The news & observer., 1897-02-20
U[1[DE[R
1TlFl[E DOR0[E

Yesterday morning at mine O'Clock, the
committee on Finance at the State Treas
urer's office considered the bill introduc-
ed by Bryan, of Chatham, to take away
$4,000 of the $4,000 appropriation to
the University. IL was quite an inter-
esting meeting. Editor Bailey, of the
Biblical Recorder, was present and while
no did not advocate the b:ll, he stated the
position he and those who stood with
him held on the question of State aid.
Mr. Bailey said:
.aThis is a question of public educa-
tional policy. There are two fundamen-
+oI princiq,las now underlying higher ed
ucation IN this country: The State aid
1rinoinle and the voluntary principle.
The University of Michigan, the Uniyer-
e;tv of Virginia and the University of
North Carolina represent the State ald
by taxation principle; Harvard, Yale,
Princeton. Chicago, Leland stanford,
and in North Carolina, Trinity, Davidson
Wake Forest, Elon, Guilford and ten
others represent the voluntary principle.
North Carolina was committed to th'
voluntary principle up to the war.
Il stand for the voluntary prlnclpie,
and am opposed to the State-a2d princ'-
pie because: ca.
cannot reach all the people, while lower
education can and does; and therefore
equal and exact justice demands that
such money as the State can afford De
devoted to the common schools.
'2. Because I am opposed to higher
education that is goddess: and the state
has no right to offer any other kind. we
tonight for the divorce of church ana
State.
..3. If the State commits herself to high
er education she does it for all; 1t IS ller
duty to provide it for all; and II she
does. she destroys the other institutions.
Where can she stop? Consider well the
great service these institutions nave rem
dered.
81 Because it is impossible TO make
a great institution in this day and time
on the State-aid principle. North Caro-
lima cannot afford to give more tina
$4,000 a year to the University. with
this amount the University can never
be a great institution; cannot be ade-
auate to the ueeds of the State people
The State viii not give more, benevolence
will not give so long as an institution
is maintained by taxes. 1t is therefore
better for the University to come to the
voluntary principle for its own good.
IS. Higher education by the State y
unnecessary. There are other institu-
tions in the State offering as good in
every respect; and a State has no right
to deal in luAuries.
rs. The people are in favor Of the vol
untary principle. ] have seen the vote
taken in more than one hundred public
meetings, and never saw but two votes
against the voluntary principle. Bap-
lists, Methodists, have in general conven-
ton endorsed the voluntary principle;
and citizens Of all creeds believe in 1t.
.sIn conclusion, / am friend of the
University Its president IS my friend.
/ admire his course. | believe the way
to make the University Il great institu-
ton is to separate it from the Treasury,
and give men reason to endow 1t. 1t
will never have an endowment tll this
is done; it VIII never be a great instltu-
ton till it is endowed. 1t viii never
be popular until it is brought in contact
with the people.
Il do not counsel taking away so large
an amount | do beg you to recognize
the voluntary principle by making re-
duction. This work must be gradual.
We must not injure the institution.
reduction of $1,000 every two years is
the least | would advise. There should
be no permanent appropriation"
President Alderman, who was present,
made a clear and convincing statement
of the needs of the University, showing
that the passage of the Bryan bill would
close the doors of the University
Speeches in opposition to the bill were
made by Messrs. j. NJ. Moody and I'll. A.
Gudger, and the bill was reported un-
favorably by a vote of to 2, Bryan, of
Chatham, and jim Young voting for the
bill. Afterwards Jim Young stated that
he had not voted for the bill but was OPP
posed to it.
We have it straight that the superin-
tendency of the State farm, near Wades-
boro. has been offered to Mr.. Bob Rhein-
hardt, of Newton, by the pie counter
bosses at Raleigh. Mr.. Rheinhardt, it
will be remembered, was prominently
mentioned for the superintendency of
the penitentiary, but when the Republi-
cans advanced the argument that the in
mates of that institution We're practically
all members of the grand old party, and
that they should be allowed to look after
their own, his friends found it impossible
to refute such cogent reasoning, and he
had to step aside in favor of John K.
Smith, Of Goldsboro.
Mr.. Rheinhardt, we learn, has not sig
nified his acceptance of the position. but
as the salary and perquisites are worth
some where in the neighborhood of ST.
200 year, it is not to be supposed
that there is a Repoplican in the State
who would refuse it. Mr.. w. A. Rhein-
hardt a son of the old man, was here
last Saturday and visited the farm. 1t
is presumed that the object of his visit
was to spy out the land and report to
his father.-Wadesboro Messenger and
Intelligencer.
Tine Wadesboro Messenger and IntelE-
hat Gauafor Odaro yva nj