The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-02-18
Education in We.tVtrg,nln.

times muCA larger sum- IN the way
OF repairs, ETC., were annually voted to
the University, which, after all, was
one Of The most expensive schools In
the nation for II student to attend, and
u Pitiful pittance wns dOled out to all
those who were willing to send their
children IA month Or'two to school as
objects of charity. In few COUNTIES
the people, without much legislative
encouragement, established and main
famed IA better state of things for them
selves; but with this exception this was
nearly. all that Virginia was doing, as
Ii State. for the education OF her youth.
No wonder that while other States
were rushing past her in all substan-
tial progress and prosperity, she was
relatively and rapidly retrograding.
The census of 1850 showed the aggre-
gate Of the adult whites within her
boundaries who could neither read nor
write 10 he over - 900. In 1860 this
vast army was found to have increased
10 over $4,000 men and women in such
state OF british and besotted ignor-
ance as to be unable to read sentence
in Gods Word or sign their names to
the simplest document.
This, IN part, has already changed
within West Virginia. The school
master has been sent abroad. The re-
port of the Board of Visitors on behalf
of the State College exhibited results
that may well surprise and delight the
friends of our highest and most endur-
ing interests.
States and communities which pro-
perly encourage these cannot but pros
per. Hundreds of thousands of dollars
have been and must still Oe given to
the Peuitentiary and Asylum. This,
friends of schools aud colleges
admit. but very justly ask whether
il To more important to take
care OF our insane and ScoundreIs than
to educate our future lords and rulers?
Ii the former, as all admit, should be
done, much more should the latter. If
il Is important TO stand on the margin
of the great, deep, dark river of igno-
rance and folly-lhe source of which is
worse than malaria and death-and
here and there, at great expense, snatch
tins, how much more important is ito
totry and sweeten the fountains whence
its waters flow and send them forth in
refreshing rilIs to enrich and fertilize
the State.
We have been led to make these re-
marks by the fact that the Senate bill.
making a small appropriation to the
State College at Morgantown. comes up
to-day in the House on its passage, and
the additional fact that it is feared
some members, from considerations OF
economy, are in doubt whether to give
the bill their support. We trust 1t will
not De forgotten that economy does
not consist in refusing to expend
money, but in expanding it to the
truest advantage. If a few thousand
dollars could be better expended by
this State than in an institution where
there is every guaranty that it will be
honestly and most judiciously used
for the education of her children, when
education is the great and crying want
Of our people, we fail to see where it
conid be done. If the State will spend
more for schools now, she will have
less to spend in future for criminal
charges and penitentiaries.
TITS now regarded certain that the
Senate Will refuse to confirm Mr.. John
sons nomination of Gen. Sherman to
be Brevet General of the army. Gen.
Sherman himself hss sent kilograms
to several persons in Washington pro-
testing against the appointment in
short terms, saying that 1t v ould be an
insult to Gen. Grant to confer this
rank on any officer, and declaring that
he is entirely satisfied with his pres
ent position in the army. He
says the Senate ought to decline
to confirm him at once, and that
he will not accept the rank even
if'the nomination is confirmed. His
kilograms convey the idea that he al
most feels himself insulted In being
mentioned Tor it by the President, and |
leading members of both Houses are
warm in his praise for the manner in |
which he resents the imputa,ion on his
manhood and his friendship for Grant.
The Senate in declining to agree to the
will, it is thought by some
members of the Military Committee,
pass "A resolution euIoRisiic of Sherman
and deCtaratory of the reasons why the
proposed promotion is not given to
him. Gen. Sherman's closest friends
are more earnest than anybody else
that Mr.. Johnson shall be rebuked for
the indiguity they say he has sought
10 put upon The Lieutenant General.
II viii be seen by reference to our
news columns this morning that Senator
Irumnull yesterday introduced in the
Senate two very important measures.
one substItute for Bingham's recon-
bill, providing that majori-
Of the voters of State may rutiHy their
and the other defining
The Jurisdiction of the United States
Courts, especially of the Supreme
Court.
The Thomas case still dIags its slow
length along in the Senate..
MIR. JOHNSON has not been remnrka.
successful in his attempted manipula-
tIon of the army. He has ONLY
,ucceeded thus far in arrayIng against
lim its three great Generals, Grant,
sherman ana Sheridan. The proba-
oiIity is Meade may soon be added to
be trio. Hancock alone has been &C.
luced by tho Johnsonian wfles, and
lin this Presidential schemer has al
eady more than damned with faint
praise"
s--7=-z77'z-'-s.