October 4, 1901.] 



SCIENCE. 



509 



of the National University Committee. A 

 report was also made ready and, with one 

 hundred additional letters (including those 

 from Ex- President Benjamin Harrison, from 

 ex-senators, heads of national organizations, 

 and the presidents of sixty additional col- 

 leges and universities, beginning with the 

 University of Virginia and embracing ten 

 of the leading Methodist institutions), was 

 at one time on Chairman Wellington's desk, 

 in the Senate, for presentation. They were 

 never submitted, however. And of course 

 there were requests many, appeals many 

 and promises many. 



Such is a brief history of both Senatorial 

 and committee action on the subject of a 

 national university during the past few 

 years. It proves unmistakably that the 

 talk of ' suspicion ' on the part of Congress 

 is without so much as the shadow of a 

 foundation — that there has been none but 

 affirmative action from first to last ; that 

 Congress has in fact done everything that 

 was ever asked of it or of either House ; and 

 that in nearly, if not in every, case such 

 affirmative action has been prompt and 

 unanimous. There have been trying de- 

 lays, but those of the last decade are not 

 chargeable to the Senate, but to individual 

 members of its university committee. And 

 it may not be improper to add that there 

 were Senators not a few, and among the 

 most active and influential, who were as 

 emphatic in their expressions of disappoint- 

 ment at the obstructive course of a chair- 

 man chosen because of his declared friendly 

 attitude, as were the members of the 

 National Committee themselves. 



' THE TREND OF OPINION. ' 



After the showing thus made of the 

 friendly attitude of Congress, first, last and 

 always ; of the views of leading men of the 

 nation in all the great pursuits, including 

 the heads of all but five or six of the col- 

 leges and universities appealed to ; and, 



last of all, the marked demonstration again 

 made by the National Educational Associa- 

 tion at Detroit, it is hardly worth while to 

 spend a moment discussing the ' trend of 

 public opinion.' Dr. Walcott should know 

 that it ' has been and is, that the Govern- 

 ment ' should ' found a national university,' 

 and that, too, ' in the sense suggested by 

 Washington and his followers.' I mean in 

 the broad sense, and for the accomplish- 

 ment of the great ends he had in view. 

 There have been such advances in science 

 and such development of educational insti- 

 tutions since his day as he could not fore- 

 see, and as would necessitate a .different 

 sort of university work, in some respects, 

 from that of his day, and yet not different 

 in that it was to be, and is to be, the highest 

 possible — and that, too, with help rather 

 than hindrance of all other institutions, 

 and with a fulfilment of special offices to 

 which it alone would be competent, as I 

 shall show at the end of this review. The 

 Depew bill (last before the Senate), like 

 its forerunners, makes sure of the national 

 university's limitation to this high field. 



OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF MISCONCEPTIONS. 



There were, in 1896, a few opposing sen- 

 ators, but, since none of them have offered 

 valid reasons for negative action (see 

 'Reply'), we are not without hope that 

 they will yet concur. If they are endowers, 

 graduates or patrons of some half-dozen 

 leading universities, it is difficult to believe 

 that on this account, and right here,- in the 

 midst of unparalleled facilities for a true 

 university — facilities provided at a cost 

 of some SiO,000,000 to the whole people of 

 the country, and maintained and utilized 

 at a cost of several millions annually — 

 they would be glad to prevent the establish- 

 ment of an institution which would at once 

 do honor to the nation and be a practical 

 friend of their favorites. Surely any such 

 senators will upon reflection come to agree 



