13 



the average crop in Germany has been as steadily growing more and 

 more. In view of these facts, we ought to bow our heads in humili- 

 ty if not in shame. At least let us cease our unwarranted boasting 

 about the superiority of our educational facilities. 



Such have been the tendencies in other parts of the world, and I 

 trust that you will now agree with me in thinking that the Morrill 

 Grant in purpose and in aim was in harmony with the general spirit 

 and the best tendencies of the times. 



The third part of my thesis is the proposition that this land grant 

 was fraught with the means of incalculable advantage to the nation. 



I am willing to concede that in many cases the avails of the grant 

 were not so large as they should have been. If it were necessary, I 

 would admit that in some instances there was a conflict between 

 private and public interests and that in consequence there was a cul- 

 pable misuse of the funds ; I say "if it were necessaiT," for I am 

 not aware that any such instances are clearly established. 



But if there were even general misuse of the funds, would the fact 

 prove that the grant was unwise? Because there is misuse and 

 extravagance in the building of Post Offices and Custom Houses, do 

 we say that the building of such structures should cease ? Do we 

 argue that because there are fraudulent contracts for carrying the 

 mails, therefore contracts for the further carrying of the mails should 

 cease ? Do we say that because there are frauds in elections there- 

 fore no elections shall be held? No! a thousand times no! We 

 contemplate the good we receive, we determine to prevent the recur- 

 rence of abuses in the future, and then we demand those appropria- 

 tions which the greatest good of the people requires. And so must 

 it be in judging of this great measure. 



And now having said so much, I wish to allude to one fact that 

 prevented the large returns from the grant that were anticipated. A 

 majority of the states had no government lands within their borders 

 subject to location under the bill. The consequence was that most 

 of the states were obliged to sell the government scrip at whatever 

 price it would bring. The market was flooded with scrip, and the 

 states found themselves confronted with this dilemma. Either they 

 must sell the scrip at the contemptible price of thirty or fifty cents 

 per acre, or they must postpone the establishment and development 

 of the college. It is not easy perhaps to decide which in this alter- 

 native was the wiser course to pursue ; certain it is that when the 

 states sold the scrip at a low price they practically gave back to the 



