The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-01
Tho University.

AhS s"ANNAeAJA
. Cor, News and Observer.
J TRINITY PARK, Durham, N. G.
Feb. %, 1893.
DEAR SIR:-Every succeedin,
session of the General Assembly
bring with it indirectly a re
newal OF discussion in regard t,
ths State University. In a mat
ter OF such vital interest to tn,
common wealth, it behooves tn,
citizens to consider we'll tn,
point, and to use no argumsn'
merely to gain a partisan ad,
. vantage. Morever, while Nortl
Carolina almost leads the State
in per ceDtags of illiteracy. hei
friends of education cannot af,
ford to fall out among them
selves. In this communication
it is not proposed to argue out
the question in full, but siAply
to express some Of the views OF
worker in a sister institution.
| The University has its sphere,
. place that cannot be filled by
the denominational colleges. II
Isl capstone to the public school
System, ready to be fitted ac-
curatelV into its place as soon
IS that system is well organized
all over the State, and ito ex-
istonce is a guarantee that this
organization shall be moro
speedily and more thoroughly
accomplished. Its sphere is not
merely to provide for a class
not represented in the existing
denominational institutious-1t
is well enough for thSm to have
in their own State this oppor
tunity-but to stimulate. With
in tho last Eve years Trinity has
melted the University to great
sr activity, and Trinity herself
is now feeling the rehex action
it is beneficial to both. The
denominationai colleges exer-
else this influence upon one an
other to a very slight degree.
since they can hardly DO said to
come into competition. The Uni
versity has its associations, too,
with roots in the iirst century of
ths nations existence. These
are powerful fer tho good of
education aud exert an infiu-
ssca that, in the nature of the
case, no other institution can
ever WELD. Not to cal up many
other reasons that might be ad-
duced, it does seem that the
University has a very strong
raisGn d 'atrs. -- -'
Some would grant the Uni.
yesity permission to exist, but
would restrict it to post gradu-
ate work. The [sraeiites in
Egyptian bondage did not have
such hard condition put upon
them, for the task masters did
not require the tale of brick
while failing t. furnish both
straw and clay. The income
from millions OF capital is re-
quirsd 10 carry on such work,
and the State does not propose,
nor is it able, 10 carry on such
work; and, fit did. it could NOS
furnish a corPoral's guard Of
studcnts. JOHNS Hopkins start.
cd with postgraduate courses
alone, but was soon compelled to
introduce under graduate class.
IS in order 10 prepare its stu
dents. Clark is the only Uni
versity in America In which
postgraduate work alone is
done, AID it is as yet only an ex-
pertinent here. That is rot all.
When men enter upon post
graduate work, they will 20
where they can get the best ad
vantages, aud that Ia not in q
village or A town or even in the
small city.
Nor il it hetter 10 restrict il TO
werk In the two upper cllsses
Junior aud Senior.) Nobody is
charged with the duty Of doing
the lover class work for It: the
colleges would never consent to
| degrade their courses to a two
years curriculum, nor wou.d it
be expsdient; the high Schools
could not supply the expensive
instruction Of the Freshman and
Sophomore years. This plan
! would simply be IN Indirect wav
of giving the University its
mortal wound.
Two classes, the tax payers
and the denOminatinnal schools,
are sometimes arrayed against
the State University. oome
good men, transparentiy honest
in their convictions, having at
heart the interest Of one or both
of these classes, are opposed 10
the University. Their opinions
should be heard respectfully
aud their feelings treated con
sidsrately. In time, every tax
payer may see shat whatever
makes for the higher intelligence
Of tue community makes for his
peace and prosperity. The
highest type Of citizenship looks
to the good of tho State and ex-
poets TO be lifted up in It's upIift-
ing. 1t il not claimed that the