The University Investigated
Sinqe our last issue two oominittees froin the Legislature have visited our city, oharged with inquiring into the internal woïkings of the University. Tho oommittee from tho Senato consistod of Messrs. DoLand, Mickley, Brewor, Crosliy, and Ohilds, and was commissioned by the following preamble and resolution adopted with bat ono dissenting vote : WHBBEA8, There is fjreat difTerenee of opinión as to wilt therany special exclusive school of medicine ia taught in the Daiversity oí Michigan: and Viikbeas, There are n large number of potitions before the Si-, legislativo inquiry as to the alleged sectanan character of the Uiuversity; therefore, Resolved, That there be appointed a select oommittee of five Senators, whose daty it shaü ':ike inquiry into the subjccts nained in the foregoing preamble, and to reporl the results of their in vestigatien to the Senate at their oarliest oonvenieuce. The other oommittee caine from tho Houso, consisted of Messrs. Gilmore, Burtholoniew, Kuapp, L Walker, and derived its authority from the following resolutions : llesolred, Thftt :, oommitteo of flve b appoititith instrivtions to visit the CTnü imike sucli investifration and report to thia Housj what "pothy," i anyi and what aotii . n anv, w ncressary in order to nocuro a medical educaiu1 hu may demre to attenj there, whether he inolinM to the homeopathie theory of medioin h ar. And bc it J'uiihrr n'solvi'd, That eaid committee be instrrr. lort to aL boos 8 i Ti. . ■"'■■;. aid report is submitted all action on Senate bül No. 73, relatixe to ihe appointmest of two profe homeopathy iu the department oi medicina oí the University oí Michigan be postponed. These proceedings will strike one familiar with the University as a farce. The te investigation was promptod by and grew out of the memorial of S. B. McCüackex, weil-known to our oitizens, who chargtd that sectarianism had gained a foothold iu tho University, and that the President and Professors wcre sectarian teachers. The coramittee exainined President Angel, Dr. Cocker, Dr. Williams, Prof. ADAMS, and others, Mr. McCBAOKen being present as " ünpeaohigt and proseeutor." It soon camo out that Mac's idea of sectarianism waa not donomiuationalism, bnt religión itself, natural or revealed, and that to manipúlate the cours.e of instruction to please him and his sympathizers rould be to rauti late the text books, exclude there from tho worde God, Ghrist, Christian, Religión, etc., prohibit dttily or occasional prayers, and exclude clergymen from tho Faculty and even from the campus. The testimony of tho Faculty was against sectar" ian or denominational teaohings, but oonfessed to a daily recognition of God and his revelaticns. Ve have 110 spaco to ropeat the evidence, but may give the summing up of the committeo another week. We think the Senate belittled itself and the Btate in ordering such an investigation, nevertheloss hopo that it may result in good by quieting such aneasy gpii its as McCeacken-, " Bishop of the (spiritual) Diocese of Michigan," as he, perhaps fncetiously, terms himself, but who fires up at tho word religión as a mad. buil at a red rag. The investigation into the " sectnrianism" of the Medical department - made by both coramittees - developod the fact knowu to every body far and wide, that it was a medical school, established when " pathies" wcre neither so numerous nor so aggressive ; that the organio law roQognized no " pathy ;" that no creed was required to be subscribed to by students as a condition either of admission or graduation ; and that the Professors claim to give instruction in the science and practice of medicine. It also left no doubt - as there waa nono before - that the Professors are all " reguláis' or " allopathists" whichever the pubkc pleases to to term ; them that they are disinclined to the admission or official recognition of any "pathy ;" and may bo expected to sever their connection with the institution they have labored throughalong series pfyears to build up and have given a high position among the medical schools of the country, if homeopathy or any other " pathy" is forced into the derjartment by the Legislatura. Established whon homeopathy was not in this country a recognizsd school, the Medical department has grown to bc one of the first schools in the country. It has taken long years of hard work and careful management to build it up ;itcan be destroyed in an hour. Let the Lcgislature and the Regents pausa. We may hcar of an obstinate and narrow and illiboral medical profession, and that allopathista and homeopathists ouglit to dweil together in brotherly love. They can not - and will not - and that ends theorizfng. The department in tho nature of things - like a theological school - must be one thitig or the other. To put in homeopathie! professors will simply be to convert it into a homeopathie school. And by tho time tho homeopathie school can bo built up on the ruins of tho present Mediaal department, hydropathy or electropathy or spirit-pathy will claim to sup plant it. A mixed school would involvo contradictory instruction to the saino classes and pupils, and consequent confusión and disagreements, which would in themselves provo disastrous. Besides a mixed school would have the confidenoe and cordial support of neither allopathists nor homeopathists, but would be opriosed by tho schools and practitionsrs of both branches of the profession. A medical school i= dopendent almost wholly upon the recoiumendation of physicians fcr its studeuts, and whenever homoopathy and allopathy aro joined in one school, that moment tho physicians of both schools will turn tho cold shoulder to it and advise their students to go elsowhere. This is human nature, perverse though it may be, and the Legislatura will do well to recognize it and let well enough alone. Give the homeopathists a briinch, or serjarato school, but don't take tho risk of destroying a flourishing department of the University. Other dopartments will noxt bo attacked. Theso late investigations and sions ought to oonvinco the triends oí tuo Univereity that it caniiot long prosper or cxist as a foot-ball to be kicked about by each successive Legisláture. The LegisLature can impose any conditions it picases upou approiriatioii3 it maymake, but it is a grcat pil}' that any appropriutiou slipuld over have to boasked for. O tor a munificeiit and permanent endowment.
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Old News
Michigan Argus