Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15

university ShOuid be established, as follows:
First. From the great number of ambi-
Gous young men of the country who, from
the beginning. have been accustomed to go
abroad for opportunities they could TO;
find at home.
Second. From the jealous and repeated
efforts of many of the foremost scholars,
scientists and statesmen to have in this
country at least one postgraduate uni
versity of the highest possible grade.
Third From the many honorable, but
still inadequate, efforts of existing institu-
lions, and of large-minded, philanthropic
men to meet this demand by increase of
work.
Fourth. From the strong declarations re-
peatedly made by individual citizens and
organized bodies of men most competent
to judge that when all shall have been
done that can be through individual and
UNCONVENTIONAL agencies. 1t will still he
the high duty and interest of the nation
itself to establish and literally endow an
institution of such rank as is proposed by
this BILL"
Senator Hunton. making a unanimous re-
pert Of the committee in 1894 said
Effect ON the Educational Field.
'In the opinion of your committee such
an institution should be deemed necessary.
first of all. on account of the supreme work
it would do in every division of the purely
educat onal field-work at present but very
partially and scatteringly done at those
few institutions so fortunate to have
&C ncurrenee of competent men with the
means requisite to the support of sys-
tematic courses of postgraduate instruc-
ton.
go 1t would powerfully contribute to the
improvement of the whole series of schools
Of the country, from the kindergarten to
the university.
"CO 1t would correlate broaden. elevate
ard strengthen the entire circle of the So
called professions, not only furnishing, but
indirectly elsewhere compelling, better prep
aration for professional studies. with high
Ell standards of professional attainment.
and hence broader and more thorough
&C urses of instruction.
go 1t would prove a most important
means of supplying to multitude of in
dustrial occupations the scientific principles
requisite to their highest success: thus dig
nifying labor and building up many new
professions.
go 1t would enlarge tie field of human
knowledge by means of the original re-
while at the same time inducing students
of genius into the art of investigation; thus
helping mankind to an earlier mastery over
the hidden forces of nature.
go Such an institution would prove n
powerful defender as well as discoverer and
teacher of truth.
Among it's members there would always
be moral heroes as superior to the menaces
OF power as to the insidiouS arts of the
most skillful and corrupt devotees of false
godS-men able to unmask error and bold
&c stand for the right at all hazards. The
sacredness of truth, freedom of thought
and freedom Of speech will be the in
scription upon its portals.
go The proposed university is also pa
triotic necessity. 1t would secure to us as
a great people the independence We need
in things intellectual. 1t would strengthen
our love of country, and SO prove new and
powerful safeguard of free institutions. 1t
would gather to its seat not only persons
of genius and Of lofty aspirations from all
Tv,,s1 f~~~ all ,f
the civilized world; thus at once stopping
the present exodus to foreign institutions
for advantages we do not here furnish, and
turning the tide of superior learning to our
own shores. 1t would help the United
States TO a commanding influence as ben
eficent power among the nations; to a prac-
teal leadership in the march of civilization.
Fer these important reasons the estab
lis hment of such an institution as the one
now proposed has been in the minds of the
foremost scholars and statesmen of our
&C untry from a period anterior to the adop-
ticn of the American constitution.
Constitutional Provision Favored.
1--WE find that Gen. George Washington
considered the subject and predicted the
es tahlishment of national university when
in his military camp at Cambridge, in 1775;
that James Madison, John Adams, Charles
c. Pinokney, Benjamin Franklin, William
Samuel Johnson, James Rutledge and
olherS, reanZlnS us importance ana DelnS
unwilling TO trust to the chances of future
legislation, strongly favored provision for
it in the Constitution itself; that upon the
failure of this proposition in the conven-
ton, solely because a majority deemed II
an unnecessary incumbrance of that in
stTument, DR.. Benjamin Rush, signer Of the
Declaration of Independence ard the lead
ing American scientist of his time, elo-
qUently pressed the subject upon the coun-
try
The report quotes the words of Presidents
John Adams. Jefferson. Madison, Monroe
John Quincy Adams Jackson, Grant,
Hayes, all of whom strongly urged that the
university be established.