The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1900-04-16

taken greatly advanced position. The
rightto search for truth anywhere, every>
where, and at all times, Is cardinal doc.
trlne with Trinity College She, there
fore, denies the right to political parties,
social traditions, or any other influences,
TO contine her range Of work. II is very
evident from these facts that Trinity sus-
tains most vital relation, not only TO
the Methodist church In North Carolina,
but to all churches. to the State, and even
to all the South Atlantic States. Ameri-
can freedom, aud society delivered from
prejudice, can be conserved only BY a
broad system Of education. To an7 sim
cere student OF Southern life, this move
ment must greatly commend itself. How.
ever, 1t is easy to see that Trinity must
be content for number Of years TO work
with the sympathies of that small num-
Der who can rise 10 the spirit Of its move
ment. This, the College can afford, look
ing for its reward In new and larger
order OF things as the outcome Of lis toll,
II has been the boast of Wellesley College
that 1t has never had a large patronage,
standing for quality of work which
only q few could value; but at last 1t is
reaping the fruits Of It's fidelity. and new
dormitories have been great necessity.
When President Eliot came to the head
Of affairs at Harvard University he found
the larger institutions Of New England
controlled by influences that hlndered
them In their true mission. True man
that he is, be set himself to the task of
making Harvard the centre of a new
movement. The success of his undertake
ing and the wisdom of bis policy are now
realized In the fact that Harvard Univer.
sity Is In the truest sense Americas insti
tuition OF learning.
II has an influence in American life
that outweighs the combined influence OF
Ill the other New England Colleges and
Universities. The debt of gratitude
which this nation owes to President
Eliot can not be estimated, but bis re.
ward will be in the new educational era
which he has created.
We need in the South Southern Col>
lege. The institutions fostered by the
State are necessarily limited In spirit and
ideals by the interests of the common
wealths which they serve. They are
shaped by the history and spirit Of the
States. II is to the interest OF each insti
tuition 10 nurse Its constituency, and
therefore the claim Of each State to
the right Of educating its own sons, in
stead Of broadening, really limits them to
State feelings and traditions. The church
colleges have suffered from like spirit.
They have been under the patronage OF
conferences and conventions that are
usually bounded by State lines. These
institutions Of course have got their
spirit entirely from the spirit Of these
church limitations, and have claimed the
right to educate all within their bounds.
The same narrowing effects have been
thus produced by church colleges that
have been produced BY the State COL
leges. The business spirit has not been
confined by any Of these boundaries, but
Ignoring Stste lines, has formed allegi-
ances upon q much broader basis. New
England capital lie invested In North
Carolina mills; Chicago capital Is put In
10 Charleston banks. Il Is thus easily
seen that business Is In advance Of edu>
cation, politics, and even religion, In the
matter Of forming q national spirit as op
posed TO State spirit. The States along
the South Atlantic coast need q great
educational centre In which the highest
aud broadest spirit Of Southern life may
he nursed and developed-an institution
to which men from Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, South carolina, North Carolina,
Virginia aud Tennessee may come and
be fused Into life, the sympathies and
purposes Of which compass the interests
Of the whole. with men made after this
type, there must come into the South q
new feeling and energy. Il Is evident,
however, that such an institution must