The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-08
The Proper Teacher of the Nation.

Inc PROPER 1edcueT O1 ule NdlIOIl-
We have, incidentally, frequently sug-
gested that Virginia should be the TEACHER
of the Union--that geographically she oc-
cupied the middle position, most accessible
to the northern and southern extremes-that
her climate and physical features generally
were most congenial with the gentler dispo-
sitions of men, and most favorable to the
culture of calm philosophy, political wis
,,+aloar, and the humanities in their most ele-
waited character, freed from fanaticism, Sec
tionalism, and vicious ideas of sociology.
This is but the assertion of q fact well
established in the history of this nation.
We have been led to this subject by late
comments of the northern press upon the
conduct of the students of Yale College this
summer during the annual regatta with
which their vacation is celebrated. Their
conduct is spoken of as having been in the
last degree vulgar and brutal. In the full
ness of youth, some exuberance and excess
must be expected from young men at the
close of Il session of hard study and close
confinement; but that excess and natural
breaking away az of young colts let out of
the stable are always more or less controlled
by education. Young men who have been
imbued with gentlemanly instincts and just
perceptions will not abandon themselves to
merely vulgar and brutal excuses. So that
even in wild indulgences men will display
the principles which have been instilled
into them.
As to the conduct Of the class of Yale We
do not pretend to speak. The papers of
the bailiwick describe it as having grown
worse and worse for years; matter, how
ever, more Immediately belonging to the
patrons of the institution and the people
whereabouts. But the New York Herald
makes the affair the occasion of some gene
raj remarks relative to the morality of New
England and the unftness of her schools to
teach the youth Of the nation, who are to
become the men to fill important positions
in public and private life. We copy what
it says:
"Yale and Harvard might expel or rus
ticate every offender, but the disease would
remain, and would reveal itself as violently
AS before, when occasion offered. The real
cause of such disorderly conduct is to be
over the whole of New England teaching
The colleges, like the churches, have
dropped away from their ancient mornings
and the professors care for Christianity
even less than the preachers. Central,
fixed principle in morals and religion, there
is none among the class who now represent
the intellect and culture of New England
Like the pagans of former times, they have
their gods many and their lords many, and
on the summit of their Olympus Theodore
Parker occupies a place of equal promi-
nence with Jesus Christ. From teachers OF
this sort what healthful moral influence
can emanate To the impurity of the foun-
tain in this case must be traced the i'm
purity of the stream. To make the stu.
dents what they ought to be, it will be
necessary to begin with the professors.
There is great deal of truth in the fore,
going. New England has been the nursery
of almost every folly and fallacy in politics
social economy, morals, and religion. Why
is this but that the springs of knowledge
and virtue there are poisoned? Look at
Virginia. Behold her even and steady
course-how she has chung to the teachings
OF the Fathers and to the morality and the
religion handed down by them. Every
new invention of the fanatics and socialists
has been rejected in scorn by her people.
One after another has been brought here,
and its mad advocates have endeavored to
plant it in the Virginia soil but it found
nc support, no nourishment, and persisted !;
and SO there is not one living Of all of them.
Virginia, then, is that State in the Union
peculiarly fitted to teach and guide the
minds of those who shape the character and
destiny of the nation. Her schools should
be sought by the youth Of the North and
the South. In her classic groves they
should imbibe her wise counsels and be-
come animated with her calm wisdom, her
high honor, and her inBexible sense of JUS
tice. Those who have such an alma mater
will go forth with well-balanced judgments
and well-grounded morality, not at all
favorable to the follies Of fanaticism nor to
the lawlessness and corruption of vicious
partisanry. y,
Here the ultraisms Of the extreme Sec
tionS may be Boftened and the powerful
energies of youth diverted from the dan
gerous channels and conducted into those
that will be useful and beneficial. Here
the representatives of the extremes may
meet, and become more mild and tractable
TO each other, and so home with modified
opinions and teradicated prejudices. In
this way the links which unite the Union
may be frightened and rendered more en-
during; for the college boys become the
alen that control public affairs and shape