New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-18
1.-THE UNIVERSITY OF THE II g /.
SOME SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS Asorr
THE PLAN.


Sir: As chairman of the National Comm,,,a. 4.
promote the establishment Of the University q, Wv
United States, my attention has been called N a..
editorial paragraph In your issue OF the 10th ns,
which contains the following:
The friction which has developed at Washington
he enas o Us h AmsG az
States suggests the reflection that with these two
rival institutions, ETC. w"
You will pardon the suggestion that there can h.
no real friction or rivalry between institutions "A
unlike In their conceptions aims and possbilItis,
The charter OF the American University in pro
viding for the Board Of Trustees. says: g. two.
thirds OF whom shall at all times be members OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church." 1t further saws.
Tho said corporation shall have power 70 grant
and confer diplomas and the usual college uni.
versity degrees" 1t contains not a suggestion OF
post graduate work, much less provides that its
facilities and honors shall be for post graduates
only: on which ground alone II could Justly claim
to be a university at ALL
The real spirit and purpose Of the American Uni.
versity are also manifest from the several ad.
dresses concerning It before the General Con.
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1894
Since all were In tho same vein quote from but
two namely from the address Of Chaplain NOW
Bishop McCabe: IF the past is prophetic Of the
future, this American University will have much to
do with the cause Of missions. The name OF 4
university professor is household word In Method
ISM 1t is connected with that all conquer
ing theology which is believabe and preachable
and which is destined to take the word-James
Arminius OF the University OF Leyden." And from
the address of Bishop Newman: at comes TO us
more and more that in the roll of the centuries. in
the ordering OF time. God Almighty, the God Of our
fathers has selected Bishop Hurst to lay tina foun-
dalton Of the American University for American
Methodism."
Such is and is to be the American University
The University Of the United States, on the other
hand Is planned as the logical elimination Of the
American system OF public education now termi-
mating with the State universities; the stimula-
ton, coordination and elevation or all lower In.
stltutions 10 be not the least OF its benehcent
suits. The proposed charter provides for exclu-
sively post graduate work that the university
shall have authority to establish. with other In.
stitutions OF learning, such cooperative relations
as shall he deemed advantageous; and that In
all the operations of the university neither Sec
tartan nor partisan preferences shall he allowed In
any form" The National character OF the uni
versty Is made complete by provision for a repre-
sentaton Of leading institutions in the educational
management while the general direction will be
In the hands OF the Government In short. the
University OF the United States is 70 be such an In
stitution as only great Nation can make and
utilize In the public interest; such n university as
will alone beft the dignity OF great and growing
pover asplrng to lead the world in civilization
R.tween an undergraduate institution designed
"a the central seat Of a particular theological
propag anda and such an institution as the proposed
University of the United States there can be no
friction. no rivalry. no comparison. very respect
fully, JOhN roD.i HOi
ths United States Washington. d. c., August
r. 1899.
mfr Hoyts citations certainly show clearly
enough that there might not be great friction IN
the sense of rivalry in competition for students,
between his proposed University OF the United
States" and the university which the Method-
ists are to build up at Washington. II IS not 50
clear that his new university could make lor
itself even under the patronage Of the uhltea
states Congress such q distinct field, In the I'M
mediate vicinity Of the Columbian University
the Georgetown University. the Cathohc Uni
versity. the Methodist University and the How-
ard University. all in Washington, ana ths
Johns HOPKINS University only an hour away
az TO Justify it's existence. without seeming 70
.ome ~ then, 10 infringe needessly II not uh'
fairly Upon their field. sa
II is only candid also 10 recognz, the iae'' %
clearly pointed out few years ago ~ Dr u"-
man the president OF Johns Hopkins IN as
| cussins this very subject. that there IS po'h
among the universities and among educated peo-
ME generally considerable dstrust or the loea
that Congress. amid the multiplicity or i's o'ner
duties should also undertake to provide TOT anu
| direct university education DR. Gilman I'M
| doubtedly spoke for general and widesprean
! opinion among the educated classes IN saying.
Such apprehensions may be prohoun0eu
! sroundless: nevertheless. 1t will he oiHcu' "
get rid OF them. There will be an ever present
expectation Of political interference nrst IN inc
| governing body then in the faculty. ana nhaiV
IN the subjects and methods OF instruction. IL
is true that partisan arrangements may va
| avoided but II will be difficult incced 10 eS0''o
the thraldom -,
In the paper to which We are referring 'oris'-
nally published in THE Century Magazine anu
now the last in DR.. G!lman's book emitted oh'-
versity Problems in the United states y the ui'-
tinguished author approves thoroughly OF ina
motive IN which undoubtedly the movement loF
National University finds its orgin-ndHTH
the desire not only among residents OF WASH
ington but among lovers and promoters VI
learning throughout the country, tnat 'he IL
brary collections, instruments and apparatus Oe
longing to the Government should De open "
students. not as a political favor nor ny eA>
ception on personal grounds. nor as one Oh ''e
sights to crafty the curiosity or Visl'ois WV
constantly throng the National capital ou' lo'
real study and experiment. either under ''e
guidance of such teachers as may aHeauS 10
engaged in the Governments service. or m'sn'
be employed for this particular work Ibis -
certainly a laudabe desire In which in'ei'sen'
people generally would sympathze Ut ""'
mans suggestion was that the Smithsonian IL"
stitution. which had already given such proot'
OF continuously wise and able management
might organize a plan for thus utilizing 'he
educational material which the Government MAJ
collected Here is his idea in detail:
The outlines Of such a plan may now be inai'
Gated as a basis for further suggestions. -
begin with, a head Of this branch Oh sei ,hs
must be announced. This may wen pe 20 20
Secretary of the Smithsonian: but II ne
already too much occupied. let there be an as
aIstant SECRETARY in charge Of advanced nv