Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-01-21


not only gave form To the constitution
and government but also established
those societies and institutions thai
/ have b.come such power and such
crvdit 10 the STATE. The historical Su
ciety, that has brought together one OF
the noblgst collections in the country
is conspicuous evidence of the schol-
arly impulses that were dominant in the
early history of the state. The Ni>con-
sin Academy of Sciences Arts and Let
ters gives perpetual proof that the IN
terestS of the people even at thgt early
day, Were as wide rs the realm of
knowledge. These associations of learn
ing had their abode 10y the side of the
university Hther also came the slI-
preme court of the state, and one OF
the district courts of the United States.
The capital of the state then became the
home Of distinguished judges and law
yeis, rs wen rs the abode of science,
art aud literature And thus it was
that this beautiful city, on the one hand
through the natural advantages of its
situation, ana the attraCiveueSS of its
institutions, and on the other hand
through the absence of the disuacting
and absorbing turmoil of great com
mercial activity, became the beneticicut
home Of those quiet and scholarly tastes
which are peculiarly favorable to aca-
demic pursuits.
Then too, the foreign element that
has come into Wisconsin has favored ia
every way the upbuilding of our edu-
Catioual Institutions If there is amy
people in the world which, in its old
homes has, more than any other, put
a high value upon education as a ne
cessity and a power, it is the people Of
the Teutonic race. from which 50 many
representatives have come TO this state.
The census shows that the German
population Of Wisconsin is larger than
that of any other state; and that the
Norwegian population is second in
number only TO that Of our neighhor ON
the west With their industry, their
enterprise, their frugaliW. and their
thrift, the Germans and NorwCgianS
alike have retained those educational
predictions which were SO firmly
rooted in their native countries. The
boundlcss rysoourcs of the state, united
with the inNiEoating power of the eli
mate make il certain that Wisconsin
viii always be inhabited 10y a hardy ana
a thrifty race; and when, couple with
these, we have liberal and enlarged
ideas on educational matters we have
conditions peculiarly fitted for success
fL educational Development After
speaking of The states material pros
perity the president said:
Nor is the most remarkable feature
of this property It's material growth
alone Go where we may, we discover
q determination TO be- in possession at
the earliest possible moment Of the best
things that civilization offers. This
lapidity Of advancement shows itself in
as well as in material develop
mcnt It is a common observation ut
the National Teachers associations tlmt
The soil Of the prariCs seems to Toe pc
cuHarly hoSpitable Ia the roots of new
ideas.
but a noble situation is nothing more
than "a noble opportunity. Universities
are not born; they are made. The uni
yersity of Wisconsin is the creation and
the possession Of tie people II it is 10
do i'm a large way what university
should do for a people in so large a
place il win be because the people
love it, and nourish it with the food
alone university cam grow
md DO its work.
The history Of educational develop
ment in this country, particularly col
lege OF University developments was
then most interestingly discussed. Con
tinuing he said:
There are prevalent two ideas IN re-
gard to higher education. The one is
hat private endowment may safely be .
eft to care for the interests Of advanced
of every kind; ;hc other is
hat it is the duty of the state to foster
md support education in al its grades
rom the lowest 10 the highest. Wis
.onsin, like her sister states in the
northwest, is committed to the latter
Jew; and it has seemed to me on com
ne to the presidency Of the university
might appropriately discuss the rea-
Ons why this view is to be upheld and
The president cited as a
most forcible case Of the merit Of state
id and control the care Of GERMANY.
1T was IN obedience to the spirit Of
he magma charta Of the northwest that
,hen the Northwest territory came to
,e divided into states, the government
ave o each of hem at least one section
f land in every township for common
chOols and not less than two townships
4 the State for the founding of a uni
ersity. These grants were in some
asses not indeed the beginning of higher
but they showed at least a
to afford encouragement
nd support. In some Of the states
lese L-ads We're fortunately located,
nd the proceeds from their sale afford
d a perpetual endowment. In others
le lawmakers forgot the injunction of
ne ordinance, and the "menas Of edu-
ga