The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-03
A Plea for the Johns Hopkins.


Plea for the Johns Hopkins. > Without
attempting complete answer to him, L
will here jot few little replies by dialogue:
Ward-The day when intelligent and
successful farming could be done by men
having no knowledge of letters beyond the
three r S is, and none too much knowledge
even of them, is past
Livesey-I have heard that before.
Eight Presidents of Agricultural colleges
Jumped on me in one issue of the big
Chicago Farmer Voice on that question,
among others. The editor, out of consid-
Grafton for them, thought it best to stop
the discussion after he read my reply to
the first one | can take Mr. Ward to
one of these semi-lhterate farmers a few
miles from here and show him 600 acre
farm that was recently estolled as a model
by reporter who saw it.
W Many can yet be found who long
for the good old days.
L-Yes, | am one Of these myself, and
| propose to bring up my children strictly
at home.
W-Can Maryland, can the farmers,
mechanics, professional men, as we'll as
those who control the wealth of this pros
porous and growing Commonwealth, longer
afford to leave the Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity out of vital connection with the life,
wealth and commerce of the State
L-Everything that is of ''vital con-
nection with the life. wealth and com
merce of the State should contribute to
that life, wealth and commerce from It's
own pocket and out of its own muscle and
brain. The professional beggar the State
can very well afford TO lose, whether
seated on curbstone or in the Johns
Hopskins' presidential chair Let er
go p and the young men she now seduces
from the pillow and the hammer w'l better
serve their State. Vain glorious men and
institutions who think that the world will
stop when they are knocked out are mis-
taken.
W-If there be any who would adyo-
cate such neglect would ike to have
them consider moment whether, if the
John Hopkins University were suddenly
and completely destroyed, there would not
have persisted nine -tenths Of that for which
even the existence Of Baltimore city and
Maryland are known in Europe, aud half
of that for which they are known and re-
spected in our own State.
10 no, no there would be no par
ticular mourning over Hopkins if It was
blotted out. The Women 5 College girls
and the sporting fraternity generally might
miss the fun Of the teams the airs Of the
glee club and the charming theauicals; but
the substantial men of the world would
remember what Senator Chauncey DePew
has said on the COLLEGES aud the Hopkins
would pass from their memory like Whit
of tobacco smoke. Chauncey said. There
is nothing conservative as the college. Il
follows last in the procession Of progress;
it distrusts innovations aud discTedits
theories Its faculty, by the very pecu-
Harity Of their existence, learn 70 respect
the traditions and teachings OF the past.
Chauncey few years ago also said that
Education is the cause of labor troubles
and from some recent words and actions
Of Andrew Carnegie il would seem tbs,
he, too, is disinclined to assist colleges.
WI can point to direct and great adj
vantages that have come 70 my own insti-
tuition through the university.
And for that reason you want to
see the university repaid BY the State
Pay your own bills It Is little concern
of the masses how much the universities
and colleges help one another along.
birds of a feather viii flock together y
Let them flock and il will be all the easier
to kin two birds with one stone.
WI feel moved to say that whatever
of intellectual power and liberty aud hap
piness have, on shall gain, win be due,
in the first instance, al least, 70 the Johns
Hopkins University.
L-Yes, some people have 50 little in
them that it takes Z whole university 20
initiate them Others have 80 much in
them that they eau raise up themselves in
the back woods and be called self made
men. Some men pass through the uni
versities to fnd that they are net what
they are cracked up to be and have TO re
solve themselves down to themselves after
ward. Ny own relation TO schools brought
me TO that realization myself After
leaving them | found | knew nothing and
/ had to begin the pursuit Of knowledge
all over again along the path Of manual
work.
Another fool besides myself, whose con
domination of colleges Is going the rounds
of the papers, says
~ went to two colleges. was graduated
from one of them ! owe neither Of them
anything. Such education | have | ae-
auired myself have written for all the
great magazines. / am an editorial writer
on one Of the greatest newspapers Of the
world The philosophy taught me was a
deadly drawback 10 me. | know more than
a hundred bachelors of arts, who cannot do
capably any part Of the worlds work. No
college is best; no college is even good; and
none will be til somebody Pounds one in
which to educate the mind in the modern
ways cf thinking"
The woods are beginning to get full Of
these kind of men and they have a great
effect in making the old farmers believe
that they should not be bled to death for
the support of Hopkins. If the farmer
wants any legislation for his benefit be has
a very hard time to get it,
Wis it not time that the State of
MARYLAND should see to it that the Johns
Hopkins University is placed upon such a f.
nancial footing that every farmer 5 son who
has the ambition and the brains should be
enabled to enjoy the advantages of the
university, without paying dollar of tut
ton
L.-Just for this very reason the Hop
kins should not have a cent On this
point l would sooner give it $50, 600 to
leave the country than to stay in it. Like
every other college in the land it is seduc-
ing the farmer sons from the farms,
bringing neglect and poverty in old age to
the old folks and developing college grad
yates into all kinds Of shysters, sharpers,
socialists and revolutionist The country is
full of men at this minute who got an ed
ucation at the expense of the state and
who now think that they should also get
food, clothing, shelter and all the comforts
of life also
Frou, a Catbolic mint of view Arch