Year: 1870

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SHALL Idaho HAVE A UNIvERsTTY.4s


The crowning labor. of the life of Thomas


Jefferson, and one in which, during his, latter


years. he took the most pride, and from which


as the honored "Sage of Monticello, he derived


the greatest pleasure, was the founding of the


University Of Virginia: Among all the achieve.


ments of the early American Colonists, none


were of more enduring renown and Of greater


instrumentality for good throughout the whole


original thirteen British colonies, than the In


stitutions Of learning they established almost


coeval with the FIRST settlement of the country.


Waters from the fountains of knowledge were


made to flow in abundant streams almost


everywhere thatsettlements were made. ida.


no stands to-day in pressing need of the same
educational facilities afforded elsewhere in our
common country. To deprive the rising gen.
GRAFTON of these facilities is to do q great, an
irreparable wrong. We, of to-day, the adult
population of this Territory. proud of our pi-
oneer achievements in much that lays the per-
manent foundation of a great, and wealthy, and
prosperous, and influential and populous coun-
try in time to come, have as yet taken no step,
adopted no measure, digested no plan for the
education Of the youth in our midst beyond the
uncertain, often imperfect common school ed
ucation. In this we are fast falling behind the
age;-behind all other Territories, and are per-
petrating perhaps unconsciously and uninten-
tionally, but none the less an actual and
great Injustice upon ourselves,- Upon our pres
ent and future reputation as people,-and
upon those now dependent in great measure
upon our action or inaction in the premises


In the past history Of this young Territory,
what public enterprise Of any moment has
failed to receive support, or has wanted for
necessary aid to carry it through? The people
resident upon the Pacific coast everywhere are
proverbially liberal people and glory in being
so. 1t is doubtful, if taken upon the average
for means and numbers, they are in this respect
anywhere equaled in the world There is
nothing SO much despised among all classes as
what is called "picayunish sprit.p The very
air of the country is insalubrious to the ilHbef-
al and small-minded. This being the case, why
shall not immediate steps be taken teturn-a
portion of this spirit of generosity in which all
SO Justly pride themselves into the channel of
providing something toward an ample endow-
ment fund for Territorial University. Every
contribution and donation bone .fde made and
used toward promoting such an object will be
rearing perpetual monument of living praise
% the donors, and in investing in species of
stock which may pay dividends of good to gen.
grafton after generation of posterity to the end
If time. There is no good reason why Idaho
should not within the next two years possess
University which shall be among the best on
he Pacific coast, and in due and reasonable
lime rank among the best in the United States.
Let us all seriously think the subject over, and
Try the experiment at all events. We can and
,ught to do the best we can, but at present
ire doing nothing. By doing the best we can,
md every one almost can help a little.- many
great deal, something toward it will certainly
'e accomplished. cit is only the first step
hat COSTS" says an old maxim. We can,-if
We will, take that first step the coming sum-
ner. Will the right men in the right time
nd place step forward, organize an incorpor-
ted company for the purpose, and start the
all rollingl Few will refuse to contribute
omething toward such an object. Every
riend to education will assist the enterpr;,e.
very new conner into the Territory, nearly,
7ill help the project along. 1t will have the
ood wishes of al,-the censures of none. The
hildren of to-day will rise up and call the
lemory of those who begin, and who aid in,
nd who carry out this good work blessed for
Il time to come. It will be an ornament and
n honor to the Territory, and to all who aid
, its successful operation. True, the people
Idaho are as yet comparatively few in num-
er, the country is sparsely settled, and the
nances of most are limited. Yet the children
Idaho require education as much as food
nd clothing and maintenance. " It is theirs by
ght. If they are deprived Of it who are to
. blamed for it but ourselves9 Every citizen
nd resident of adult age in the Territory 10
some measure responsible for the decision