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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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28 4 History University of Illinois 'Second: If the interests and causes of education cannot be sustained by the state or church, or either, it will be found, when the experiment is tested, that they cannot be by the people. 14 Third: Instead of attempting to establish a state university, separate from all other institutions of learning, and standing solitary and alone, dependent upon public funds for assistance, and having no sympathy whatever with the religious sentiment of the country, I would adopt the plan recommended by the Governor* I would use the capital invested in existing colleges, as well as the honesty, experience, knowledge and devotion to the cause of education of the trustees of those institutions." The above brought forth immediate and heated replies in the Journal from friends of the Turner plan. One who signed as S. T. J. said among other things: " As to the direful and hideous attack on religion and Christianity, there were in that convention men of every profession in life, and all persuasions in the church. Ministers, doctors, lawyers, representatives, senators, as well as farmers and mechanics, of almost, if not quite every religious denomination; and I do not think in foDowing the teachings of all experience, and desiring the Institution separated as far as possible from all "party polities" and sectarian ecclesiastic control, they were thereby making an attack upon their own churches and legislators and forming an awful conspiracy against Christianity and the religious sentiments of the human race. Nor do I suppose they were of that class of men who conceive that the foundations of Christianity are so* frail and feeble as to need the aid of their special resolves and protestations in its favor." 12 Much more was written in the newspapers on both sides of the question that was both personal and bitter during the early months of the year 1852. By far the sanest and most thorough discussion, if not quite so lively a one as in the newspapers, was carried on in the Prairie Farmer during all of these months. In February this journal published Turner's plan. In March the editor expressed his confidence that real progress was being made but that he had felt like awaiting* the action of the older states, which, as Massachusetts and New York had been agitating the matter for some six or eight years. He thought that this plan ^Illinois Weekly Journal, January 28, 1852.
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