Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-20
Washington an Educational Center

President Grant said in his annual mes
SAGE of 1875: Il would suggest to Con-
gress the propriety of promoting the
establishment in this District of an insti-
tuition of learning or university of the
highest class by the donation of lands
There is no place better suited for such
an institution than the National Capital
There is no other place in which every
citizen is so directly interested
George Washington. as We all know
had the same idea of the superlative fit
ness of the National Capital national
educational center and made bequest to
put into concrete practical shape his
thought of a national university at Wash
ington.
The lieutenants and representatives OF
Mr.. Carnegie and Mr.. Rockefeller, who
constitute in combination the great ma
tional public education trust or syndi-
cate. do not agree with Washington and
Grant. They have decided that the Capital
Is not the proper site of a university, and
that Washington. the local community.
does not need and is not the proper site
Of local college. If the Washingtonian
wants higher education, let him emigrate,
they say. Let him go to Johns Hopkins
or the University of Virginia or to the
This edict of the educational trust is
not only denial Of assistance by the
monopoly to public higher education in
the District but is a discourageme and
deterrent to other possible benefactors,
both among public-spirited citizens of
wealth and with Uncle Sam. to whom
President Grants appeal was addressed.
The education promoting monopoly per-
= indi t-id hal
position. like any other trust. In vindi
cation of its theory that there should be
no great college or university at Wash
obstructively hostile. In relation to
higher education Carnegie and Rookie
Teller elsewhere constructive. are here
create. TO promote. to benefit. here their
function is to kill.
In George Washington University
Washington has enjoyed the benefits
Of an educational institution of high
grade. With its fine corps Of instruct
ors. its high standards and its 1900
students. it has justified itself educa-
tionally beyond dispute. It's great and
positive value to the community is un-
questionable. 1t needs, what no SINH
do without, an adequate endowment.
II neither Carnegie nor Rockefeller is
moved to take advantage of the grand
opportunity to connect his name with
that of the Father of his Country and
the National Capital in the promotion of
higher education at Washington, then
some other ciearer-sighted man of wealth.
siding with Washington and Grant
rather than with the education syn
dictate, should seize this glorious op-
portunity and privilege. In line with
Grants suggestion, Uncle Sam by the
simple justice of extending the Morrill,
acts to the District and utilizing the
university as the instrumentality of this
extension would wisely create an eff
fective endowment for the promotion
Of education at the National Capital.
Neither of these forms of endowment
II available. however, to shape and to
sustain the universitys operations dur
ing the coming year Hence the present
emergency appeal of the university to
the local community, which has SO richly
prohted by its existence and its sacri
fees. and which is SO deeply interested in
its preservation and development.