New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-14

beyond the college, with special courses "a -,
struction OF the highest order, as wen as a.,
for purely original work. not alone In science US
tnctively so called. but also IN tho sFeA' "'' |a'
history letters, philosophy and tho arr. W
an extension or transformation OF the Sm'thooi'ia
to tho required extent were possible il "our o., :,
! be tho Smithsonian Institution wholly "Ai''"e =
the inspiration and enlargement OF ioeae ""'S'
hoio,s IN thincs National 90 II would sustain h1
natural or organic relation to all grades Oh ms
tutlons or schools below g. with the coofu'",'''e
elcvatng, nay, compelling. influence upo', ~ -.
which would be 40 important ohHrae.e' -
the proposed University OF the United 7'aVe'
! C,utsde Of ifs own proper field, II wouiu "o' ~
ot,rsct studonts from abroad and hence 10 this
extent would fail OF that international stanohs III
! the university world necessary 10 s"''Si' NV
aims and aspirations Of the American people,
II wa are 20 have a National university 'whicn
President Gilman believes will surely cofne' 'e' 20
| 10. too rar consult matters OF facility ana con-
vanlcnce hut strike for the highest and most conn
plete Institution possible, as being al the same I'm,
| The most helpful and honorable to great peoP'e
| who need but wisdom, with loyalty 10 ruth anu
righteousness 70 insure TO the United states MOI
ar,,, .ha ,oranost rank in wealth and power, but
also supreme influence for good amo"s III '"'
nations.
The great committee for whose members sP'uN
has hnd and now has except as removed by oea, -:
two ex-Presidents OF the United states 'he C"'4
/ Justice OF the United States and other men VINO
r,vA obfained erntnence In the Held OF jurispru-
d,nca ex-Cahnet ofrcers Of the highest rank sew
eral ext United state Senators OF great eihhehce
number OF ambassadors ex-anoassadors ana MIN
listers 10 foreign courts, the Major Geherui coHi-
/ handing the Army Of the United states 'he neauS
OF many Government bureaus. the Secretary OF the
/ Smithsonian Institution and several OF the re-
gents the superintendents Of the naval and mill
| tary academies all the State superintendents OF
public Instruction. and the presidents of some TWO
hundred colleges and universities, incluulhg' De
10 a.
/ Princeton, Cornell. Chicago, Leland s'anio'u anu
the State universities, every one OF them.
In view Of this showing, It can hardly be sara
/ that the Smithsonian idea fairly represents the
present attitude Of most authorities IN tho elu-
cational world" toward the present National Uni
versity proposition
such a committee is entitled 10 the READY ac-
cenfance OF its conclusions upon such matter by
both people and Congress, Notwithstanding the
I simple nonconcurrence of the distinguished heads
~ the four time honored institutions who are
not vet quite ready to Join the National Univer-
s!ty forces and the active opposition OF the as
tinguished ecclesiastic already referred to-
AGAINST THE SMITHSONIAN IDEA.
i IS quite improbable that the suggested de-
ve,opment Of the Smithsonian would meet tho
demands Of The country. for in the opinion Of SAID
National Committee. the Offices Of the proposed
university should he about as follows:
Frst-To supplement existing institutions by
supplying post graduate instruction Of the very
highest order in every department Of learning,
duo regard being had to other institutions and 70
supreme work already done elsewhere.
Secondly its central faculties and cluster OF
professional schools Of post graduate rank TO rep
resent at al times the sum Of human knowledge
Third-To lead in thu up-building Of new profes-
sions by its applications of science especially such
as directly concern the Government and the Ma
tonal welfare
Fourth-Greatest Of all, TO lead the world in the
work Of research ard investigation while har-
monizing its plans far as possible with the
Smithsonian and other institutions Of tho coun-
try engaged In original work
The Government only duly provide for full
hlment OF all these great Offices by establishing in
tho midst Of tho facilities here furnished at cost
10 the people OF some so O0Oo O) a university Of
the highest possible type. II should be university
IN name rs well as IN fact and bear the stamp OF
the Nation itself II would more than fulfil the
Offices above named. 1t would complete the now
! imperfect system OF public education by supply
ing the crowning university II lacks. 1t would exert
a most important Influence upon the public service
in general while holding Itself ready for the solu-
ton Of difficult problems upon request Of the Gov
eminent and more thoroughly equipping men Of
genius for special duties both at home and abroad
Il would in Il thousand ways strengthen the pat
riotic sentiment Of the country.
The bill before Congress was framed by the
| Executive Council Of the National University Com
/ mitteo composed OF the Hon. Melville ". Fuller.
| ILL., D.. chief Justice Of the United States: ex-
/ United States Senator George T. Edmunds, IL
/ j.. ex-Provost William Pepper. Ii. j., OF the
! University Of Pennsylvania tho Hon. Andrew j.
! White LII. D.. present Ambassador TO Germany;
Ex-Governor John Lee Carroll, IL. j.. president
general Of tho Society Of Sons OF the Revolution:
! General Horace Porter. IL d.. president general
! u the Society OF Sons Of the American Revolu-
/ tion and present Ambassador to France; General
/ Eppa Hunton IL. D., ex-United States Senator:
ex-United States Senator A. II. Garland. Ii. D.,
/ late Attorney General OF the United States: ox-
/ United States Senator J. i. Henderson. LII u. b.;
/ Colonel Wilbur X. Smith, Of Kentucky University
! General John Eaton, ex-Unted States Commits
! siouer OF Education; the Hon. Gardner G. Hub
| bard II. D. president National Geographic So
| cioty: Simon Newcomb. Ii p. director Of the
Nautical Almanac. G. Brown Goodc, L. D.. as
sistant secretary Of tho Smithsonian Institution;
! the Hon. John a Kasson. ex-United States Minis
/ ter 10 Austria the Hon. Oscar S Straus. again
United states Minister to Turkey, and ex-governor
/ John W Hoyt. NJ D.. LII D.. chairman Of the
| National University Committee.
Besides the work OF special committee with
| ex-senator George r Edmunds for chairman and
| DIS Andrew D. White and william Pepper, Pro-
fossor Simon Newcomb and others to assist. three
prolonged sessions Of the Council Itself were given
/ 70 the task Of preparing the pending University
BILL the Honorable Chief Justice presiding AT every
session. and every member being present from first
10 last except General Horace Porter. whose prior
engagement prevented his attendance.
In the remark that there IS. both among the
| universities and among educated people generally.
considerable dstrust Of the idea that Congress with
tho multiplicity % its other duties should also uu-
dertake 20 provide FOR and direct university educa-
ton" there Is. regret 10 say, surprising irree-
! vancy II not unfalrness. II amounts TO nothing
more than an unwarranted assumption. which was
/ evidently INDUCED IN without knowledge or due
B consideration Of what is proposed. For. ln the