The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-06-15
THE A
Dedicatory Address Delivered by
President James B. Angel
OF the University of M~ichIgan-A Plea for
the Support of State Universities
Where Children of the Poor Have
Equal Chances With the Rich.

President James b. Angel ofthe Uni
versity of Michigan delivered the fol-
lowing address at the dedication of the
new buildings of the Missouri univer-
sity.
CThis is a proud day for the university Of the
state. Out Of the ashes Of the old university
building rises the new building in radiant
splendor. Every heart Is throbblng with de-
light. This beautiful and spacious editice
stands as a type and a monument. Atype of
the university itself, which, having emerged
from its years Of trials. or disappointmcnts, of
hope deferred. into its new, happy era
OF glorious achievements and still more
glorious promise; a monument TO the
generosity of the state and to the
devotion of the noble men who have tOlled for
years for the present glad cOnSummation. One
can not walk down through the quadrangle
and enter this stately building without re-
calling gratefully the names of many who
wrought with so much devotion to furnish the
university with its present equipment. hear
from the lips of you all with whom l converse
the warmest acknowledgements to Gov.
Francis and the members OF the Thirty-SiXth
general assembly; to your own alumnus Gov.
Stone, and the Thirty-seventh general as
sembly; to Hon. G. F. Rothwell, who unhappi-
ly was not spared to see the completion OF this
building, for which he had SO long and ardu-
ously worked.
1t may well be a source OF special gratifcs-
ition to you that the recent advances Of the uni
'versity have been secured, not by the interest
of a few conspicuous friends alone. but by the
aid OF the pressure Of public opinion. as ex-
pressed in tine journals Of the state, and in the
hearty action OF the legislature. This great
commonwealth has again and again sOlemnly
recorded herself as pledged to your support.
We may be sure that she ~rejoiceS with yOL to-
day in the triumph Of this academic festival,
and in the heart peoples herself anew to Sc
cure you a future even more glorious than the
past.
But in the Joy of this glad day we may all well
remember that the recent goOG fortune of the
university, which finds its most striking ex-
PRECISION in the construction Of this editice, has
been paSSable only because other men did Sc
bravely and enectually in earlier years the
work Of laying well the foundations of the in
situations. No matter how great may be the
.futul = successes, her friends will never forget,
as they do not forget to-day, the names of two
men who have been best known to Us
in other states as the builders OF the
university of Missouri; President La
,throp and James S. Rollins. These names
deserve to be FURNISHED in letters OF gold
above your portals. Not less worthy of loving
remembrance are the other presidents and the
many professors who, amid great discourage
ment, have builded their lives into the life OF
the university. The presence Of not a few OF
these devoted teachers who have stood at theiI
posts in trying times restraints me from more
particular recognition Of their distinguished
services. i am sure that the hearts Of youI
alumni and friends of the university run out tC
them all in grateful appreciation, and credit
each with his due share in the glory that a
last crowns the university.
In response to your courteous invitation tC
me to address you, it has seemed to me that
might well ask you to consider what, in view
of its organization, are the principal difficulties
with which the American state university has
to encounter, what advantages it has to COM
mend it and what needs must be supplied tC
insure its success.
UNIVERSITY EMBARRASSMENT.
In our present study of state universities il
will be convenient first to inquire what has
been their chief embarrassment A very COM
mon criticism on the organization of universe.
ties by the state Is that political parties will
interfere with them from partisan motives
and seek to use them in furtherance Of party
ends. Theoretically, that seems possible, bul
in fact, so far as L know, the good sense OF OuI
people has prevented this, as it has prevented
such interference with the common schools
] think it may safely re predicted that any
party which shall attempt to use either the
universities or the common schools for 4 par
tiSan purpose will lose, as it deserves to lose
popular appreciation. 1t is true, however,
that there is a certain peril to the state uni
VerSity from the close relation which it holds
to the public. II important differences arise
within its governing board or its faculties con-
corning a line of policy, or concerning the nit
ness OF president or professors for their posi-
tionS, the discussion becomes more widespread
and general and often more impaSSiOned than
1t does when similar questions are before a
close corporation which is practically reSpon-
sible to nobody for it's actions. Such political
discussion OF university questions are often
conducted in large part by men who are fitted
neither by reading nor by experience to speak
as experts, and whose debates are therefore
more heated than wise. No doubt it is posi-.
BILE to cite cases in which serious harm has
been done by dragging universities and teach
ers into the public arena to be aSsailed by
those who were quite incompetent to pass
judgment on the question Tissue, or were dis
posed to display their gladlatOrial skill simply
from the malignant ambition to pull prominent
men down from honorable positions, and 10
cater to that base but too common desire to see
them despatched with abuse.
But after all, while temporary harm. and in
some cases injustice to worthy persons has
resulted from this exposed and open life of the
state university, yet ! believe that on the
whole the university, like the general adj
ministration of the state, is the better and not
the worse for being 10 some extent the subject
of public discussion. 1t is thus made known
to the whole state. The citizens learn thai
they have u responsibility and interest in it.
They can not be expected to bear taxation for
its support unless its purpose and its manage
ment commend themselves to their favor. And
therefore the more frankly and fully its life is
laid bare to the people, the better. The
thing il has most to fear is miSrepresenta-
tion. Under the hre Of criticism and public
discussion the state universities have. with
some interruption. pretty steadily gained, and
as n class are more invigOrated to-day than
they have ever been before. The state univer-
stiles have had to contend with a more or less
widespread impression that the conditions OF
their life are to some extent unfrlendly to the
development of a liberal character in the stu
dent. Not a few men, speaking in the interests
of UNCONVENTIONAL colleges, have displayed a
pretty active zeal in disseminating this i'm
preston. The majority OF those who desire a
collegiate education for their children prefer
20 have them surrounded by influences which
are helpful rather than hurtful to their re-
ligiouS life. The belief that such q life Is dis
acouraged rather than encouraged at any col
lege would be an obstacle to its prosperity.
The public sentiment Of all our states is
friendly to virtue and religion, and desires the
cultivation of them in the young in a reaSona'
BILE and catholic way. and 1t will not long suS-
cain in power as a guardian of our schools OF
learning those VINO are actively opposed 10 lnlN
sentiment.
But with regard to the whole subject of the
religious influences in and about the state uni
yersity, l think il is time a frank and honest
word was spoken to Christian men. Able In
stitutions OF whatever kind are in the end con-
troled and managed by the persons who are
interested in them, and who take pains tC
shape their policy. II all men VINO nave al
heart the dissemination of wholesome religi.
Gus influences in the state hold themselves
aloof from the state universities and content
themselves with critlztS1ng them II ma
fairly be expected that the control OF them
will fall into the hands OF men OF different
views. No one can reasonably doubt that the
state universities are here to stay. for good or
for III. In accepting the United states grants
of land for the maintenance of the university
each state has in reality bound itself to sup
nort such an institution. However. the states
in addition have invested so much money IT
the plant, and so strong i sentiment IN favor OF
the universities has been created. that they
are certain to continue In Some form. Is II moi
then the part Of common sense for all the good
men {" the state, however interested any OF
them MAY be in the support OF other colleges
20 exercise their legitimate influence In deter
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