Evening star., 1896-04-14

Between 1000 and 5000 American students
are abroad each year for postgraduate
Wcrk IN european universities; a confess
sion that American institutions do not fully
equip men for special lines of work. 1t is
understood that many prominent Ameri-
can educators, representing our best uniyer-
sites, are at the present time petitioning
the universities of France to open their
doors to American students for special work
"a confession that European universities
nave 1aclhtles that We have not"
A Patriotic Necessity.
Continuing, the report says: "Such an in
stitution should be deemed necessary, first
OF all. on account of the supreme work it
woufu do In every division of the purely
educ ational f1eld-work at present but very
partially and scatteringly done at those few
institutions so fortunate as to have con-
currence of competent men with the means
requisite to the support of systematic
courses of postgraduate instruction.
1T would powerfully contribute to the
Improvement Of the whole series Of schools
OF the country. from the kindergarten to the
university. 1t would correlate, broaden,
elevate and strengthen the entire circle of
Ing but indirectly elsewhere compelling bet
ter preparation for professional studies
with higher standards of professional at
tainment, and hence broader and more
thorough courses of instruction.
1T would prove most important means
or supplying to multitude of industrial
occupations the scientific PRINCIPLES requisite
70 their highest success, thus dignifying
iator and building up many new profess
SONS. 1t would enlarge the field Of human
knowledge by means of the original re-
searches and investigations of it's members
while at the same time Inducing students
of genius into the art of investigation. thus
nelping mankind to an earlier mastery over
the hidden forces of nature
oucn an institution would prove a
ana teacher of truth. Among its members
there would always be moral heroes as
superior to the menaces of power as to the
lisiolous arts OF the most skillful and cor
rupt devotees of false gods-men able to
unmask error and bold to stand for the right
at ali hazards. The sacredness of truth.
freedom of thought, and freedom Of speech
VII! be the Inscription upon it's portals
ne proposed university is also patriotic
necessity. 1t would secure to us as great
people the independence we need in things
lhteHectuaL 1t would strengthen our love
oi country, and so prove new anu power
fui safeguard Of free institutions 1t would
gather to its seat not only persons of genius
anG OF lofty aspirations from all horizons
OIL s, ,5he Cn1on. but from all parts of the civil
lzed world, thus at once stopping the pres
ent exodus to foreign institutions for ad-
vantases we do not here furnish and turn
ing tne t1de OF superior learning to our own
shores. 1t would help the United states
10 commanding influence as a beneficent
power among the nations; to practical
leadership In the march of civilization.
OF these important reasons the estab-
llsnment OF such an institution as the one
now proposed has been in the minds of the
foremost scholars and statesmen of our
country from period anterior to the adop-
tlon OF the American Constitution"
Endorsements of the Idea,
In communication to the committee, ex-
Senator Edmunds said of the proposed uri-
versity:
The great extent Of the United States
and' consequently. the great distance of
the larger body of colleges, academies and
schools OF the various states from each
other. makes it extremely difficult if NOT
impossible, for them to work in common
sympathy with and in support of each 9th
CT. rms university will, 1 believe. over
come TINS dlffculty to a very large degree
and VIII make what, in commercial phrase
might be called mutual exchange and
clearing house of knowledge, administra-
i've and proper. fnasmuch all the states
and colleges will be continually. from time
10 time. represented in 1t, and the govern
Ors of it.
bes-d deS colleges, academies and schools,
there will always be scattered over the
country very considerable number of per-
sons who will have developed, by their pri-
vate studies and their genius, the capacity
search and progress, not only in mere lit
erature and physical science, but also in
social science. These. as the bill provides.
WI WI. nave a;s, tne opportunity of meeting others
country, and probably from abroad. and
can, at washington. compare notes and
help each other in the great march of the
long time progress to come"
Professor Simon Newcomb said:
II would be an eminently appropriate
keystone to our educatio system orr
counties: aided and countenanced by state
authorities, provide for that elementary
education which is necessary to the pros
perity and well-be:ng of the masses. The
wisdom OF this policy is so universally ad-
niltted, i, ana SO fully sustained by exper-
ienee' as 10 be open to no question"
MIR. Gardiner G. Hubbard.s vfavs
Mr.. Gardiner G. Hubbard said:
I'VE should have somewhere-and cer
tainly there is no spot more suitable or half
SO we'll supplied with facilities for this
work as Westinghouse should have in
America, the best possible opportunities
the whole world can afford, unless we con-
cIude to content ourselves with ranking
second among the nations in the means If
euucatlon. whereas the very nature of our
government demands of us that We offer 10
the lover Of learning and the young man of
genius for research the very best facilities
the world can afford.
Ih1s constitutes a reason which every
one can understand, and which stronrlv
appeals to our national pride, why there
should be planted here great and tru..
fanuefs Hfmnerfsity. . and that we begin the work of
founding 1t now, in the centennial wear
since Washington. by authority, set apart
grounds for its site, and gave of his own
resources what, in those days was a very
dation.' ioun
Ex-Gcv. John w. Hoyt, one of the most
ject, said: pio-
Il shall In due time submit the views of
great number of persons upon the gen
efal proposition as expressed both before
the beginning of this present movement
and SINCE 1t will appear that there is full
concurrence amorg them on these several
points, to wit: D That there is great need
OF an institution for purely post-graduate
work; C) that for many reasons which can
hot be challenged such institution shouId
De established in Washington where faciI-
tiles of SO many kinds, already furnished
at great cost by the whole people through
the government ARE present and but partial
ly utilized; @ that in addition to the price
less benefits which a postgraduate uni
yersity of the highest type would confer.
not only in the help afforded to college grad
yates who now seek at foreign institutions
what they do not find at home but also as
to the means of completing the American
system Of public education, and of furnish
ing to 1t and to all institutions of the coun-
try the very co-ordinating, stimulating and
eieVatlng force SO essential to general pro-
gress; and O that since these great needs
can only be met by the government of the
United States, such beginning as is pos
Stble should be made without furthar 10