The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-12
BY WILL T. sHEEHAN.

fuscaioos. Sept 10-(Special Core npondence. )--The character of the Uni versity, what is 1t? The purpose of the University. what IS U .s... They have been pertinent questions since the nrst meeting of the Board of Trustees far back as ls43. It was q full and able answer and though written more than sixty years ago. there Is nothing to take from or add to 1t in this year and beautiful English of that reply chiselled out the ideal of the University as from a piece of marble so that all might see and understand,
 Tn that year, when the University. but little more than decade old, the dem. agogues had tilted against 1t on the hustings and in the legislative forum even as they have done in recent, years. Being the subject of an especially bit- ter attack. the faculty decided to make
 The champion who was named to ride forth and take up for tho faculty, the gage that had been thrown down was Professor F. A. F. Barnard. His name is among the very brightest of the bril-. liant constellation that clusters around the history of the ancient institution. Tn time he severed his connection with the University of Alabama and became greatness of Columbia University. If he had done no other thing than writ. committed aGs himself fsps to the @ lasting grati- tude of the University of Alabama.
 Case of the University.
 The case of the University was pre- scented in this wise in the reply:
 There are those, however, who cry out that a college Is unprosperous ur~ less 1t is overrun with numbers. Num- bers indeed are desirable In every such means desirable, if, by their presence, they break down its character and re- duce tt from the standing of college
 .The University M of Alabama has a Junction to fulfill. Though 1t belongs tS the neth ut ,be stnt 1 tSes may be sent here for the purpose of sd- ncatton, yet responsibility more dit- flcuIt still rests upon 1t; t belongs to of education among this great people to something like responsibility and keep it there. It has been said of it's faculty educated already before they deem him competent to join one of the college classes. This simple observation, it rightly understood, is sufficient to show the benefit the University Is indirectly conferring upon the State"
 The reply in full is a valuable contri- button to the discussion as to the scope of the University a lucid exposition of the interests of the University ir the old question of bringing the schools shp tns nes ts ygcepton the ionng together of these two interests of the educational system of the State has been . question for argument and for for issue has been framed in this question, shall the schools be lifted up, or the University pulled down7"
 closer union, it may be stated positively the University has not been pulled down; the schools have been lifted up.
 Lifting the Schools.
 Not a tradition of the University has been wounded, not an iota of It's charac- ter has been eorroded.
 Its entrance requirements are per- haps higher than at any time during been lowered, but rather has 1t been lifted. The thoroughness of the young mans training has not been lessened, nor has any Influence been withdrawn that makes for character. Nor is the equipment of the young man graduate less complete than at any stage of the Aal Rather' if stSiif the difference between the University and the scnoof system, if the necessary work of the preparatory school has been lessened 1t Is the school system which has quickened step and closed the gap as much as Il has been closed.
 The assertion is ventured that in the past eight years no interest whether it Be of a commercial or of a govern mental nature has moved forward so surely and so rapidly as has the pub change has been little short of revo- Iution. The whole State has awakened to a jealous fidelity to the welfare of the comon schools, unknown a decade ago. In attendance, in loyal support. in the States financial solicitude for their success, the public schools have attained a state of grace which they have never known before.
 The leaven of reform began some eight or nine years ago when John w Abercrombie came to the Alabama Legislature from the County of Cal shaping and the reforming. of the States school system were the bills he wrote and introduced. He was the leader and the guide of the Legislature on educational legislation as he might well be. for when he was sent to Mont schools of Anniston.
 The School Reforms.
 IL was decreed by fortune that he was to execute and carry into effect the legislation which he had planned and framed. It was given to him not only to map out the battle but to fight ouI the fight It is not intended here tc Eional revival and reformation, which was 50 pronounced that the Constitu- tionaf Convention gave 1t recognition in the organic law of the State in c way that 1t had never before known This reformation was brought in here the man who inaugurated and who wa! called from his labor for the common schools to head the States great Uni versity. The work he had inaugurateC was put into competent hands and h' put his hand to the blow in the new furrow not to turn back.
 He assumed the delicate, awe-inspir fnw responsibilities of directing thu