The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-01
The University for New York.

The University OF the City OF New York
in Washington square proposes to remove
to a new site on the Harlem River. and ac-
cordingly it is ~endeavoring to raise $500. 900
to transfer its present habitation thither.
OF course. il people give the money for the
purpose, 1t is their own business purely.
The money belongs to them. and they have
a right to expend it as they wish in any
lawful way: but when Chancellor MAC
CRACKEN asks for gifts in order to preserve
for New York a Historic building" and a
notable structure" he certainly misuscs
words. This building is not historic. and it
is not notable as u specimen OF architecture
nor in any other way. The college itself
is not historic. unless as a reminder OF the
religious discussions which have passed
away in the short space OF two generations,
and which during that brief period have
caused the expenditure Of millions of money
on n needless and inferior institution Of
learning. This college was founded only
about sixty years ago. At 10 time has it
left any notable mark on the cultivation Of
New York. 1t has never engaged the pub
lie interest ut home and never has won any
distinction abroad. 1t has always held an
inferior rank among the colleges OF the
Union. Its professional schools alone nave
had some prosperity. but throughout their
existence they have been rendered unneces-
sary by other schools OF the same sort here
in New York. In its whole history there
has been nothing to make its alumni very
proud OF their college.
We have in New York three colleges, be-
sides the Roman Catholic institutions: Co.
lumbia College. This Washington square
college. and the College OF the City Of New
York. as the school supported by taxation
Is called. Tho number Of students in the
regular collegiate departments OF nil these
put together is not equal to the number In
n single college like Harvard, or Yale, or
Princeton, or even smaller institutions on
the seaboard or in the interior. All
told. tho number OF students furnish
ed by New York to the colleges Of
tho Union wherever situated is not
more than enough for a single great col
lege in the city itself. even II they could all
be kept here. Only one OF our colleges. too.
has the reputation, the plant. and the eouip-
ment essential for the development OF a
real university. The Washington square
institution. though 1t describes itself as a
university. has always been poor. The city
college turns out only two or three score
graduates annually. at a cost to the people
Of about $500 a year apiece. Neither of
these two were ever needed to supply the
demand for collegiate education in New
York and neither is capable OF any devel-
opment that would satisfy the demand for
university training in tho future. In
neither of them is there a department or a
professional school or resources OF instruc-
ton which are not inferior to those pro-
vided by Columbia. Both Of them have
always been rendered unnecessary by the
only really vigorous college.
AS we have said. II any man wants to give
money for transferring the Washington
square structure to the Harlem River it | no.
body's business except his own; butt II he de-
sires to help along the cause OF genuine uni
versity education in New York, it is we'll for
him to understand In advance that such a
contribution will hinder rather than forward
that desirable end. Money expended for
the benefit OF this nominal university assists
in tho dispersion and dissipation of material
and immaterial resources which should be
concentrated to build up the genuine uni
vcrsity needed, 1t assists in encouraging