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In the spring of '95 when the association now known as the American Blind People's Higher Education and General Improvement Association had its beginning at St. Louis, Mo., the promoters had a single thought, and this was to secure the higher education of the Blind. Methods and means were regarded as secondary considerations. It was in the first Annual Convention, held in September of the same year, that the Special College scheme was adopted as the method. John F. Maher, Esq. Counselor - at- Law, Philadelphia, gave the suggestions, and following this convention, a large edition of a bulletin setting forth the facts and purposes was printed and distributed. It was through this bulletin that the movement was brought to the attention of the Blind of the different states, and letters written in response by such persons as Mr. E.J. Nolan of Chicago, Mr. A. M. Shotwell of Mich. etc. clearly showed the promoters that the Special College idea was not popular.

THE THREE PROPOSED METHODS OF EDUCATING THE BLIND.

The idea of a special college was obtained as a natural development of the existing state schools for the Blind, and proposed the establishment in relation to the whole nation, of a college or university for the Blind, as the state schools are in relation to the states respectively; and the curriculum of this National College was to include all the studies with which the Blind could make -. . .?-

tion being given to Mathematics, Music and Language. Opposed to this were the scholarship and annex advocates.

The advocates of the Scholarship theory viewed the matter much as follows: -- The Blind should not be regarded as a class segregated from the rest of mankind; and if they succeed in life, they must do so not only in contact, but in competition with the Sighted, and the extent of their success of failure, will depend largely upon the thoroughness with which the methods employed by the Sighted are understood and assimilated.

Experience has shown that the sightless student can enter the same classroom with those possessed of normal vision and take a college course on an equal footing with any; the chief assistance required being that of a competent reader. It is true there are branches, the practical mastery of which requires vision, but no special school for the Blind could hope to remove this obstacle. The talents and requirements of the Blind are as diverse as humanity itself; and it is inconceivable how a single school could furnish satisfactory instruction in every line to meet all emergencies; but a Scholarship fund, to be used in purchasing scholarships in this or that institution, as may be required, would remove these difficulties and secure to each student the best possible training either in general culture or in any chosen specialty. Any beyond all this, it must be remembered that the professional standing and general reputation of the leading universities for the Sighted could never be equaled by any school established especially for the Blind; and the credit of having successfully completed a college or university course along with his sighted fellows, would follow any blind student as an irresistible advertising influence, qualified to remove all lingering misunderstanding with reference to capabilities of the Sightless, and would invite success in any walk in Life.

The arguments advanced by the supporters of the Annex Theory were practically the same as those presented by the Scholarship advocates; and while the annex is a compromise between the Special College and Scholarship systems, its tendencies are strongly in the direction of the latter. The students of the annex, would be required to enter the same class room with the Sighted, take the same examinations, and the same degrees under similar conditions. The institution in question would consist merely of boarding and lodging appartments -sic-, a library, reading rooms, and other advantages.

The chief work of the Second Annual Convention held in October '96 was to reconcile these differences of view, for no united action could be secured on the definite plan to establish a Special College for the Blind. The convention was largely controlled by Scholarship advocates and the result of the debate was the following set of resolutions which was so much of a compromise as to please no one, but served to quiet opposition while necessary questions of organization were being settled.

RESOLUTIONS.

Whereas, A convention of blind people has been held for the purpose of discussing principles and methods of providing higher education for the Blind,

Therefore be it resolved, First -- that we are in favor of the higher education of the Blind. Second -- that we believe the National government both should and will furnish the aid necessary to accomplish this great purpose. And third, that we take all necessary steps to bring this to the attention of Congress, to the end that an annual appropriation may be obtained for the higher education of the Blind. And furthermore, be it resolved, that all details with reference to the manner in which the money is to be spent for higher education be left to the judgment of a commission established by Congress, and as matters for future consideration by the Association.