The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-27
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 81, 1901.
THE UNIVERSITY IN THE CONSTITUTION

Constitutional Convention has brought IN
n reno-t In which it recommends that The
University OF Virginia Shall have al an
.,ral appropriation OF . SUI not less than
.ho present appropriation OF $4,000.
Tho committee heard arguments fer
and against this proposition from the
.blcst men of the State, and By an Il
most unanimous vote in the light o. these
extended arguments made this rcconmen-
dation. In taking this action this cont
mittec has shown q broad patriotism
worthy of cultured and enlightened
state. Mr. Jefferson made a fight, run
ming through nearly forty years OF ms
life for n great university, and it was
near the conclusion OF that life when he
Won his batti. and secured what was
termed "a permanent endowment IN me
way Of az annual State appropriation CT
$500.
We learn with some disappointment
that there is opposition on the floor of
tho convention 70 tho noble stand taken
by the committee. We trust that TINS Is
:. mistake and that no member OF the
body will record his vote against this
Intelligent provision.
Tho reasons for founding I. university
for higher education are abundant and
simple 80 one citizen, Co. the education
OF i,i:: son, can afford to build Il uniE2r-
sity costing 4 million or two Of dollars
and employing twenty-five or thirty
learned men. and il ne could, when MS
son became educated he would have no
further individual or personal use for it
It is the part OF an enlightened civiliza-
ton to establish by general taxation such
institutions. Mr.. jefferson Won this cat
lie eighty years ago.
We should not wait for the benetlcence
of rich men to provide for the education
of our sons yirginians are too indepcn-
dent and manly for that. and have al
ways been SO. While great benefactions
may come to such institutions Of learn
ing. a State should not wait for private
benefaction for the education Of its young
citizens.
Neither should the State depend upon
religious bodies for higher education.
While religious bodies have built many
noble sis.s of learning they did it more
as 4 rebuke TO the State because it neg
lected it's duty than because it felt that
it was their sphere in which to operate.
Then, Il great State like Virginia
should establish and maintain a great
university such as she has, why not put
it in The Constitution as a necessary part
of the web ana wool of our school sys
tom?
Some of the members say, leave 1t 20
the Legislatures, but if the Legislatures
are to legislate in regard to its support
they then lcgislate in regard to its ex-
istence, and this is wrong. 1t should not
be left for each recurring Legislature t.
have it in it's power to suspend the Wo1'E
OF this Virginia University. 1t belongs
in the Constitution as great department.
OF our States life, and al subsequent
Legislatures should be required to APP
propriate money for its support, just as
i is mandatory on county supervisors 10
lay levy for public schools.
The argument is made, why not put al
20 the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in
the Constitution? This useful establish
,nent is supported by the United States
Government. 1t has annual appropria
tons amounting &C $1,000 from the Fed
eral Government. Every State in the Tn
ion has one OF these schools, supported
by the United States under the Morrii!
bi.!, but these forty-five institutions have
not yet learned their power When they
all unite together to make demand on
tas Federal treasury, who vii! there he
TO deny theme VIII not each States
Senators and Representatives unite in The
interest of that States school? All Vir-
.sr:a is required to do for the Virginia
inciytcclli:c Institute is TO make special
appropriations for buildings and physical
equipment
Others say. why not put the Virginia
Military Institute in the Constitution?
Memories that cluster about the illsti-
tute are sacred cncs. But it is a qUcs
ton whether it is tie duty of a State
TO educate soldiers-and Virginia is he
only State IN the Union which maintains
y
Times would like to see The institute al
ways maintained. would have no objec-
ton to seeing it in the Constitution, but
It is not in The same relation to the
State as the University, and it is iliogi-
cal to connect them.
Some say. why not put the Farmville
Normal School into the Constitution?
The reason IS that it is better perhaps
to establish a half dozen more normal
schools in different parts OF the STAKE,
and not thus center or one i'll order te
teach Our teachers how to teach.
Wo trust that the convention VIII not
take :. narrow view Of this matter. al!
enlightened public sentiment has l ,;Sht
20 expect better OF the members Of TIE
convention than to see them reject SO
wise & report as the Committee on Edu-
cation has made.