Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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SENATOR IUSTIN s. MORRILL N02 7 Q UNIQUE and interesting personality passed away, not long since, from the 5 scenes of over two score years' activity in the halls of the congress of the is.,-E United States. Justin S. Morrill, known as the H Father of the Senate, was a type of H111 the statesman who combines patriotism with scholarly tastes, rare courtesy, ? E foresight, and a certain business sense-a combination of qualities not com- Xl monly found associated in one person. To an unusual degree Senator Morrill received from his colleagues the respect and deference which is only Won through the influence of high intelligence and a uniform consideration of the wishes of others. During his more than forty years' continuous service in congress he was identified with many measures of national importance,-one of which has had a greater influence upon the welfare of young men than any other single legislative act in this country. Senator Morrill's New England training imbued him with the highest appreciation of the value of education to the masses. To this fundamental principle he brought a prophetic view of the industrial development of this great country, appreciating as no other man of his time the necessity of scientific training as applied to the great fundamental industries, particularly agri- culture. He foresaw the tremendous growth and development of the United States, the conges- tion of the population, and the exhaustion of the natural fertility of the soil as factors in the g1'eat national and social problems of the future. A natural result of these conditions and a rational remedy for these evils appeared to him to lie in the training of the coming generation in those arts and sciences which underlie all improvement and development of the industries. As We now look back, we can see how this man's ancestry, environment and training, all fitted him to become the originator of an educational movement founded upon the lJ1'O2'tCl6Sf prin- ciples and destined to become of national importance. He framed and secured the passage in congress of the so-called 't Morrill Act, which became a law July 2, 1862g the object of which, briefly stated, was to provide in every state and territory in the Union for the establishment and maintenance, through the co-operation of the federal government and the individual states, of colleges VVhere tl1e leading objects shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agri- culture and the mechanic arts, in such manner as the legislatures of the states may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the

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SENATOR JUSTIN S MORRILL

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several pursuits and professions in life. As a result of this law, there have been founded in every state and territory of the Union the so-called Land Grant Colleges or Agricultural and Mechanical Collegesf' of which Purdue University is a foremost representative. At the time of the passage of this act it is probable that no one quite realized its full signifi- cance. and even at tl1e present day we have not measured up to a perfect estimate of the impor- tance of its provisions. Under it, colleges have been established in every state and territory, the prevailing characteristics of which are the furnishing, at a very slight expense, of training along scientific and technical lines which is directly applicable to the lives and activities of the great masses of our people. Nearly thirty thousand students are today enjoying the opportunities thus afforded, under the instruction of faculties numbering nearly two thousand instructors. In estimating the significance of this movement we must remember that, to a very large degree, these colleges have had a leading share in the development of scientific education Which previous to their establishment received but minor attention from the older colleges of our land, and that, today, these institutes are the leading centers of scientific a11d technical teaching and research in the United States. YVho shall be able to measure the influence of these institutions-during the thirty-five years they have been established-in modifying the methods of education, in contributing to industrial development and improvement, and, last and most important of all, in the benefits enjoyed by thousands of young men and young women in tl1e opportunities thus afforded for a higher and more practical education. This one act of Senator Morrill is more than enough to secure for him lasting fame. His enduring monument is the most notable group of educational institutions in existence, and his memory will be cherished by succeeding generations of students who profit by the wise provisions of K' The Morrill Act. i :nw t w i in 1 f1tfa1wfft1r'ff if flI'if.-i.l MstaftWil ffffl1u1vIfl4fllifgiQ i