Prussia and the German System of Education. 23 



It needs no argument to show that our college system is 

 incomplete and that we need institutions of the first order, 

 deserving the name of University in the full and proper 

 sense of the term. The day is not distant when this great 

 country will equal any on the globe in every branch of 

 education. 



As regards the organization of these future universities, 

 however, we would by no means advocate a slavish copy 

 of the German institutions, but such an adaptation of 

 their features to the peculiar genius of our country, as 

 will make them truly American and a real educational 

 advance upon the old. It has been proposed already to 

 establish such an institution in the city of New York ; 

 and it seems to me that we need at least one in every 

 state and territory, to which the colleges will be preparatory 

 like the German gymnasia. These universities ought to 

 be planned on the largest scale, liberally endowed by the 

 states and accessible to all. In these, our national system 

 of education, which has so rapidly advanced of late, would 

 find its necessary and natural completion. If the legislatures 

 neglect this duty, the leading churches or private indi- 

 viduals should assume it. Such a movement would be 

 more consistent with our national genius and would infuse 

 a religious spirit into the institutions, without which they 

 cannot permanently flourish and promote the highest 

 interest of society. 



