Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-25

The University of Vermont opened its
| 10th year yesterday morning with what
! is likely to be the largest attendance in
some years. The entering class is unus-
ually large and many of the men of the
classes of 1918 and 1919 who went away to
| join the army are back to complete their
courses. The opening exercises were
held in the gymnasium at ten o'clock,
when Acting President Guy w. Bailey
delivered an address which gave the uni
versity new aspect and showed clearly
it's relation to the State, not from the
point of view of receiving pupils to train
! for their lives work but by spreading,
through them, the desire for more knowl-
edge throughout the State.
| Mr.. Bailey said:
ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY's AD-
| DRESS
| It has been customary on the opening
day of each college year to consider mat
ters of peculiar interest to the members
of the entering class, and while what
l desire to say this morning will not
directly concern the new students as
such, 1t has seemed wise at this time
to devote the greater portion of my re-
marks to a subject which, in my opinion,
should concern all who are interested
in this institution and in Vermont:
THE UNIVERSITY. ITS DUTY AND
ITS RELATION TO THE STATE
Those of you who are familiar with
the Constitution of Vermont will recall
that article XVIII of chapter one of the
declaration of rights provides that a
principles and a firm adherence to justice.
moderation. temperance, industry and
frugality are absolutely necessary to pre-
serve the blessings of liberty and keep
government free" While that article
was intended primarily to apply to legis-
lators and magistrates, yet there seems
to be no good reason why it is not emf
nently fitting that the university, because
of it's peculiar relationship to the State
should not acknowledge it's responsibility
and likewise recur to fundamental prin-
ciples and by honest consideration and
| review Of the past endeavor to fix and
reaffirm its duty as to the future.
However some Of you may ask. what
peculiar relationship. If any. exists be-
tween the university and the State,
What obligation duty rests upon the
university? 1t is not my purpose this
ment of the facts which led to the estab-
lishment of this institution nor to re-
sumo the argument as to whether the
university is or is not State institu-
ton. l wish to say that the complete
history of the university has not as yet
been written. Original documents hav
ing very direct bearing upon the mat
ter, have not yet been published but
when the time does come for their pub
lication as part of history, 1t is my hon
est Judgment that any reasonable think
ing man will say that it was the belief
of the men, who were responsible for the
founding and establishment of this in
stitution. that they were establishing a
State university. 1t is to be regretted
that in matters relating to the compila-
ton and preservation of facts that make
history have been and still are lax.
The number of reliable histories of YER
mont is very few. To-day one desir-
ing to learn the facts about any impor-
tant matter of her history must make
an exhaustive search through the multi
tudinous files of State departments and
the bound volumes of newspapers. The
newspapers of the period beginning with
1850 are rich in information about
the various problems that were
then receiving the attention of the
men who were interested in YER
mont. In this day and generation we
find newspapers with various notices.
such as "All the News That's Fit to
Print" or 1T Shines for All" However.
their use is not original with the papers
of our age and generation. Prior to 1880
we find two papers in Vermont which
had adopted notices which have never
been surpassed for liberality of aims
and vision as to the field of newspaper
dom. The Vermont Journal with it's
motto, with Generous Freedom for Our
Constant Guide, We Scorn Control and
Print for Every Side" and the Vermont
Gazette, with it's motto, From Realms
Far Distant and Climes Unknown We
Make the knowledge of Mankind Your
own" are valuable reminders of that
period now too little known and appre-
ciated. If anyone finds his interest in
Vermont tagging. if present day prob
lens appear unsurmountable. one has
only to turn to these old newspapers
and there will be found examples with
out number which evidence the strong
persistence In the face of obsta cles the
good sound common sense, the rational
conservatism and the dignfied bearing
of the founders of Vermont to which we
point with pride.
Vermonters, or Vermontese, as they
once were called, have every right to be
proud of their history l doubt II any
one project received more careful con-
sideraton on the part of the founders
of this commonwealth than that which
involved the location. establishment and
early life of the University of Vermont.
To show the deep interest of our first
citizens in the establishment of the uni
versity, l shall recount briefly the his
tory from 1T7 to 1871 the formative
period.
HISTORY 1777-lsll
The first expression of organic law
took cognizance of the fact that a uni
versity should be the elimination OF the
educational system of Vermont. While
II il true that a considerable portion Of
the Constitution of 17T was copied verba-
tim from the Constitution of Pennsyl-
vania Of 1776, yet In certain instances we
find that changes were made which were
apparently the result of careful thought
and forward look to the future develop
lment of Vermont. For example, section