Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-28
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
Pen and Ink Sketches of the University
Of North Carolina, as it has Been.
DEDICATED To THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND
TO THE ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY.
NO. 9.
NOW AND THEN,

AAAAAA''
It is, as yet, difficult for one who knew
Gov. Swain intimately, to eet down and
write of him critically and dispassionate-
~. He has been too recently among u.s.
It is as if he had just gone out of the
room with pleasant look backward upon
his friends, and delicacy forbids that we
should fall at once upon discussion of
him, his character and his ways. 1t seems
hut yesterday that he was the life of the
University, wearing indeed All air of
deepest anxiety, bur still hopeful of the
future, --looking forward to the Commence
ment-"the last Commencement as was
too truly foreboded, but which he would
not allow to be so called. You are antici-
pating evil, he would say, which is by no
means, certain or inevitable. Gov. Hol-
den has a splendid opportunity before him.
and he is too shrewd q man, and too able
a man, not to see it and seize it. He will
take care Of his own interests. and one way
to do that is to secure the educational in
terests of the State. The University will
not be allowed to go down. A friend writ
ing just one year ago said of Chapel Hill,
that 'ntgh acds moac closing IN upon ii after
a long tsciigM.'' The Governor did not
like this. He would not see it, nor allow
it to influence him. really do not know
a more affecting and truly noble picture
than that presented by Gov. Swain in his
last days-all parties assailed him. His
best friends shook their heads and were
among the doubters. Even those who had
eaten of bread provided by him, turned
against him. His motives were maligned,
his ability was questioned, his very in
tirmlties We're thrown up against him.
But he struggled en-, perhaps blindly, but
manfully. Conscious of his own purity
of his undying love for North Carolina,
Inst t11ti( hot oFk
thirty-three years of undivided devotion
! to her University, his life and its, were in
| deed bound up together and could not be
sundered by death,--trusting that the
storm would soon abate, and that he would
live to see that turn in the tide which
sooner or later must come-that the clouds
would lift and that his setting sun would
yet throw parting food of gold on these
beloved walls these hills, these solemn
groves.
In vsin--in vain + but who can consider it I'M
moved.
IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
1t was favorite phrase of the Governor:
IL Hb5 providence Of God And now we
who survive him may we'll take it up and
apply it to the catastrophe which put an
end to his manful endeavor. to his ankle
ties and approximations. In the provi-
/
vain struggle with the blind passions Of
men, removed before he could see the fine
vessel which be had steered SO long and so
skiIlfully, finally and hopelessly wreck
lying high and dry among the rocks-be-
fore he could see pecuniary ruin and dis
persion of those who by his advice and
| from attachment to him, had chung to it
through all, and spent their last energies
in its behalf. 1t was, indeed, the provi-
dence of God most benefcially exerted to-
wards him-and!as if it were saying to him,
cit is enough, leave thy work and come
up higher Lay down thy cross and take
thy crown"
GOV. SWAIN s FACULTY.
Such reflections dim the eyes and un-
steady tho hand of one who attempts to
portray Gov. SWANS work and influence
upon the University. That he erred some
times-that his Judgment was not infalli- |
BILE, nor he himself free from some weak |
ness, it will be the duty of his biographer
to point out-since such close criticism is
one of the penalties which all men who |
stand on eminences must pay. But ga
pen and ink sketch " can only give out |
lines and results. Governor SWANS |
administration at Chapel Hill challenges, |
and will receive, great deal of scru-
tiny.
That he believed in numbers was very
apparent. think he had an idea that the |
attritlon of large society was an impor- |
tant element in a young mans education. |
That the breadth gained was an offset to |
the want OF depth. However this may be, |
he was careful at the outset and always to |
to surround himself with an able and at
tractive band Of co-workers. The election |
of new Professor-the creation of q new |
Chalr-were matters that called out all his |
provision, his energies, his sagacity. Yet |
nevertheless he failed sometimes signalIy
and just because of that over anxiety and
|scrupulousness He was for consulting too |
many interests and conciliating too many
parties. He has been known to sanction
the election OF an inferior man because the
applicant was a member of some church
which, IN his opinion, ought to be repre-
sented in the Faculty, in order to attract
students from that denomination.
he did not like to change his working
corps. He liked to have his Faculty grow I