Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-10-27
CONGRATULATIONS.
COLLEGE PoL1TIcs-AN EVIL.
'or the STANDARD

mt to our purpose enquire. 1t Will not interfere
at all with what we are about to say snouto we can
It by the name that custom has conhrmcdi or give
It another. We will for the sake of brevity, so call
it. What we understand by College politics is
system of electioneering for certain offices III Coi
leee These are the Marshal with his four Assis-
tants and the six Ball Managers, The names import
what are the duties of each of these officers, from
which it is seen that there should be such officers
but is the manner of electng them rght is IL
productive of good or evil? we say eYll. why
Take for instance, young Sinlms. he has just ar
rived at Chapel Hi-he has come to Coiiege win OUT
one intention and that to learn he IS tul OF the ouoy
ant hopes which always accompanying useu asplrane
to knowledge. He is received at Inc hotel Dy par
ty of Young men with smiling faces. " Your name
is Simms, presume, the card on your trunk I'M,
morris % saws one, Yes, sir" /" From Alabama :"
!. Yes. sir" :" What class will you joinG" " shall
apply for the Freshman" Yes" says the Interro-
leads off upon kind of philosophy which we will
not attempt to describe room is procured for
Mr.. Smms, he receives great many visits, he THINKS
the fellows the most socable he ever met with-he
listens attentivey to some of the many college
stories that going the rounds, and laughs hear
tily when any wit is directed to the Faculty. He
begins to lose sight of his books, he thinks no BODY
studies for he sees one at 1t. When he asks
some of the fellows who are paying such str'cI AT
tention to him about books and lessons they talk OF
them lightly, as things of minor Importance
but introduce conversation about election, and
and they become eloquent with enthusiasm.
heat Hart fifty votes" $50 will l." says another.
hear that all of the Alabama crowd will vote for
Long except two fellows who arc thought Moth
ing of in College," The novice little dreams of the
trap set for him. He feels already an inclination to
vote for Long, but he says nothing. Mr. Long is
brought around, next day, perhaps, to Mr. Simmss
room They undergo the formality of an inroduc
tion-Long is very polite and insinuating-talks but
little (being little deficient in the upper story }
but is very careful to smile at every thing that
Simms says. When Long has left, some one asks
him what he thinks Of Long. " He is fine fellow,
1 think shall vote for him." is the reply. Enough
said " the fat has gone forth" They have secured
what they wished, the promise of his vote His
friends make their visits less frequent than formerly
but upon every occasion urge him to do his best for
Long He too, becomes one of the number and
goes forth an electoneering partizan for Long.
In the next room perhaps the like has been done
for Hart-the novices of each party, meet IN short
time-they get into argument about the candl-
dates, and having nothing to combat they indulge
in such senseless jargon as would disgust monkles
do not mean to say that every new student Is TAX
en- through in this manner. By means. The
processes are as various as the different tempera
ments of persons they come in contact with. The
partizans may have to take several walks with them,
treat them to suppers, tell them that the only way
for them to be elected when they apply for office is
to vote TO- their man, and various other modes which
would be tedious to mention.
It will be easily what IS the effect arising from
such spirit Young men come here with the inten-
feelings are worked on by party of College dema-
gogues. They forget what they have come to Col
lege for-throw aside the admonition of their pa
rents and listen only to the enthusiastic language
of their electioneering advisers They recall to their
minds it is true, that there is reward without
abor they resolve it is true, to go to studying;
but the excitement is too much. Nothing is so in
teresting to them to hear a conversation about
the candidates for Marshall and Ball Managers. In
the course of few months they are thoroughly in
tated. By the next campaign they are prepared,
too dupe the young, the innocent, and the green
oy exaggerating, disappearing, and often down
light lying.
Nor is this ALL There are some who by no coax
ng whatever will let it be known who they 60
ng to vote for. There are others who are neutral
md who affirm that they will take no part in the
election, not even vote. How are such managed?
gallons of whiskey, rum, or brandy,
is it may be- are procured from Raleigh OF Hills
borough. About IL o'clock in the night, when all
should be asleep, the belfry door is broken open,
,e bust " in the south building. The novices of !
College go up for curiosity-they find there negro
iddler saving away upon his instrument, while the !
tudents are cutting up all kind of antics. The |
DOM where the whiskey is deposited is resorted to !
Some become lively Hurra for Long! |
-Hurra for Hart is heard thousand times, while /
very one is under excitement the brandy bottle is |
,assed to the neutrals-thcy drnk-it excites their
rain, they, too, halloo for Hart or Long Upon |
tearing which, three cheers given for the lncky
mes. The opposite party hearing it, comes to see /
What is to pay-some swears that certain fell /
ow who has just said burrah for Long, promised him
o vote for Hart. The lie is given hiIn-knives and
links are drawn, pistols cooked, ensues,
which is only broken up by voices crying out, Fac
lily ~ " Old Mike! !" Old Bunk !" " out with the |
ghts !" " blow out the lights!'
Again, after three or four hours of constant ap-
lication the mind needs relaxation. Nothing ac-
emphasizes this satisfactorily, while at the same
me it improves as intellectual and chaste CONVEX
alton for, conversation to be mutually agreeable,
here must be something in common between per-
ons-a sympathy must exist which will be found
My in persons whose objects and aims to GER
ain degree the same. Ii, them there be barrier
laced between such persons, distractions interpos-
d. to prevent their associations the of that
equiste from which springs accomplished edu-
alton will at once be stopped. College politics does
MS. For what young man, whose aims are high
nd noble, wishes to hear wrangling about q thing
o grovelng as "who shall be the next Marshall ?"
Veil, he will either have to submit to this, or come
ut at and say who he will vote for. Say, them
as no more peace until the election is over Elec-
oneering partizans whose entire business is to 'thy
round :" and pick up everything that is calculated
D injure their opponents or benefit their cause
re running to his room to tell him of every thing
linking that he will be glad to hear such, since he
as declared himself.
Moreover, friends that once associated no longer
eek each others company. They do not feel that
greeableness with each other that existed before
ley declared themselves in favor of different can i
idates. On the contrary young associate and
ecome intimate with fellows whom they know to
base and vile in the extreme, for other reason
IAN that they going to support the same candi-
ate for Marshall. believe it is a fact well au-
lentcated that it requires argument to prove it