The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-14
ANOTHER ILLUSION.


Memories of the Blair educational bill
are stirred to life by the proposition
now before congress to create great
national university. 1t seems in every
way probable that this movement will
meet with the success which the hobby
of the senator from New Hampshire
failed to attain. 1t is. nevertheless, no
souuder in principle or more desirable
in practice than was the appOrtionment
of federal moneys to aid common
school education in the several states.
Indeed if the people are to be taxed at
all to promote education, the first levy
should be made and the first receipts
expended for that sort of education
that reaches the largest number of
people instead of the fewest. On just
principles of republican government
and fSr the creation of intelligent citi-
zenship. it would be better that aid
from the treasury We're extended to the
common schools of the nation than that
it should be lent to the building of a
central institution that may pamper
national pride, but can scarcely make
valuable addition to the educational ia
Cilities of the country. We are so
Prone to- be caught with catchwords,
the glitter of the name and idea of a
national university is so fetching and
the list of promoters is so respectable
that it is almost too much to hope that
oP Ia
mon people can avail to save us from
going into this rash and unnecessary
project, in which other millions will be
added to our annual expense bills that
we may purchase a glittering bauble
The work of higher education is not
properly the care of the fed
eral government. The latter has
no place at present in the
scheme of public education at ALL
That work is done by the states is
dcne well and will be done more thor
oughiy as time passes. In addition to
this. we have the older and more ia
nous institutions for higher learning
that were founded by private enter
vate support. The rank and reputation
which these have reached show inesti-
Inabie superiority. The university that
grows naturally is apt to be above any
that is created from the public funds.
The danger that political influences will
govern the latter is always present, and
we are inclined to think is increasing,
rather than declining. While many of
the states, notably Minnesota and
Michigan, have built up great univer-
stiles on a basis of merit and entirely
free from the faint Of the spokesman.
there is no guarantee for their future.
If we turn, on the other hand, to
state populated almost wholly by the
Intelligent people of New England, like
Kansas, we find its state university the
sport and plaything of political parties
and its professors holding their chairs
only as they may consent to teach the
economic doctrines that are pleasing to
the party in power for the time being.
If such influences should creep into
the conduct of a national university, it
would become a public scandal and an
influence to corrupt rather than to ele-
vate. How can we delude ourselves
with the faith that this would not
be its fate? Look at the institution
which in its work and purposes comes
nearest to a university at Washington
today, the great congressional library,
and what do we see? The man who
made it, the accomplished scholar the
genius among librarians of this coun-
try is degraded to a subordinate post.
While the control of that great institu-
ton, for whose magnificent new home
the people have paid 50, 500, 900, is given
to a person who, While not conspicuous
~ unfit FOR the place, certainly owes his
appointment to his political relations
and prominence. 1t is not without sig
ridcance that the same body which has
before it a bill for national university
Is rent by the concerted efforts of the
representatives of the spoilsmen in
their determined attempt to repeal the
CIV, seYvce law or TO cut off supplies
Under 1t. and put back the federal serv-