News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-04-29

thing on either ride Of them. while men
i everywhere are reaching out in all direc-
lions for wider knowledge"
One further quotation from Senator
Morrill,, and / will dismiss him from the
| witness stand: May not be pardoned"
he says, "for exhibiting some personal
solctude in behalf of the complete and
enduring success of the Immigrant col
leges throughout the Union, and especially
! of that of my native State? AS estab-
! llshed under the acts of 1862 and 1880,
! they were the best thoughts | was able
/ to formulate-good enough to be adopted
, by Congressman the first approved by
! President Lincoln. Some other
man doubtless might have cpnstrueted d
different and better measure, but doubt
less he did not think of it 80 years ago,
| and, unfortunately, may now be too late
| for anything except to decorate with
| some scorn and detraction the college we
now have, and cover the scheme of a
proposed substitute, in whatever time,
place or shape it may have an untimely
birth, with his entire appreciation with
sonally for nothing. and yet not so old as
to dream Dreams l trust it may be be-
lieved that I have aimed only to pro-
mote the greatest good to the greatest
| number and to Gonstrue the college act
of 1862 in It's true sense and meaning, by
which only can its greatest usefulness
and highest service to our State and the
whole country be fully developed and pre-
| served" -,
Compare this language, If you please,
| with that of the Carnegie report 1t al
most seems that Senator Morrill, had a
premonition of the Carnegie criticism. AS
f, for present conditions and requirements,
the experts may be in a better position
to Judge; but submit that Senator Nor
rill and his associates We're in a posi-
ton to better judge the requirements of
their state and times. How mean and
| unworthy do his critics appear, and how
| false and undeserved do their words
sound in the face of the convincing state
ments of that noble character, whose
| far-sighted wisdom gave us the land
| grant college. The simple fact is, and,
| in spite of expert criticism from within or
| without, will continue that the Burlington
| institution was always Senator Morriils
! ideal of what land grant college ought
! to be. 1t was so from the beginning.
| It's courses We're arranged with his as
sistance as 1 have shown earlier in this
paper. They were modified from time to
time with his approval. He never tired
of praising it. He loved it with all the
ardor of his gentle nature. He was proud
of it. His long, useful and active service
Of
If anyone is convicted of the misuse of
funds" Senator Morrill, was the chief
offender.
Inuendo is often more damaging than
direct accusation. It's poison is frequently
more insdious. To say that the gentle
men of the Foundation really felt the
doubt implied in the statement this ex-
penditure of the federal appropriations on
subjects other than agriculture may or
may not be strictly legal" is to impeach
their intelligence; to say otherwise is to
impeach their integrity.
1t is much to be deplored that these
gentlemen could not have taken a more
hopeful view of our State and our peo-
pie. 1t is much to be regretted that they
did not take the time for an attentive
reading of Senator Morril's public utter
ances regarding our Immigrant college,
1t is a fair assumption that if they had,
they would have acquired some Of his
splendid optimism, his inspiring enthu-
siasm, his contagious mental exuberance.
make bold to say, however, that the
State of Vermont will continue to adj
minister the affairs of its university ac-
cording to her own conception of con-
gressienal purposes and the needs of her
northumberland, as were her pioneers,
by criticism or insult from New York.
And her College of Agriculture, and the
others of its class will, if I may borrow
the words of President Anterior. "in-
crease in wealth, and influence, and pub
lie favor; but their most precious pos
session and their perennial source Of
power over the young manhood and wo-
manhood of America will be found in the
example of the life and character OF their
founder, Justin s. Morrill,"