The National tribune., 1902-10-30
A NOBLE PHILANTHROPY.

A NOBLE PHILANTHROPY.
Gen. o. O. Howard hardly needs Intro.
duction or praise to the Union veterans
and the people of the United States. But
if any we're needed, it could not come from
a better source than from that splendid
gentleman aud soldier. Gen. Wager
Swayne, Of New York. Gen Swayne
writes the following letter in regard to the
grand work which Gen. Howard has been
engaged in for many years:
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: It is now
almost 40 years since Congress by joint
resolution declared that ''the gratitude of
the American people and the thanks of
their representatives in Congress are due
and are hereby rendered to Ma. j.-Gen.
George G. Meade and to Maj Gen. Oliver
q. Howard, and the officers and soldiers
of that army, for the skill and heroic valOr
which at Gettysburg repulsed, defeated
and drove back broken and dispirited be-
yond the RappahanOck, the veteran army
of the Rebellion"
Gen. Howard is now the sole survivor
of the very few out of the great armies
Of those days on whom such honor and
distinction were conferred by name.
Gettysburg was the high-water mark
and turning point of the rebellion. The
years since Gettysburg have seen this Ma
ton come to be of all the nations the most
prosperous. Meantime the present situa-
ton offers opportunity to give substantial
recognition of the Nations debt to Gen.
Howard, and to do it in way most CRATE
full to himself and honorable to the coun-
try.
For several years he has been giving
of his time, his labor and his means to
establish and develop at Cumberland Gap.
Tenn, the Lincoln Memorial University
1t is the outcome of a memorable talk,
just after Gettysburg, with Mr. Lincoln,
in which the latter urged upon him with
prolonged intensity, the virtues of the loyal
mountaineers of Tennessee, the class from
which Lincoln himself had sprung.
Friends of this one-armed worker have
never known him so absorbed in any Secu-
lar good work, and that is strong state
ment when made about Gen. Howard.
He has there already property, free
from debt, comprising 600 acres of rich
land, with suitable buildings for housing
and teaching 200 of the "poor whites" of
that vicinity, with quarters for 200 more
already under roof. The work has been
in operation for some years, and students
have crowded in from the first. The
young men, besides their studies, till the
farm. make and lay brick, run a saw mil,
and in other ways also learn to support
themselves. Young women, coming from
besides what they acquire from books, do
all the housework and housekeeping, un-
der superior teachers, and are taught, be-
sides the better ways of womanhoOd.
This has grown steadily for several
years, and is still growing with increased
demand. A student gets along on SlOO
a year, and by doing more work may re-
duce it to $50.
OF course, the University cannot be self
supporting at these rates, and yet they
cannot be increased. What Gen. Howard
wants, above and beyond anything, is an
endowment fund, to insure its perpetuity:
Two persons have offered 5000 each If
one sum of 100000 be raised by Jan. !,
1903, and $4,000 each if one sum of $780,
600 be raised.
BY very hard work Gen. Howard has
friends, having at least his happiness at
heart, have thought that there are yet
surviving memories Of Gettysburg and
Lincoln, which, if what is written above
be made publicly known, may prompt a
public response that shall more honor Mr..
Lincoln. at that same time that it gratifies
Gen. Howard. and does lasting good to
youth who both deserve and need it.
Will you not kindly give space to this
suggestion to your readers? Whatever
they choose may be sent (but preferably
through youl to Hon. Darwin r. James,
Treasurer, No. 123 Maiden Lane. New
York City, and will be promptly and CRATE
fully acknowledged. will myself be glad
to supply further information on request
WAGER. SwAYNE. New York City.
No philanthropical enterprise before the
American people today deserves stronger
commendation. and better financial support
than this plan of Gen. Howard's, to which
for years he has devoted all of his great
energies.
Educational work will receive higher
reward of results among the Southern
pie in the world. The people living there
are of the best blood and heredity, the
same lineage as our own, but they have
been for generations in that remote, iso-
lated region, where they have been cut
off from all school and church advantages.
When they are given educational facilities
they improve with a rapidity unknown
elsewhere.
Their character is strong and their men-
tai soil rich, and readily responds to cul-
tivation. We all know this from the quick
ness of development of such of the noun
tain folk as have come in among us and
lived our lives. They are not long in ris-
ing to our level in everything.
There are some 100000 of these
neglected mountain folk who can readily
be made into first-class American citizens.
Gen. Howard's plan is an earnest, prac-
teal effort to accomplish this result, and
deserves all the financial assistance that
can be possibly given it.
Money contributed will be well be-
slowed, and every dollar bring its full
value in result The National Tribune
will be glad to receive and transmit con-
tributiOns.
PALsIFYING HISTORY.
The telegraphic report of the session of