August 16, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



209 



every one of these institutions more ade- 

 quate and more easy. 



The same thing would be true in a larger 

 degree of a national university, organized 

 along proper lines, and put under proper 

 influence. 



Such a national university as I have 

 suggested, located at the site of the federal 

 government, supported by appropriations 

 from the federal treasury, controlled and 

 regulated by federal law, would easily be- 

 come, as it ought, the crowning institution 

 of our university system, private and 

 state alike. It could supplement the short- 

 comings of our other institutions as well 

 as emphasize their excellencies. It could 

 undertake many enterprises of national 

 scope, and which no existing single institu- 

 tion, public or private, can aiford to under- 

 take. It could ofEer to our best qualified 

 young men and young women, opportu- 

 nities which only a nation like ours can af- 

 ford to offer. 



Such an institution, located in the na- 

 tional capital, would exercise a vigorous 

 and salutary influence on the course of 

 federal legislation itself. Its pointed 

 spires and gilded domes would of them- 

 selves be powerful, though mute, monitors 

 calling attention to the claims of science to 

 be the guide of legislations. 



Such an institution located in the center 

 of political power of the greatest nation on 

 earth would attract in large numbers the 

 bright and promising youth of other coun- 

 tries, who, as students here, would imbibe 

 those fundamental American ideas which 

 we fondly believe are destined to work out 

 the salvation of the world when they shall 

 have done their perfect work, while these 

 youth would gain added respect for our 

 society and our ideals, which, carried back 

 home and incorporated in their own poli- 

 cies, would contribute powerfully to that 

 mutual understanding which is the surest 

 basis for international peace. 



Such an institution located in Washing- 

 ton could utilize for purposes of instruc- 

 tion and investigation the wonderful re- 

 sources heaped up by the government of 

 the United States in its scientific depart- 

 ments. The National Library, the mu- 

 seums and collections of all sorts lie largely 

 fallow at present, waiting for the people of 

 the United States to make their utilization 

 possible in the various schools and colleges 

 of a national university. 



Such an institution, located at such a 

 strategic point, will wield a subtle, ever 

 deepening and widening influence over 

 the whole American people in the direction 

 of increasing their interest in science and 

 their belief that science is an important ele- 

 ment in private and national life. It will 

 be their university, and they will come to 

 take an increasing pride in, and apprecia- 

 tion for, the work it is doing; and thus 

 will, by this reflex effect, be trained to 

 gradually entertain an ever deeper respect 

 for the standards and ideals of higher edu- 

 cation itself. 



Friends, such an institution is coming, 

 as surely and irresistibly as the tides of 

 ocean. Will you help it, or will you op- 

 pose it, or, worse than either, will you do 

 nothing ? 



This National Education Association 

 could secure the establishment of this in- 

 stitution in a short time if it would only 

 go after it in earnest. 



Ignorance and apathy and prejudice 

 have thus far been most potent in prevent- 

 ing the realization of this dream of Wash- 

 ington. 



Private institutions, religious and secu- 

 lar, have opposed, thus far successfully, the 

 movement. Private institutions, men of 

 wealth, men of no wealth, men of ideas, 

 men of no ideas, have set themselves against 

 this project. It is up to you and the like 

 of you to help bring this about in our day 

 and generation. 



