Evening star., 1902-03-01
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION
Authoritative Explanation by
President Gilman.
HISTORY OF THE PLAN
NEW ESTABLISHMENT NOT TO SU-
PERsEDE NATIONAL PROJECT.
Details of the Enterprise Now Being
Carefully Developed by
the Trustees.


selected have not developed their plans, but
enough is definitely known to awaken the
highest expectations of good, and TO call for
the enthusiastic reception of his great pro-
ject. His general purpose has been clearly
stated in a single sentence. He purposes to
found. in the city of Washington, in the
spirit of Washington, an institution which,
with the cooperation of institutions now or
hereafter established, there or elsewhere,
shall, in the broadest and most liberal man
ner. encourage investigation, research and
discovery. show the applica ton of knowl-
edge to the Improvement of mankind, pro-
vide such buildings. books and instruments
as may be needed, and afford instruction of
an advanced character to students, when
ever and wherever found, qualified to profit
thereby.
The National University Project.
The present moment is favorable for
casting the eye backward over the growth
of an Idea, and for tracing the various in
fiuences which have contributed to its evo-
luton. A small amount of that Original
research which is the dominant note of
the scientific world will show the relation
of George Washington to this new move
ment.
The possible establishment of national
university was brought up in the constitu-
tional convention, and was seriously dis
cuSsed but the project was dropped, and
no mention of it is found in the funda-
mental law of the Union. When Washing
ton became President he used this Ian
guage in his first message to Congress (Jan-
uary 3, 1850:
"rhere is nothing which can better de-
serve your patronage than the promotion of
science ana literature. = Whether this
desirable object will be best promoted by
affording aids to seminaries of learning al
ready established, by the institution of
national university. or by any other eX-
pedients, will be well worthy of a place
in the deliberations of the legislature
George Washington's Ideal.
From that time onward until he drew
up his last will. few months before he
died, Washington frequently recurs to his
wishes. The University OF the Federal
City is repeatedly spoken of. At the be-
ginning of the year 1895 he points out the
advantages of the Federal City as the
site for a university. and says. If the plan
is adopted he will give to 1t fifty shares of
the Potomac River Company. He adds,
however that the design has assumed no
form, and that he does not know who are
promoting 1t. A little later he addresses
Mr.. jefferson on the same subject, and
gives these reasons for preferring the Fed
eral City for his proposed gift: 1t will be
the seat of government: it is central: half
the District of Columbia is in Virginia:
there will be an advantage in governmental
supervision and certain studies in law and
politics can be favorably pursued in the
of his own gift as a part of the endow
ment. In 1896 memorial was presented
TO Congress for the foundation Of a national
university, but nothing came Of 1t.
The First Presidents Will.
Finally. in the will of Washington we have
the following paragraph. which, like the
famous paragraphs that constitute the
Monroe doctrine, is very short. and has
been the basis of much discussion in later
years:
%" -" as it has always been a source
of serious regret with me to the youth
of these United States sent to foreign coun-
tries for the purpose of education, often
before their minds were formed. or they
had imbbed any adequate ideas of the hap
piness of their own; contracting too fire.
quently not only habits of dissipation and
extravaganza. but principles unfriendly to
republican government, and to the true and
genuine liberties of mankind, which there
after are rarely overcome; for these reasons
1t has been my ardent wish to see a plan
devised on a liberal scale which would
have tendency to spread systematic ideas
through all parts OF this rising empire
thereby to do away local attachments and
state prejudiceS, far the nature of
things would. or, indeed. ought to admit
from our national councils Looking anx-
1ously forward to the accomplishment Of so
desirable object this is dn my esti-
nation, my mind has not been able to con-
template any plan more likely to effect the
measure than the establishment of a uni
versity in a central part Of the United
States, to which the youths of fortune and
talents from all parts thereof might be
sent for the completion of their educa-
tion. in all the branches Of polite litera-
ture in arts and sciences, in acquiring
knowledge in the principles Of politics and
good government, and a matter Of in
Unite Importance, In my judgment by
associating with each other, and forming
friendships in Juvenile years, be enabled
to free themselves In proper degree from
those local prejudices and habitual Jeal-
ousies which have just been mentioned
and which. when carried to excess are
never-faiing sources of disquietude to the
public mind and pregnant of mischievous
consequences to this country.
Ignored for Seventy-Five Years.
Whatever may have been the source Of
Washingtons idea, II was not a passing
thought, for his recorded concentrations
OF it cover nearly ten years. But there
was little public discussion of the sub
ject for nearly three-quarters of a CEN
tury, although it was repeatedly mentioned
IN presidential messages. At length, In
1873, a member of Congress, Mr.. John W.
Hoyt of Wisconsin. afterward governor Of
Wyoming, brought the subject forward
and from that time to this he has been
the unselfish. undaunted and persistent ad-
vocate of a national university to be or
ganized and endowed by Congress In
spite of the opposition and coldness which
the project has encountered, he has lost
no opportunity to urge its Importance; he
has never lost his zeal and confidence
Eminent members of the national legisla-
ture have introduced the appropriate bills,
and yet no final action has been taken by
Congress. The support Of distinguished
men In every part of the country has been
secured, and yet, at the same time strong
objections have been raised in various quar-
tiers. Many wise and patriotic persons
have been apprehensive that Congress
would not be- years roll by the hest
supporter Of advanced education and others
have thought that the country already had
more than enough institutions exercising
the university functions.
Strong Influences Lately at Work.
Recently other influences have been at
work. Many persons who admire the man.
Agement Of the Smithsonian Institution
have thought 1t desirable that the work
of that establishment should be so en-
larged as to exercise, in part at least. the
functions of a university; but the authori-