Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
AID THE UNIVERSITY.
The Legislature Should Respond 10 Its
Appeal With Liberality.
WORK AND HISTORY.
No other Institution Can DO m Much
TO Transmit Ntrginin's Glory To
After Generations-Ehect Upon the
Lesser schools.
To the Editor of he Dispatch:

To the Editor of the Dispatch.
The friends Of the University OF Vir-
elnla may doubtless feel assured that
the judicious legislators TO whom its ap-
peal for aid has been so ably presented
by the message OF the Governor and the
Committee Of visitors will provide
cheerfully for the needs Of the school;
and yet it vii. perhaps be not improper
for one who feels "A deep concern for the
success OF the measure to express MS
interest. As TO the vital Importance or
general education. no candid thinker who
is acquainted with the workings OF our
free institutions and the conditions Of
their maintenance can be indifferent.
From the earliest years OF our govern
ment this imperative need has found
rightful expression in our ablest men.
In proportion as the structure of a gov
eminent gives force to public opinion,
IL f. essential that public opinion shall
be enlightened" said Washington in his
farewell address. Next in Importance
TO freedom and Justice Is popular educa-
ton, without which neither freedom nor
justice can be permanently maintained,
were words OF Garfield. And Macaulay
said 20 Parliament: For every pound
you save in education you will spend D
in prosecutions. in prisons. in penal set
Elements"
HELP THE LESSER SCHOOLS.
While this is admitted on all hands. it
is not so plain to all that our higher
institutions OF learning bear vital re-
lation 70 our public schools and serve
equally useful and necessary ends in the
economy of the State. But the wide
spread prosperity Of our common schools
is as certainly dependent on higher in
stitutions Of learning as the floods Of
the delta OF the Mississippi are de-
pendent on the snowdrifts OF the
Rockies and Alleghanies, or as the trees
fruits are dependent on its roots. Edu-
cation works from above downwards;
Just as the great books of tho original
thinkers which comparatively few con-
suit. really determine indirectly the worth
OF our literature because these think
ers have mined the bullion which the
lesser writer's mint for common currency.
Colleges and universities furnish efficient
teachers for lesser schools. are re-
postories OF knowledge and centres Of
light. where the moulding spirits in our
courts senates, laboratories. and pulpits
are nurtured and quickened Our uni
versity is I'm a real sense the dynamo Of
the intellectual and moral life OF the
state.
1t would seem that the getting OF
wise leaders and progressive thinkers,
upon whom hinges so much touching our
social life and progress, ought TO enter
largely into our plans for public educa-
ton. as should the teaching Of citizens
generally the elements OF knowledge. For
an educated leadership is as essential TO
the conduct ~ thA Commonwealth AZ an
enlightened vote, and our highest well
fare will be the natural outcome OF the
sympathetic union of these two forces.
The necessity for this is seen in the
power Of the press. where in determining
issues the influence of the editor OF a
great daily sometimes far outreaches that
OF our ablest representatives IN the ma
tional councils.
THE TINE FOR LIBERALITY.
There are especially strong reasons why
we should seize this hour to 90 generously
by the university, Of whose splendid
career one who in a distant stare was
reared TO love and revsra b. cannot
conceive that any Nirginan is not proua.
II the university is to maintain its for
mer rank among the schools of America
IL must be enlarged In the near future.
This does not mean that IL Is not now
doing as good work as In former days.
on the contrary. / am satisfied by an
acquaintance, too brief, yet not inatten-
tive TO It's methods and tendencies, that
IL is to-day doing better work than ever
before i'm its history. Such. however, mas
been the marvellous progress of education
I'm general. and especially the rapid In
crease or endowments for universities in
the North, thas far greater facilities than