescribe, ~ that is to say, either tecn-
nicsly and theoretically. or practically
with some labor in the field or shop for
students who wanted it, butt was to be done
Ito promote the liberal and practical cducG-
ton of the industrial cIas3es in several pur-
suits and protest. of lie. " 1t was TO he a
liberal education for the industrial classes,
aud the professions also and nothing less
can be legal compliance with the terms of
the original act. The offer of great ad-
vantage, to the industrial classes to eek
higher education was manifestly not to ex-
ciude them or any others from Land Grant
colleges, even ii they proposed to train their
faculties for any Of the "profe5siors.n
in some States there may have been
tablisbed colleges. SO called, where instruc-
ton in agriculture is provided fer, with
very little else. If so, it is to be regretted,
as it woull be a none compliance with the
Fundamental conditions Of the oct of 1862.
But some defender OF such an impounled
and peut-up college mny AK, "what are
you going to do abou, 1t ~ In the first
place, all farmers and their sons should
properly resent the false imputation that it
is with their approval that some newspaper
writer's propose to have national land grant
funds 30 expended as to wholly exclude
from its benefits all other pursuits and pro
LESSONS but that Of agriculture. and they
should also vigorously protest against the
inockery and pTetense OF substituting for Il
liberal education, instruction solely related
to agriculture, as though farmers should
have only one idea, and be coutented with
an institution having less equipments than
call Of ba Vol
ing tie lead and tle primacy for asricul-
ture, yet they know, ms subjects of impor-
tanc,, to borrow the language of the turf
that there are many good secnnd,i serv-
ing their attention, and that colleges should
not, like timld horses, have blinkers to nin-
der them from seeing anything on either side
of them, while men every here ere reach
ing out in all directions or wider kno Wedge
10 tire second place, 1t is to be feared
that the national government, if the facts
were to be reported by the depart
ment OF education, might dAtermine
that the SUPPORT Of such college. being
a burden us well as illegal, it should have it
no longer, and that The state should a once
be required to REIMBURSE the misapplcaton
OF tbs funds already received. AS vuner-
able as the condition OF Such college by
title only may be now, it would be more
precarious should auy financial striu9ency
OF the treasury occur or any shortage OF
revenue from the public lands. The inter
ference OF the government, or the refusal of
Congress to make further appropriations,
should not he recklessly provoked. | may
be said that nOuo but crauks would push
such radical measure s, but, il that were
true, it would lie grave mistake to assume
that all the crank5 are outside of Congress.
To establish and maintain even nominal
substitute for our present college and erect
buildings OF adequate comfort and dignity,
including commons hall, proper library,
laboratory, mechanic shops and ierm build
ings together with u suicsnt corps Of
learned and competent instructors, would
require years OF time, as well as expendi-
lures that are forbidden to he paid from
national funds. There is not town or city
in the State, were tho opportunity to be
offered, whicn could be tempted to tax It's
like the value OF tho present available plant
and resources of the establishment at Bur
lington, now in excellent working order,
win the whole usufruct belonging prac-
ticaily as much to the college as to tne uni
versity.
The land grant to Vermont was at first
based upon our representative population
and, therefore, SO limited that the compile TO
establishment Of an independent college,
commensurate with the original plan, was
impracticable withou, further financial aid
from the State, or from towns or individ-
uals. These obvious conditions still exist
and can never be removed or ignored. 1he
State land grant college, therefore, was
honestly and dehnitvely grated upon the
Vermont University, which on ITS part APP
peared willing to do, and has done, all that
it over promised or was required by law, to
promote its vitality and truitfuluess. 1t
was a contract for life, not limited to a term
of years, and was lawfully authorized by
the Legislative Assembly. A contract so
made cannot be dissolved at will by either
party.
The college is a national institution,
adopted with abiding conditions by the
State, which IL is bound by honor as we'll AS
law to uphold. In The dissemination of
sound learning aud scientific instruction in
agriculture and the mechanic arts, useful
10 the future career and character of our
young men and women, it has offered the
highest service and is now equipped to offer
it in liberal measure and equal to all de-