The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-02-05
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 5. 1910.


There IL . proposition now oe1ore Con-
gress providing for . grant Of money to
the District Of Columbia equal to the
annual appropriations made to various
States and Territories for the promotion
of agriculture and the mechanic arts.
and assigning the said sum of money to
George Washington University, q pri'
vate institution in the District OF 20
lumbia.
Under cover Of providing for the need
Of education in agriculture and the me-
chanic arts in the District Of Columbia,
it 10 thus proposed to begin the policy OF
the support Of private institutions OF the
district ont Of the Federal treasury
policy which the whole experience OF
this country condemns % full Of danger
to the peace and efficiency OF public
education.
II Congress deems it wise to establish
. College Of Agriculture and the Me-
chanic Arts in the district. at Federal
expense, IL shouli create a college Tor
that purpose either under its own i'm
mediate control and supervision, or
under the control Of the authorities OF the
district constituted by Congress. and not
pass the money over to the support OF
q or more private institutions.
II Congress undertakes to subsidize
George Washington University as pro-
posed. other institutions will be COM
PEELED as . matter Of self preservation
TO secure similar subsidies, and we
shall O see an elaborate system OF
private schools, colleges and universe
ties in the city Of Washington supported
in whole or in part from the Federal
treasury.
This matter has been fought through
In most Of the States to q successful
finish, and the policy has been definitely
established that n, public money snail
eo to a private or ssctarian institution.
It must be emphasized. that in effect,
this ID . project to endow private and
sectarian institutions at the expense OF
the Federal treasury.
II it we're q scheme, fathered only BY
. state or Territory. 1t would be bad in
itself. but not likely to have the Tar
reaching evil effects upon public policy
among the States which Federal action
ia-sure to have.
No satisfactory argument has yet been
advanced for this measure except that
its passage will greatly benefit George
Warrington University. which happens
20 be in . very bad way financially. The
appropriation indeed may save it from
the sheriff,s hammer. This. however,
il hardly . satisfactory reason for re-
yersing the policy Of . century and
throwing the immense weight Of Federal
example on the side Of q division oil the
public funds among the private and
~sectarian institutions of the country.
Private or UNCONVENTIONAL institu-
lions, maintained chiefly for the further-
ance Of s~ectarian ideas. should not re.
ceive support from funds raised by pub
lilo taxstiou, and the directing OF such
education should be entirely In the
hands Of the State. This proposed steI
Of handing public moneys over to pri-
vate theological institutions harks back
too much to the bygons days of medieval
Europe, when the clergy deemed them
selves the rightful censors Of the acts
Of the State.
The great movement by the American
people to promote public education In
all grades. from the kindergarten to the
university. has found q Of its most
serious obstacles in the desire Of many
we'll meaning, but misdireoted people
{ o hand over public funds to private and
ssctarian schools. This un-Americar
tendency should be opposed by public
spirited and liberty-loving people at al
times.