Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 616]

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676

History University of Illinois

bo said, "The State has already established here so many of its public institutions that to expect more is out of the question." But this reason, the Committee claim, is of no force whatever. This institution is not to be established for mere local ends, neither does any intelligent man so regard it. Its probable success is the only question, and that of location is, to nineteentwentieths of the people, wholly subordinate. Morgan County would be the choice of the vast majority, and the exceptions would be chiefly among those who have local wishes of their own. Ask any fair-minded person for his opinion, and his reply will be—"My own county first and Morgan next." As a general statement, the county is as much interested in having the institution well located as any county can be. Its intelligent citizens perceive that there are certain requisites to success, the failure of any one of which may ultimately prove fatal. Hence, aside from local interests involved, every true wellwisher to the institution desires to see it established in Morgan County. Here it would have as nearly an assurance of success as any location can possibly give to it, and, as the Committee themselves believe, better. Should this question be submitted to the voters of the county, there is every desire that an unanimity of the vote shall be secured. The favor of the Legislature in locating the institution in; the county would be doubly increased by unanimity of solicitation on the part of citizens. And why should it not be? The poor man surely wants it, for it will cost him nothing while it will greatly increase the demand for his labor, and all the little incidental products of his garden and his home. The rich want it because it will increase the value of their lands, the sale of all their products, whether of the farm, the shop, the store, or the market Our professional and literary men want it because it is needful to finish pur great circle of literary and benevolent institutions, and make them more complete than those of any other county in the whole civilized world. All classes alike, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, want it, because it will give such facilities for the complete and proper education both of themselves and their children as are no where else enjoyed. Why, then, should not every man in the county vote for it?