The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-02
The state ana Higher Education.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Having read with some interest the cur
rent discussion in the Journal of the State
University matter and kindred questions L
am inclined to add a few words thereto
~ L. See" offers some useful suggestions
put most people in Indiana now inclined
probably, to seek mean between a vast
expenditure on the State University at this
time, and its suppression Love for that in
stution-almost the only one of our higher
educational institutions which has come
down to US from our early wildwood. log
cabin days, is in the heart Of every intelli-
gent lndianlan, and while the people would
not look kindly on present attempt to
make II rival of Stanford Chicago in
lavish expenditure, the truth that our uni
versity is permanency and is to be so
dealt with, may probably be safely ad-
mitted Mr. Reynolds's idea that We do not
need the university because young men can
be taught in certain sectarian colleges in our
State is so many millions of years behind
the times that it requires no refutation The
university came long ago, but it came to
address is an able plea for his beloved in
stitution, and while the public mind may
not go with him to the end in all his posi-
tionS and desires, there will be a general
agreement with the spirit of his remarks
1t is always with reluctance that 1 disagree
with the Journal. but it seems to me that
in your Sunday editorial. you assign to
Prof. Swain position which he did not
taxi. You say:
standing
aloof from practical contact with affairs and
studying them only from such results as he
can gather, is better prepared to solve the
complex questions of capital and labor than
are the men who have been intimately con-
nected with the great industries for years
in different capacities.
This is construction of President Swain
position which his words do not seem to
warrant. His tone and spirit may be- i
think, found in this extract
"A university must recognize it's envirol-
ment. Yet an institution of learning would
be foolish, indeed should it accept and pro-
mulgate any current theory simply because
it is current To teach either free trade or
protection because either is the theory of
the party in power. would be unworthy of
and wholly contrary to the ideals of the
scholar. 1t should be the duty OF the uni
versity to examine into every question, in
dustrial, historical, philosophical, political,
scientific which is of present or future in
terest to the people of the State To gather
together all the facts of experience and
the thoughts of the profoundeSt thinkers
on these questions and place before the
students and people a scientific treatment
of the subject, is of the utmost Importance. -
There does not seem much know 1t air
in this. Does he not mean here, and only
moan that the scholar. trained in the learn
ing of the schools, will aid and supplement
John Sherman and Hugh McCulioch ard
Jay Cooke in their work? DR. Swain prob
ably learned, long ago, that experience
teaches knowledge, and he, no doubt, would
be the last man to claim for mere theory a
superiority to that best of all teachers.
practical experience This is the spirit of the
above extract and 1t will probably so strike
most readers.
The question of the removal of the univer-
sity 10 indianapolis is not up for present de-
cislon. and we will emulate Father Cart
wright and cross Fox river when we come
to It, Meantime, let US give our educational
institutions fair play. and let us hope that in
the new heaven and the old earth opening
TO Indiana this winter in our Republican
Legislature the interests of higher education
may not suffer j. B. l..
Pendieton, Jan. l.