The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-13
p.li,ie. On, Of Place.

The disposition Of the Radical party
is to extend the sphere of political dis
cussisn far beyond its legitimate limits.
Under the guidance of that party tho
differences of the political arena have
been carried into every possible relation
'of life, and have embittered with their
|ncrimony the intercourse Of all classes
|and conditions of society. 1t was Rad
heal theology that first made politics q
bart Of piety, taught the proper vote
Ind the plan of salvation from the same
bulpit. and fostered dissension and pro-
'cription around the altars of Him whose
mission proclaimed "peace on earth and
'vood will to man." 1t was Radical big
[ptry that first enunciated the principle
nf non-intercourse with slave holders,
fthat afterward applied the same princi-
sple to oil persons holding opposite polit-
Zeal views, and that introduced into the
5parlor and the social circle the bitter
ness and abuse of the pot-house
politician. 1t was Radical policy that
introduced politics into our schools and
colleges, that inculcated partizan prin-
<ciples and platforms moro constantly
Tand thoroughly than the truths Of sci
ence and that even made the students
<political views the test Of his qualifica-
tion for collegiate privileges and honors.
! Ne do not know that in West Virginia
any educational institutions are being
prostituted to the purposes of party, but
tthe idea is certainly suggested by the
Following expression quoted by the
wheeling Intelligeacer from the Wells
burg Herald: mo one would think Of
going to a college (not at least to Beth
any college as nor constituteO for rebel
voters Since in the vocabulary of
Radicalism all its opponents are ''reb-
els the meaning of the Herald must be
that the institution in question is
managed for Radical benefit. If
bethany college is "now constitu-
He'd" in the interest or to the
prejudice of any political party, which
we can hardly believe, we think the
|public ought to know it. Men don't
send their children to colleges to be
|taught how to vote, or to imbibe the po-
alitical prejudices of this or that
spartizan professor. They place
:their sons in charge of college
Faculties for Il specific purpose,
kthat purpose being the general train
Ing and development of the mind by
all the agencies of legitimate collegiate
Education, and of those agencies par
tizan tenets and political views form
no part. School-teachers have no right
to attempt the political instruction of
their pupils, and those who make pol
itics n part Of their curriculum, are
taking an unfair advantage of their po-
sition, and foully betrayiug the conf
dence of their patrons. They are I'M
faithful to the duties they owe their
3tudents; they are utterly false to the
responsibilities, and wholly unworthy
5he honor of the station they occupy.
We trust that tho assertion of the
Wellsburg Herald with regard to
Dethany college, is purely gratuitous.
indeed, we are almost certain that it is
%, and shall confidently await some
authoritative denial Of the slanderous
3nsinuation.
Some of the faculty we know to be
incapable of degrading their positions
for the purpose intimated by the Herald
and the remaining members we hope
ore equally averse to making the Col
1ege n political machine. The institu
zion itself is one in whose welfare we
{feel deep interest, one whose prosper
tity is assured if it be kept free from
-partizan influences. But if, like Other
colleges we could name, Bethany should
De made radical rather than an educa'
tional institution, then like them would
II decline and die, simply because oul
people will support no school which is
managed in the interests of politics
rather than of science.
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