Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-12-26
The University Question.

| In my belief. | realized that had to con-
tend with writer OF experience and ability,
and that was gifted with neither OF these
qualifications | believe, however, that no
man should fear TO give voice TO his convic-
tions II he honestly believes that he Is on
| the side OF truth, for
| Get but the truth once uttered and It's like
| A stnr new born, that drops into It's place,
| And which. once circllng In It's placid round,
| Not all the tumult OF the earth can shake
| In my former article In The Democrat, !
made the statement that because Of the lib-
eral policy Of the people OF Wisconsin, the
university had attained an enviable stand
ing among educational institutions, and as
evidence OF this showed that the wealthy
citizens Of the state who formerly sent their
young hopcfuls TO eastern colleges and uni
vorsit!es, were now content To send them to
Madison | stated, in contradiction OF The
TrIbunc's editorial, that the university was
rs accessible to the young man OF moderate
| means as ever and within the reach Of every
| ambitious young man In the state and as my
conclusion from the foregoing, stated that
the poor boy in Wisconsin had the same OPP
portunitics TO acquire u first class university
citizen
That The Tribune could not understand
| this comparatively simple statement, can
| not believe. Probably IL was convenient, un
der the circumstances for the editor Of The
| Tribune and the author Of IA Letter OF Con
dolencc" To shut their eyes, bandago their
ears, and thrusting their brains into fog,
refuse TO look hear or think
The Tribune dcnOminatcd the university
ns ~ rich mans school Ut which the young
man or woman OF spare means and common
modcsty IL at u disadvantage, dwarfed and
discouraged by exclusion from circles OF
amusement and progress, readily accessible
to those Of plethorc purse, whatever their
pnucity of brains"
do not understand that the university
was designed nS u place Of amusement for
either rich or poor, and the young man or
woman who seeks IL there Is unworthy Of
consideration. Men who have achieved dis
tlnctlon for their learning tell ny that II was
only by the practice Of the most rigid self
denial and attention to duty that they won
success, Not by the pursuit OF vain trnnsa-
tory pleasure and amusement Is learning nc
CURED and the true student finds his great
est delight nj his books In quest Of that
which the wealth Of the world cannot buy.
our honorcd Garfield was not "dwnrfcd and
discouraged" by exclusion from "crclcs OF
amusement and progress" In his lnborious
years ut college and he ~ but the type OF
thousands upon thousands more.
| ngrcc with Mr.. Bennett (nnd grcvc with
him that IL Is truc) that all men are not
equal ut Madison, IN That the man of pile
thorlc purse" can indulge In Injuries and
nmusemcnts that the poor man must deny
himself. That because Of this, classes arise
and the man Of means associates with those
who can keep pncO with him In his pursuit of
pleasure; but this condition of society Is
manifest In every corner Of the civilized
world. ! cannot here enter Into discus
sion of questions Of sociology. Perhaps
II Mr., Bennett had his way, he would
transform the university into II Brook
Farm Community" or into u communism.
As To the practIcnhiIity OF this | shall
leave my readers to Judge The truth
IL, the fault ~ With the society, and not
with the university. This much Is true
| there Is less OF that feeling OF social dstlnc-
| tion at Madison than AT any other OF our
large educational institutions, or IN the
large centcrs Of population, As for the uni
verslty II recognizes, In It's management, no
| distinction save that ~ brains.
The Tribune dlsnppruVcs the policy of the
state attempting the work Of general cduca
tIon beyond that furnished IN the High
schools, Ms Incqu'lahIc and Incompatible
with tho Fundamental American principle 81
| ,,l a
secure the greatest good Ia the greatest
| number"
| ! must confess that | did not consider this
question of public schools, Of whatever
| grade, longer open for discussion, at least IN
| America. There can property be no distIuc-
| tIon drawn between aid furnished by IA,
state through taxation for the support ot
| lower grade schools and the same aid fur
nIshcd to the university. II the state has
tho right to provide educational faclltic'
! for It's children Ivy means Of taxation, that
| right cannot br limited by the various
courses or study prescribed In the scvern
grades of our public schools Of which tn,
university Is tho highest, So that II you once
admit that the state has no right To lev,
taxes for tho support OF the university, yul
put tho ny right NJ the root OF our phhll
school system, Such II propost ton nigh
he acceptable IN Turkey but will never fine
favor with the Intelligent people Of Wtscon
sin,
MIR, RcnnCtt DOES not oppose higher cducn
ton, but rather higher education proNidr'
by the state. We must therefore conclud
that he favors private universities, Thu
university of Chicago for example, m lnsti
tuition founded and supported by the mil
lions of the oil mnguatc, millions raised b.
an indirect tax on tho poor people imposcdh
curncring the oil market and keeping ny tn
price OF that staple article. Perhaps this !
MIR. Rennctts idea of equitable taxation an,
American principle The rich man" "a
whom MIR Bcunrtt has 81 strong an nntlpa
thy whom he fears will contamnate youu
America with his nristocratr idea can no.
br made use OF, Mark the Inconsistency
He condemns AS UNI American II univct
sity supported Ivy the people and con
structcd ON democratic ideas, simply hccaus
the rich see iit to Soud their sons there Ia nc
Vuirc an education; and In the Same hreat
advises sending the young man To Il univrt
sLty iustercd and sustained Ivy the wcnlt